FREEMAN LOOKS BACK FONDLY ON ROOKIE STOCK CAR SEASON

In just his first year behind the wheel of a stock car, John Freeman has turned many heads, just as he has throughout his young driving career.  From Bandoleros to Legends to Thunder Roadsters, and now in a Late Model Stock Car, Freeman has thrived in everything and has done so in a hurry.  

The 18-year-old ace from Huntersville, North Carolina, is now ready to see what lies ahead for him in 2006 and beyond.  A strong rookie season in Late Model Stock Cars at Concord Motorsport Park has Freeman hoping for the right opportunities that will allow him to continue his steady progression towards racing’s highest levels.

“I’m really hoping to be involved with a Hooters Pro Cup or Busch North deal if circumstances can turn right for me,” said Freeman.  “That’s where I’d love to be next year.  We’re looking to go test a Hooters Pro Cup car the week after Thanksgiving and that will be a really cool deal.”

Based on Freeman’s 2005 results, opportunities for next season should align nicely.  His year did have a balanced number of highs and lows, but he turned many heads around the pit area from the first time he strapped into his #57 Freeman’s Stereo & Video Dodge.

In 2005, John got to make his debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in a stock car.

“I went out and won the pole in my first time in that racecar at Concord.  That was my first stock car experience ever.  I think we had a pretty impressive year for a rookie season.  I just wish I could’ve done more.”

It’s hard to do more than score nine top-five and 18 top-10 finishes in a rookie season like Freeman did in his first Late Model Stock campaign.  When you’ve won as much as Freeman has in his career, it’s easy to see why not winning in 2005 would be discouraging. 

“We never got the win this year that we worked so hard for,” said Freeman.  “I didn’t quite have the experience or the patience early in the year to pull off a win, but then once I figured out what I had to do to get there, I didn’t have the car that could do it.” 

With dozens of feature victories and championships in Bandoleros, Legends and Thunder Roadsters, Freeman has always had the ability to adapt quickly to new types of racecars.  Full-size stock cars were no problem for the youngster. 

“We had some early success this season but we had a really hard time towards the end of the year.  The team lost a lot of focus and we lost our car a bit, but we went out this year and set a lot of track records so it was a good year but I know we’re capable of a lot more.  We learned a lot about the car as the season went along and if we do some Late Model stuff next year, we should be better because of it.”

Freeman’s five top-three finishes at Concord showed that he is ready to take down his first Late Model Stock win.  He came close to that elusive win in one of the biggest events of his season, the Food City 150 UARA Late Model event at Bristol Motor Speedway in September.  Freeman was running amongst the

leaders from the drop of the green flag at the high-banked half-mile before an incident ruined his shot at another strong finish.

“We went to Bristol and had a very impressive run there before we were involved in a wreck.  We qualified seventh (of 52 entries) and that was pretty exciting to have such a good qualifying run.   We had a good run going in the race too before we got caught up in a wreck.”

Although incidents not of his own making, such as the one at Bristol, kept Freeman from taking home a winner’s trophy in 2005, Freeman was able to parlay his otherwise consistently strong finishes into a fifth place in points out of 43 eligible Late Model Stock drivers at Concord’s half-mile tri-oval.  With success like that, it’s only a matter of time before Freeman gets the break he’s been waiting for.

If you would like more information on John Freeman and his future racing plans, contact Jeremy Troiano at (704) 726-6849 and check out the all-new JohnFreemanRacing.com.