John Freeman

Earlier this season, John Freeman got a taste of rock-n-roll racing when he supplied a car and helped coach “Smash Mouth” singer Steve Harwell in a Late Model Stock Car three-day test at Concord Motorsport Park (NC). A week later, Harwell placed his “Mr. Mouth” clothing line company on the side of Freeman’s NASCAR Busch East entry at New Hampshire International Speedway (NH) as well as the following race at Dover International Speedway (DE).

Now, Freeman will continue assisting the rocker-turned-racer in his Super Late Model race debut this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the “Fall Classic” at the Bullring as a driver coach and spotter, as well as racing in the Late Model Stock race himself prior to the start of the SLM feature.

““Ever since Steve wanted to get into racing I have been eager to help him out,” said Freeman. “When he said he was going to run a race, I was on the first plane out here to come spot for him and give him some wisdom that I have learned in my 11 years of racing experience. This is his first race, so I knew I had to come out here and be a part of it.”

Harwell will drive Dustin Ash’s 2007 Championship-winning Super Late Model, which he is leasing from local racing legend Dick Cobb. The help that Freeman gave Harwell in the Concord practice has already paid dividends, as Harwell has been one of the faster cars in practice over the last few days.

“I think the test translated a lot from the aspect of being able to get into the car,” said Harwell. “Driving the car and car control for me hasn’t been much of a problem. It is entry and exit and then just

racing in traffic. By last night’s final practice, when you got your boy (John Freeman) on the radio, it makes it so much easier and it got fun.

“John will be there spotting for me as well as racing himself. My goal is to finish the race. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I am not trying to build my racing career in a day.”

Because of the friendship the two have built this year, Harwell assisted Freeman in getting a ride so he doesn’t have to just stand and watch the racing action during the weekend.

“I came out here to be focused on Steve and I have been focused on him, but being the person I am, my skin was about to be scratched off,” explained Freeman. “It is hard to watch race cars go around the track and not be a part of the action. I was about to hijack a Legends car because I was having a rough time. Steve is driving for the legendary Dick Cobb, and he had another Late Model out here. He (Cobb) heard from a few people that we were pretty decent, so he got something together. Steve helped hook me up and we will be running the #11 Las Vegas Hilton Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the Late Model race.

“We hope to have good things in the race, and it will also help me later in Steve’s race so I can let him know how the track is and what it is doing. It is easier for me to coach when I am out there doing the same thing.”

The “Fall Classic” kicks off Friday, November 9th with the Late Model 100-lap feature and 140-lap Super Late Model feature occurring on Saturday, November 10th.