Charlotte, N.C. (September 17, 2014) – Fall is usually a time when short-track racing across the country winds down, but for Dalton Sargeant, it’s a time to start a new chapter in his driving career. Sargeant is pleased to announce that he has joined veteran crew chief and car owner Richie Wauters Motorsports for the remainder of 2014 Super Late Model schedule, and will compete in some of the biggest short-track racing events of the year. Sargeant will make his Super Late Model debut in the Wauters Motorsports No. 5s on Friday, September 19 at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, followed by Saturday, September 20 at Mobile International Speedway in Mobile, Alabama. The two events will be the final two events on the 2014 Southern Super Series schedule.
2014 marks the 16 year-old’s first season in stock-car competition and he has already recorded one win (Virginia International Raceway), nine top-five finishes and 23 top-ten finishes at historic venues across the Southeast such as Hickory Motor Speedway, Motor Mile Speedway, Southern National Speedway, Langley Speedway, South Boston Speedway and Caraway Speedway.
Born, raised, and still residing in South Florida, Sargeant began his racingcareer in 2007 at the age of nine years old. Sargeant’s career has already taken him around the world and has competed and visited victory lane in numerous different racing disciplines. From professional karting championships, to European Formula open-wheel cars, to NASCAR Whelen All-American Stock Cars, Sargeant has a long list of accomplishments in a short amount of time. He has represented the United States in International Rotax Karting Championships and stood on the podium at internationally historic courses such as Brands Hatch, The Mugello Circuit, and Sebring International Raceway.
Richie Wauters is no stranger to the NASCAR garage and short tracks across the country. Wauters began his career as a crew chief and has amassed 16 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins, 24 NASCAR Southeastern Elite Division wins, one NASCAR Southeastern Elite Division Championship in 2006, 6 ASA wins and has finished in second position in the Snowball Derby an astounding six times, with one Snowball Derby win in 2004. Wauters has worked with a long list of NASCAR stars including Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Bill Elliott, Dick Trickle, Mark Martin, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, Paul Menard, David Ragan, Elliott Sadler, Scott Hansen, Kenny Wallace and Steven Wallace.
Richie Wauters:
“I’m really looking forward to having a driver like Dalton Sargeant join Wauters Motorsports. We’ve been keeping our eye on Dalton throughout this season as he’s come from no stock car or oval experience, to running upfront in late model races which is impressive to say the least. We were able to test with him last week at Caraway Speedway and what impressed me was he was very smooth with all his input, was always in control, and had instant speed when we unloaded off the transporter. I see a lot of similarities between Dalton and when Kyle Busch was 16 years old, he has a ton of potential and has what it takes to be a star in this sport. With that being said, he’s still relatively new to stock cars so our goal for Pensacola is to complete every lap, and be in contention at the end for a good finish.”
Dalton Sargeant:
“Wauters Motorsports is one of the most successful and historically relevant race teams in all of Super Late Model Racing, so it’s an honor to join their long list of previous drivers. I’m really looking forward to being under the tutelage of Richie Wauters and legendary driver and crew chief Bobby Gill for the next few months, at some really big events to close out the 2014 racing season. I’ve always wanted to drive a Super Late Model, with the long races and increased horsepower it will prepare me for the next few steps in my racing career, and have always thought it was an important step to take. Pensacola is a track I’ve heard a lot about and I’m really looking forward to the challenge. It will definitely be a big learning curve for myself, with my first ever race in a Super Late Model coming at a track that wears tires quickly, in arguably one of the toughest short-track racing series in the country. My primary goal right now is to get experience, run as many laps as possible and get comfortable with this car and these competitors.”
Don’t forget to follow Dalton Sargeant on all social media platforms such as Twitter (@DaltonSargeant), Instagram (@DaltonSargeant), and Facebook (@Dalton Sargeant Racing). For live, in-race updates of all the at-track action, follow @DaltonSargeant on Twitter, or Speed51.com’s Trackside Now.
