INNISFIL, Ontario — On Saturday, April 25, A.J. Emms took his first ever laps behind the wheel of a full-bodied racecar, and ended the day pleased with the first test.
“I’ve never driven a full body racecar before so this is a big change for me, but at the same time, the guys have been working really hard,” he commented. “We’ve been fighting a bit of handling all day, but we’re definitely working in the right direction and keep speeding up and I’m getting more comfortable. Things are going in the right direction, so that’s positive.”
Plenty of photos from the test session featuring the late model are available for viewing on the team website at http://adamsmotorsports99.com/.
Emms is set to tackle a busy schedule this year, running the full OSCAAR Modified schedule for Adams Motorsports behind the wheel of the No. 99. The modified is set to be unveiled later this week, so stay tuned for the unveil.
Emms spoke highly of the opportunity, and the support that he is receiving from car owner Allen Adams.
“We have a lot of great sponsors on board for this year and we’re really excited to get the modified out, and hoping to have some success there, and a lot of fun,” he said.
Though when he is not driving the modified, he will be behind the wheel of the No. 99 Limited Late Model for Mike Westwood Fabrication.
“I’m definitely really fortunate to be racing here at Sunset Speedway,” Emms commented. “It’s going to be very competitive here, but at the same time, hoping for a good season – a fun season for one, and to learn a lot, and just to get my feet wet here in the late model division at Sunset Speedway.”
While he hasn’t driven a full-bodied stock car in the past, Emms is nowhere shy of experience as the young driver has been behind the wheel of a Legends car, TQ Midget, Hurricane Midget, Outlaw Modified and Pro 4 Modified in the past.
“With the late model, it’s a bigger car,” he stated. “The full body is a lot different. You don’t get to see a lot of out of the car, there’s more horsepower in this and you don’t roll the ends as fast because it has more weight to it. It’s a big transition, but I’m not doing too bad so far, and I think we’ll be alright in the end.”
Now that his first laps are under his belt, Westwood is looking forward to having a solid night on opening night at Sunset Speedway on May 2nd, completing all the available laps of the two 35-lap features.
“We’re hoping to make the show, for one, as there are a lot of great cars out here,” he said. “I’d like to have some fun with this thing. Definitely the Stryker chassis, we’ll get it handling good and it’d be nice to finish in the top 15 here. It’s really hard to say after the first practice with limited guys here and old tires on this car, but at the same time, it’d be nice to finish in the top-15.”
Emms’ schedule for the 2015 season will be supported by Adams Home Comfort, Dwinnels Family Movers, TSS Top Shops, Duckworths Fish and Chips Orillia, Klotz Canada, Wix Filters, Kitchen Tire 2013, Hastings Home Hardware, Wolsely Canada, Whitechurch Towing, Accurate Industrial Waste Ltd., and Morton Metals, as previously announced. Additionally, ADAMS Motorsports announced just this past weekend that the team will also be supported by Heritage Heating Contractors Incorporated.
Stay tuned to http://adamsmotorsports99.com/ for updates all season long.
About the Author
RT @OnPitRoad_: ST: Satisfied with First Test, @ajemms Looks Towards Opening Night at Sunset Speedway by @ladybug388 http://t.co/DMYHC6c86k
RT @OnPitRoad_: ST: Satisfied with First Test, @ajemms Looks Towards Opening Night at Sunset Speedway by @ladybug388 http://t.co/DMYHC6c86k