Photo Credit: Speed 51
Mason Diaz kicked off his 2017 season with top-five finishes in both the Pro Late Model and Super Late Model races at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday night.
Diaz, 16, from Manassas, Virginia, was fast all weekend long and that speed showed when he set the fast time in qualifying for the Red Eye 100 Super Late Model race with a 17.589 second lap. He backed that up with a seventh place qualifying run for the Zack Donatti Memorial 125 Pro Late Model race with an 18.230 second lap.
He raced his way up to a fourth place finish in the Pro Late Model race and then strapped into his Super Late Model race where he rolled off fourth after an invert. Diaz ran in the top-five all race, finishing in fifth in his first race of 2017 and his first race at New Smyrna Speedway.
“My first time going to New Smyrna Speedway and sitting in a Super Late Model, came out of the weekend with two top five finishes,” Diaz said. “The cars were fast out of the box this weekend thanks to Mike Darne Racing. Finished fourth in the Pro Late Model after getting into a last corner wreck. In the Super we set the fast time for the weekend by over a tenth with a 17.589 and ran third or fourth for most of the race. Ended up fifth.”
Diaz said his strong run wouldn’t be possible without his crew.
“Can’t thank the whole crew enough this weekend for not giving up. Mike Darne Dennis Brock, also Steve Darne and Robert Arch for spotting,” Diaz commented. “It was a lot of work with a small crew by they got it done. Also, can’t thank my dad enough for everything he does for me every day to let me do what I love.”
Diaz will return to New Smyrna Speedway for the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car racing, which kicks off on Friday, February 17th and runs through Speedweeks, concluding on Saturday, February 25th. After that, he will turn his attention to Late Model Stock Car racing, with plans to compete at Southern National Motorsports Park, Caraway Speedway, Motor Mile Speedway and a handful of other tracks with hopes of winning Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
“We’re just looking to gain a lot of experience this season and finish well,” Diaz remarked.
Mason Diaz is supported by The Sign Shop, Mike Darne Racing, Prince William Marina, Concord Automotive and Convenience Car Care. To learn more about Mason Diaz Racing, “like” Mason Diaz Racing on Facebook.
