New Hampshire Pro Stock driver Derek Griffith will be getting a jump on the racing season when he competes in the Red Eye 100 at New Smyrna Speedway in Fla. this weekend. (Credit: Erik LaFlech photo.)
By Lou Modestino
Derek Griffith, the standout driver from New Hampshire, will travel to the Sunshine state to compete at the historic New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) in the 2015 Red Eye 100.
The Red Eye is the recognized as the first Super Late Model race of the new year and has a rich history of very talented drivers winding up in victory lane. Griffith will pilot his No. 12 MOM’s of Manchester/LCM Racing Toyota Camry in what he hopes is a tune-up as the teenager will also compete in the NSS Speedweeks in mid-February as well.
“I really enjoy NSS, it’s almost like Thompson, the first thing we need to do is make sure we get in to the show and we really have a hot set-up that Louie (Crew Chief Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro) put’s in the car. It’s going to be awesome to get back behind the wheel after such a short off-season,” stated Griffith.
Derek is still a senior in High School and is looking forward to graduating and he hasn’t yet decided on what his future holds, as far as furthering his education. One thing is for certain, there will be more racing. Griffith added, “Getting done with High School is my main priority right now. As far as what comes after High School, I have some opportunities to pursue diesel mechanics at a couple different schools in Ohio. I’m not sure what I am going to be doing but I do know that I’ll be racing as much as I possibly can”.
Griffith recently finished 23rd in the 49th Annual Florida Governor’s Cup held at NSS back on November 23, 2014.
Derek talked about that race, “We had a much better car than our 23rd place finish indicates. We didn’t perform as well as we would have liked. So this time around I hope to really show everyone what our New Hampshire based race team is all about. Getting our Tyngsboro Motors Toyota on the podium would be sweet redemption.”
The Red Eye 100 is scheduled for January 3, 2015.
Source: PR/Photo – Eric LaFlech