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10/04/2011 |
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PACK CLINCHES
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Third Generation
Driver Wins NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Honor |
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 Austin
Pack proved that dedication in reaching a goal can pay
dividends after he clinched the NASCAR Whelen Southern
Modified Tour 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award with two
races remaining on the schedule.
The Winston-Salem, N.C., teenager made his debut in 2010
driving a car owned by his grandfather and tour veteran,
Gene Pack, and after that first start he knew what he wanted
to do for the foreseeable future.
Pack is currently eighth in the Whelen Southern Modified
Tour overall point standings and has won the Sunoco Rookie
of the Race Award a tour-best five times so far this season.
Pack has one top-five finish driving a car prepared by
veteran crew chief Grady Jeffries. Jeffries also prepared
the cars driven by Gene and Brian Pack in previous seasons.
The youngest of three generations of Packs that have
competed in the Whelen Southern Modified Tour, Austin is the
son of Brian, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle
accident in 2008. At least one member of the family has
competed in 73 of the 84 races in the history of the tour.
Three years ago, Gene made a deal that if Austin kept his
grades up and stayed active in sports, he would allow his
grandson to make a start at Bowman Gray Stadium in the
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series modified division. Once
Austin got behind the wheel he knew he wanted to drive a
modified.
Pack began racing go-karts at the age of 12 and did that for
a couple of years before deciding to take up football.
Although he excelled in football and received scholarship
offers, the racing bug took over and he has since decided to
continue his motorsports career behind the wheel and in the
classroom. He is a student at Winston-Salem State University
in Winston-Salem, N.C., majoring in Motorsports Management.
Pack, as well as the second and third place finishers in the
final 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, will be
honored as part of the festivities surrounding the NASCAR
Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala on Dec. 10 at the
Charlotte Convention Center's Crown Ballroom in the NASCAR
Hall of Fame.
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Source: Timothy Southers / NASCAR
Posted: October
4, 2011 |
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