Getting to know Larry Jackson: 'I always admired Junior Hanley'

Larry Jackson (Oakville, Ontario)

How long have you been racing and what was the first race you competed in and what kind of car did you drive?

I was 15 years old and drove in an endurance race in a 1975 Oldsmobile and finished third. It was a race at Flamboro Speedway.

How long have you been competing in the NASCAR Pinty's Series?

I think six years. My first race was in 2012 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

What made you decide to compete in the NPS?

I wanted to do the road racing and my background is oval track racing. I like the mixture of tracks the series competes on during the season with challenging road courses and oval tracks.

What makes being a part of the NPS special to you?

The people make the series great. From the officials and crew members to the fans, it feels like we’re one big family.

How have your fans responded to you being a part of NASCAR in Canada?

All my fans are excited and look forward to seeing me on TV for each race. The fans also like being able to watch me race on TV no matter where we race in Canada.

What or where is your favorite track on the schedule?

My favorite oval track is Kawartha Speedway and I guess my favorite road course is GP3R at Trois-Rivières, Québec.

Do you have any hobbies outside of racing?

I love taking my daughter water skiing and tubing on the lake when I’m not racing.

If you weren't a race car driver, what do you think you would do instead of racing for a career?

I’m a full-time Firefighter and while I love racing too, that would be what I would do and that is work more in the firefighting field.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life and/or racing career?

In life it would be Keith Barton and in racing it’s Junior Hanley. He’s a racing legend in Canada.  

Tell me something about you that would surprise your fans?

I guess one thing that race fans might not know about is that I’ve received Firefighter of the Year award twice in my career. I work for the City of Mississauga and that has over 800 firefighters on staff. I’ve been there for 18 years.