LMS: Kazmar Racing Team Marshall preview

Justin Kazmar and the Kazmar Racing Team will head to the Auto City (MI) Speedway this Saturday May 26, 2007 for the Auto City/Super Pro Shootout 75.

Marshall, Michigan (05/24/2006): With the fourth season of the Bollhoff Rivnut Super Pro Series getting started on Saturday May 19, 2007 at the Angola (IN) Motor Speedway in Angola, Indiana, a familiar face was once again in attendance with the same goals as he's set for himself in his first two seasons of running in the Rives Junction, Michigan based series.

Marshall, Michigan driver, Justin Kazmar, now a "veteran" in the Super Pro Series began his third season of Super Pro Series competition at the Northern Indiana speed plant and despite an 11th place showing in the 2007 Super Pro Series Season Opener, optimism is very high in the Kazmar Racing camp.

For the 2007 season, 22-year-old Justin Kazmar is making a run at the 2007 Bollhoff Rivnut Super Pro Series Championship. In addition, Kazmar also hopes to make select appearances in the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division with a primary focus on the 3rd annual Mid-Michigan Doubles Weekend Presented by the Michigan Racing Scene on Friday and Saturday August 17-18, 2007.

As for the 2007 Super Pro Series Door Opener in Angola, Indiana, the Engineered Systems 75 saw a good 21-car field in attendance and as has been the case the first two season in the series for Kazmar, Qualifying was once again an issue.

"We had a pretty encouraging day at Angola. It was our first time ever there and the car handled pretty good in practice. I don't think it has ever gotten through the corners as good as it was." Stated Kazmar as he reflected on his first race of the 2007 season.

"I had a decent first lap in qualifying, but I made a mistake on my second lap and got loose coming out of Turn Two." Kazmar continued. "Most guys were cutting two or three tenths off their first laps. so like usual I started towards the back in 15th."

As for the 75-lap Feature, Kazmar had what he called "First race jitters" during the event. "The car was handling good at first, but on a long run it was starting to go loose on me. I found I was driving too hard. a little past half way, I got loose out of Turn Four and spun." Explained the Marshall, Michigan pilot.

"I was hoping I could spin it into the infield without getting hit, but unfortunately the 94 car (Rookie Scott McLaughlin) had no where to go and hit me in my left front. I felt bad because he wound up getting the worst of it and wasn't able to finish." Kazmar offered.

After the incident, Kazmar restarted at the tail end of the field. "My car actually felt better after that." He laughed. "After going to the back, I followed (Fast Qualifier) Jack Smith up to 11th." The 22-year-old would stay there the rest of the race to open up the 2007 season in the Super Pro Series. "When I pulled in the pits and got out of my car we found that my right rear had a cut in it. Things could have turned out better for us, but they also could have been a lot worse."

The next race on the 2007 Super Pro calendar will see the Kazmar Racing Team make the trip up to the 0.397 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval of the Auto City (MI) Speedway, located North of Flint in Clio, Michigan on Saturday May 26, 2007 in the running of the Super Pro Shootout 75. "Hopefully we can make a big improvement there after the bad finishes we had there last year." Kazmar Ended.

Kazmar ran the full slate of events in what is now the Bollhoff Rivnut Super Pro Series during the 2006 season. In Super Pro Series competition, Kazmar recorded one Top Five Finish, a fourth place finish at the Spartan (MI) Speedway on June 16, 2006. Overall Kazmar registered two Top Five's and seven Top 10's to finish seventh in the 2006 Super Pro Series title chase.

Kazmar started racing go-karts at Michiana Raceway Park (MRP) in 1997. In 1998 he was voted the most improved junior driver award and in 1999 he would go on to win the championship in the Yamaha Light division by winning seven races and finishing second once in the eight race season.

In 2000, and just after he turned 16, Kazmar started racing in open wheeled Modifieds. In his fourth ever race, he won his first heat race. From 2000-2002 he only raced part time at Spartan and Owosso (MI) Speedway.

In 2003, his first full year racing in the Michigan Modified Association (MMA), Kazmar would win his first career feature at Owosso to go with three Top Five finishes. He finished sixth overall in the state wide MMA. In 2004, Kazmar broke out with three feature wins, three second place finishes, and 12 Top Five showings.

Kazmar would only miss the top 10 once that year at Spartan. Kazmar also had five fast times and finished second in the points championship at Spartan while finishing eighth overall in the MMA, and Kazmar would also win the Most Improved Modified Driver Award at Spartan.

The Marshall, Michigan driver was the 2005 Super Pro Series Rookie of the Year with five Top Five finishes and eight Top 10 showings. Kazmar closed out the 2005 Super Pro Series season with two third place finishes and a fourth to clinch the Freshman title. Kazmar also finished fifth overall in the final points chase.

The Battle Creek, Michigan resident also ran a Michigan Modified, primarily at the Spartan (MI) Speedway in 2005 where he won one feature and recorded six Top Fives and an impressive 16 Top 10 finishes to go with 3 fast times. Justin would go onto finish fifth in points at Spartan and eighth overall in the Michigan Modifieds Association (MMA).

-credit: krt