RYAN HEAVNER JOINS MATT LOFTON MOTORSPORTS FOR 2011
Written By: RyanHeavner.com / DLP Marketing
MOORESVILLE, NC (March 10th, 2011) Matt Lofton announced today that Ryan Heavner has signed to drive for Matt Lofton Motorsports in the 2011 USAR Pro Cup Series. Heavner will pilot the #77 Chevrolet out of the MLM shop in Mooresville, North Carolina.
The Lincolnton, North Carolina racer brings an impressive resume to Matt Lofton Motorsports. Heavner won 24 straight races and earned the Dirt Naskart Kids Division Track Championship in 2004. In 2007, he won two North Carolina karting titles and was crowned National Champion representing North Carolina in the 1st Annual Maxxis National Championship. Heavner posted 20 wins and 50 top-five finishes in 2008 to earn two more North Carolina Championships.
Heavner raced in the Pro Challenge Series in 2009 and earned 4 wins, 20 top-five, and 26 top-ten finishes. He finished second in the North Series and seventh in National Series points.
The talented 15 year-old driver competed in the USAR Pro Cup Series in 2010 earning six top-ten finishes. Heavner was the Rookie of the Race three times with a best finish of fourth at Iowa Speedway. Last March, Heavner became the youngest driver ever to compete in the USAR Pro Cup Series at age fourteen. At the 2010 USAR Pro Cup Series Awards Banquet, Heavner was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year in recognition of his outstanding service, generosity, and compassion to others, both in and out of the racing community.
“We closely watched Ryan (Heavner) last year as a 14 year-old rookie,” USAR Pro Cup Series CEO Chip Lofton stated. “What we observed was that he was not only a safe, well-mannered youngster, but he showed a lot of promise in his first season in the USAR. He was a contender for Rookie of the Year until he had some mechanical failures. Ryan will be a contender this season as he returns with more experience and confidence. After all, he’s now 15.”
“I consider it an honor to have the opportunity to drive for Matt Lofton Motorsports and Chip Lofton,” Heavner said. “I look forward to a strong and successful season with this team, and I can’t express how truly grateful I am to be a part of such an awesome organization.”
Matt Lofton, Owner of MLM added, “It’s a privilege to be able to work with such a talented young driver such as Ryan Heavner. He’s my style of driver, so I feel we can gel from the start. We (MLM) are providing him with all the technology and experience that our team has acquired. This will be a big year in Ryan’s career, and we are excited to be a part of someone who has such a bright future.”
Heavner concluded, “I am so excited to finally get back into a Pro Cup car and add to the experience I gained from my rookie season.”
The USAR Pro Cup Series opens their 2011 fourteen race season March 19th with the USAR Pro Cup 250 Presented by Kangaroo Express at the New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Ryan Heavner would like to thank all of the team partners for the 2010 racing season. These include; Strutmasters.com, Lawing Marble, DLP Marketing, LJ DeZigns, W.D. Enterprises and WaltersWebDesign.com.
For information about Ryan Heavner, visit www.RyanHeavner.com
For information about Matt Lofton Motorsports, visit www.MattLofton.com
For information about the USAR Pro Cup Series, visit www.usarprocup.com
For marketing opportunities or media availability for Ryan Heavner and Matt Lofton Motorsports, contact Dennis Punch at [email protected] or (828) 464-6677 office or (828) 994-1631 cell.