Jack Madrid recently earned a spot on the Rev Racing team for 2013 and will compete in NASCAR’s Whelen All American series. Courtesy photo
Local race car driver Jack Madrid earns spot in NASCAR Drive for Diversity program
By Steve Breazeale
18-year-old San Clemente resident Jack Madrid has been on a tear through the lower levels of the NASCAR racing circuit. A breakout 2012, which included three top-10 finishes and a victory, has put Madrid in the spotlight and earned him a spot on the coveted Rev Racing team as part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program.
In 2013, Madrid is slated to compete in 14 races throughout the country in his Late Series Toyota Camry, which has upwards of 550 horsepower under the hood. The circuit he’ll be racing on is the Whelen All American Series, which has been a training ground for future NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup racers.
He qualified for the spot on Rev Racing after finishing among the top qualifiers who were invited to NASCAR’s 2013 combine. After proving his worth on the track, Madrid was one of seven drivers selected.
Madrid only raced in four events last season, mostly due to lack of funding. Now that he is a part of Rev Racing, the future has gotten brighter for Madrid and he is looking forward to racing more.
“(Rev Racing) is developing me as a driver…They’re also
developing a lot of minority drivers, who we don’t see a lot of in the national race series,” Madrid, who is of Hispanic descent, said.
Madrid knows that there will be a lot of added pressure now that he is racing on a big stage with a big east coast racing team backing him. He was even recently named to Fox Sports
“Drivers 25 and under to watch” list for 2013. But Madrid, who has been racing competitively since he was 8 years old, is ready for the challenge.
“After my 2012 season there are very high standards…I’m looking to finish in the top-3 of every race,” Madrid said. “There’s a little bit of pressure but I should be able to handle it.”
His first race in the Whelen All American Series will be in March.
