JOE HAWES SET TO BEGIN 36TH SEASON OF LATE MODEL RACING
JOE HAWES SET TO BEGIN 36TH SEASON OF LATE MODEL RACING
Toledo, Ohio: March 30, 2018: Anyone that has sat in the grandstands for the past 3 decades at Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways has seen Joe Hawes compete in the ARCA Late Model division. And chalk up another year in that incredible stretch to make it 36 consecutive seasons behind the wheel of a slick, fast outlaw-bodied Late Model as Joe prepares for the 2018 season.
The Brownstown, MI native began his career racing in the Street Stock class at Flat Rock and Sportsman class at Toledo. Joe’s brother, Gary, also competed in the Late Models and currently Joe’s son, Steve, is a fellow racer in the same class of race car.
All of Joe’s cars have carried the #53, and will do so again for 2018. Son Steve’s machine bears the #54.
Hawes has competed at various tracks in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana during his tenure at the wheel of a Late Model. Joe has 4 career wins at Flat Rock and a victory at Toledo, and etched his name in the record books with a 1991 Flat Rock championship and a 2004 Toledo crown.
“Congratulations to Joe, his family and crew for their efforts to field a car for that many years,” said Ron Drager, Owner and Promoter of both tracks. “Joe has supported ARCA, Flat Rock, Toledo and the sport for as long as I can remember. We are very proud to have the Hawes team in competition at both tracks again this year, marking Joe’s 36th consecutive season of Late Model racing. It is truly a great accomplishment.”
The season begins with the Cometic Gasket 200 presented by PNC Bank Saturday afternoon, April 14 at Toledo Speedway. The Toledo season opener will see a pair of 100-lap feature race events—one for the ARCA CRA Super Series presented by Jeg’s stock-bodied Late Models and the ARCA Gold Cup outlaw-bodied Late Model 100 lap contest. Race time is 3 p.m.