Austin Murphy And After Hours Racing Set Their Sites On The Gene Price Motorsports Late Model River Series
BY DAVE GRAYSON
Lancaster-California's Austin Murphy, and his family owned After Hours Racing, has served notice that he intends to defend his Late Model River Series championship and score the repeat title.
This is especially true in light of recent developments that has made this series very lucrative. The series is now fully sponsored by Gene Price Motorsports. The renown Parker-Arizona racing operation has stepped up with a purse program that is going to take this series to new heights. Making the series even more lucrative is a merchandise sponsorship from Mac Tools.
The Gene Price Motorsports Late Model River Series features eight races hosted by the Havasu 95 Speedway, in Lake Havasu City-Arizona, and the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway, located in Blythe-California.
The series officially kicked off the 2009-2010 winter racing season October 10th at the Havasu 95 Speedway. That's the night Austin Murphy clearly proved that he was going to be a major force to be dealt with. The 17 year driver won that first series race following a hotly contested duel with driver Jerry Snell. Murphy received $500, from Gene Price Motorsports, for the win as well as a racing floor jack from Mac Tools. He also picked up a $100 bonus for setting the fast time in qualifying after touring the Havasu 95 Speedway's quarter mile paved oval in 15.782 seconds. Afterwards, the smiling Murphy said "man, that was one of the best races in my entire life. It was really a lot of fun. I just can't thank enough Gene Price Motorsports and Mac Tools for stepping up the way they have to support this series."
The driver of the #07 Lucas Oil-Havasu Legends and Bandoleros late model Chevrolet fully understands that the competition in the series is expected to intensify. That largely due to area Saturday night racing programs, such as the Orange Show Speedway and the Toyota Speedway At Irwindale, who recently completed their regular late model points season.
"I really hope that happens," the reigning series champion said adding "I've been to the Orange Show during the summer and I've been telling those guys to join us in the Gene Price Motorsports Late Model River Series. That first race at the Havasu 95 Speedway really was a lot of fun. The next race could be even more fun with those other guys racing joining us."
After Hours Racing's Jeff Murphy,who has the awesome job of being dad, crew chief and even spotter, agrees that the level of competition is likely to get a lot tougher as the series' schedule progresses. "There will be increased competition but I believe that Austin has a higher level of consistency at both of these tracks. I'm not saying that we're going to win the championship automatically, but I do believe that we have a more well rounded team and that's why we won the championship last year because we're good at both tracks. The wild card in this year's series is going to be that nine car, Jerry Snell, out of Havasu. I think that if he makes all the races it's going to be a nail biter all the way to the end," Murphy said.
Jeff Murphy also said that he was grateful for the team sponsors they were able to acquire so After Hours Racing can run the series adding "we don't have full sponsors like we did in the past. Last year we were racing like kings, this year we're racing like paupers. We do have Lucas Oil who came on this year as an associate sponsor and we definitely appreciate that and then Havasu Legends and Bandoleros came on to help out with the pit entry fees. The best news of all is Gene Price Motorsports and Mac Tools came in and they're helping the entire series which brought the purse money up. As long as we don't wreck the car really bad then we're going to make it all the way to the end."
The Gene Price Motorsports Late Model River Series returns to action on October 31st at the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway in Blythe. Look for Austin Murphy, and After Hours Racing, to be completely prepped and ready to go after their second consecutive series win.