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(Press Release from Hallstrom Motorsports)
Hallstrom Motorsports, an established family owned late model racing team known for success at Thunder Road and the American Canadian Tour, is excited to announce the rollout of their new Driver Development Program. They will be working with young up-and-coming racers to help them successfully transition through the different levels of short track racing. The program will be mainly focused on working with promising racing talent out of the New England states and the Northeastern US.
The program will be focused on both on-track coaching as well as off-track elements with safety, mechanical, chassis, marketing, sponsorship, communication and leadership skills. Hallstrom will be providing their own late model race cars as well as other entry level cars as the program progresses.
“The Driver Development Program has been a vision of Hallstrom Motorsports since we began our team several years ago.” Says team owner Louis Hallstrom. “We recognized there was an entire generation missing among the existing racers around our area, and most young racers were going south for opportunities. We realized the key to keeping our sport alive and growing in New England is the youth. Our program has built to the point where we have the equipment as well as a very talented crew, so we feel it’s time to use our leadership and racing experience grow a new generation of racers right here at home.”
Hallstrom Motorsports Driver Development has already signed 17 year old Devin O’Connell of Madison, CT, as the first driver in the late model portion of the program. O’Connell is well known for his 2014 Allison Legacy Series Championship and is currently a front runner in the US Legend Semi Pro Series, fresh off a win last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In 2014 he also had an impressive transition into Legend cars. He won 12 of 35 starts, 28 top 5s, winning two feature races at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Summer Shootout.
Testing with O’Connell with the Hallstrom #1 late model will begin this fall and the team plans on select races in the ACT (American Canadian Tour) tour and some PASS (Pro All Stars Series) events with O’Connell once he gets comfortable in the car in 2016, and possibly yet this season.
O’Connell is looking forward to working with the Hallstrom’s stating: “Racing for Hallstrom Motorsports and the ACT Tour is a huge opportunity for the team to grow as well as Evan and myself to further our racing. I’m super pumped to get this rolling and to get behind the wheel of a Late Model!” He said from a call while racing his legends car in Charlotte NC last evening.
O’Connell and the Hallstroms connected through Marketing At Full Speed, a renowned motorsports marketing and driver career coaching program led by auto racing veteran Annamarie Malfitana-Strawhand. Marketing At Full Speed will serve as a coaching partner to the Hallstrom program and all their drivers.
In addition, a partnership with Speedway 51 in Groveton, NH will serve as the primary facility for the Hallstrom Development Program. The team currently fields a car in the Daredevil division at Speedway 51 for 13 year old Evan Hallstrom who will be following O’Connell up through the ranks of the development program into late models. O’Connell will serve as a mentor for the younger drivers in the program.
Leading up the marketing and management of the program is team co- owner Lisa Hallstrom.
“Louie and I are very excited about working with the drivers coming through the program. There is a lot of young racing talent in New England with no place to try out a late model or even get to the right people to learn what they need to have to succeed in racing. We are looking forward to being the go-to team for driver advancement, and bring new talent in. The timing is perfect for us as our youngest son, Evan Hallstrom, has begun his racing career this summer.” Hallstrom stated, “Speedway 51 has been wonderful and they are super excited to work with us and help develop the racing youth. Together it is our goal to create a long and successful legacy for Hallstrom Motorsports and our drivers and partners.” She continued.
The Hallstrom Motorsports Development Program is also offering high profile marketing and promotional as well research and development opportunities for companies who would like to expand their reach in New England. The marketing mission for the team is to also assist companies in developing their brands and growing with a youth market.
Interested New England drivers can request an on track coaching session through the online form on the Hallstrom Motorsports website and also read about the pre-requisites of applying to the development program.
If you would like more information about the Hallstrom Motorsports Driver Development Program go to www.hallstrom-motorsports.com
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