ADA, OH (3/28/12) – When Eldora Speedway announced that Danica Patrick would be racing in their Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream on Wednesday, June 6, many folks began asking which Dirt Late Model driver would be fielding a car for the popular female racer. The answer is 2011 Eldora Speedway Late Model Champion Jon Henry.
During the last several months, parties from Jon Henry Racing and Danica Patrick’s team have been working diligently to get the deal in place. Patrick was looking for a top notch ride and Henry was looking for a popular driver. When an agreement was reached, both sides were excited about having Patrick race for charity in one of the country’s premier Dirt Late Model events.
“What an awesome opportunity!” said Henry. “To have Danica drive my car at the Prelude is really special. My team and I are certainly looking forward to it and I know Danica is too.”
“I raced on dirt once before in a go-kart when I was young, but that’s about it. It’s going to be a challenge for sure, but I know Tony has offered to help in any way possible. I’m excited about it, but I’m also nervous,” Patrick said in an Eldora Speedway press release. “It’s a totally different style of racing, so I’m not sure what to expect. But, it’s for a great cause with Feed The Children benefiting from the money raised this year, so I’m ready to give it a shot.”
Henry, a two-time Sunoco American Late Model Series Champion, last fielded a car in the Prelude to the Dream in 2010. The driver of his car that year was another worldwide motorsports star, Travis Pastrana. Pastrana finished 23rd in his dirt track debut, but stated the opportunity to race a Dirt Late Model was something he’d never forget.
For more information on Jon Henry, visit his website at www.jonhenryracing.com.
JON HENRY RACING 2012 “DIRTY DOZEN” MEMBERS:
Mike & Sheila Keller (Lima, OH)
Truman Quarterhorses (Kenton, OH)
Re-Deck of Northwest Ohio (Ada, OH) – www.redeckonwo.com
Norada Lanes (Ada, OH)
The JLH Company (Fremont, OH) www.jlhcompany.com
Home Savings & Loan (Kenton, OH) www.hslc-kenton.com
William H. Bass Trucking (Ada, OH)
Automated Transport (Kenton, OH)
Reproductive Assistance (Terrace Park, OH) www.reproassistinc.com
Ron Spencer Real Estate (Lima, OH) www.rsre.com
Lehman & Lehman (Milford Center, OH)
Associated Plastics (Ada, OH) www.associatedplasticscorp.com
Jon Henry Racing Affiliate Supporters: Fultz Fabrications & Speed Shop, Wide Open Graphics, Snyder Chiropractic, BOCO Machine, WFIN 1330 ‘Racing World’, K&N Filters, Ohlins, Hooker Harness, Outerwears, Bell, Eibach Springs, Accu Force, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Hawk Performance, VP race fuels, Wiles Drive Shaft, Team Peterson, Allstar Performance, Dyer Rods, Dargie Race Engines, Rocket Chassis, Sweet Mfg, Frankland Rear Ends, Micro-Armor