Kaz Grala
| Kaz Grala | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Grala at Daytona International Speedway in 2018 | |||||||
| Born |
December 29, 1998 Boston, Massachusetts | ||||||
| Awards |
Youngest race winner ever at Daytona International Speedway (18) Youngest pole winner in any of the top 3 divisions of NASCAR (Daytona) | ||||||
| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 16 races run over 1 year | |||||||
| Car no., team | No. 61 (Fury Race Cars) | ||||||
| First race | 2018 PowerShares QQQ 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 2018 Lakes Region 200 (Loudon) | ||||||
| |||||||
| NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career | |||||||
| 32 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| 2017 position | 7th | ||||||
| Best finish | 7th (2017) | ||||||
| First race | 2016 Alpha Energy Solutions 250 (Martinsville) | ||||||
| Last race | 2017 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead) | ||||||
| First win | 2017 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona) | ||||||
| |||||||
| NASCAR Pinty's Series career | |||||||
| 1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
| Best finish | 41st (2016) | ||||||
| First race | 2016 Clarington 200 (Mosport) | ||||||
| Last race | 2016 Can-Am 200 (Mosport) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Statistics current as of July 21, 2018. | |||||||
Kaz Grala (/ˈɡrɔːlə/ GRAW-lə;[1] born December 29, 1998) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Boston. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 61 Ford Mustang for Fury Race Cars.
Racing career[edit]
Early career[edit]
Grala started racing go-karts at F1 Boston in Braintree, Massachusetts when he was four, and three years later, began racing competitively. When he was ten,[2] he raced Bandoleros, winning the Summer Shootout Championship in 2011. That same year, he won the New York Legendstock and the Massachusetts Bandolero Outlaws state championships.[1] In 2012, Grala won 15 races and the Winter Heat Championship at Charlotte Motor Speedway[3] in the Legend Car Pro Division.
Stock car racing[edit]
In 2013, Grala competed in the UARA-Stars, becoming the youngest winner in series history at Hickory Motor Speedway, followed by setting the record as the youngest driver to lead laps in the Myrtle Beach 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway where he finished second to Lee Pulliam. That same year, he was named by Speed 51 as the 2013 JEGS Rookie of the Year. [4] The following year, he ran in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, where he became the youngest driver to compete in an International Motor Sports Association event.[3] He also joined Turner Scott Motorsports to compete full-time in the K&N Pro Series East. At the age of 15,[5] he was the youngest full-time driver in the series.[6] During the year, he competed in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and won at Caraway Speedway[7] and Martinsville Speedway. The next season, he joined Ben Kennedy Racing to race full-time in the K&N Pro Series East.[6]
In 2016, Grala made his Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville for GMS Racing, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet.[8] After a strong run, he finished 31st due to a tire failure on lap 93.[9] Grala would get his first career top ten finish at Dover, finishing 10th. With Ben Kennedy joining the team, Grala moved over to the No. 24 truck to drive for the reminder of the season in select races. He joined GMS full-time for 2017, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet.[10]
After avoiding all the crashes at Daytona, he won his first race at Daytona International Speedway from the pole, making him both the youngest driver to win a NASCAR pole at Daytona and the youngest driver to win a NASCAR race at Daytona (18 years, 1 month and 26 days). It was Grala's first win in NASCAR and essentially locked him into a spot in the Playoffs for the Truck Series in 2017.[11][12] Grala almost won at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in September, after leading the closing laps and then in one of the final corners he was tapped and spun around by Austin Cindric. Grala was eliminated from the Playoffs prior to the Round of 6 due to an early crash in the cutoff race at Talladega Superspeedway, which ultimately resulted in him finishing the season 7th in the Truck Series standings. [13]
On November 15, 2017, it was announced that Grala would join JGL Racing full-time in the Xfinity Series as a 2018 Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, driving the No. 24.[14] Grala finished fourth in his debut at Daytona. However, on May 15, the team shut down the No. 24 due to a lack of sponsorship.[15] Three days later, Grala announced he would run the next four Xfinity races for Fury Race Cars, driving the No. 61 Mustang.[16]
Other racing[edit]
In 2014, Grala ran in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, where he became the youngest driver to compete in an International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) event. In 2016, Grala competed in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for Change Racing alongside former Rolex 24 winners Spencer Pumpelly and Justin Marks, in addition to race newcomer Corey Lewis; at the age of 17, Grala was the youngest driver in the field and the youngest driver to ever compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona.[2] The team finished 52nd overall and 18th in the GTD class as a result of a mid-race crash.[17]
Personal life[edit]
Grala's father Darius was a former sports car racer, competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona three times.[2] Grala attended high school at Worcester Academy, graduating in 2017[3] as a Senior. Grala is living in Westborough, Massachusetts but spends time in Mooresville, North Carolina. Grala will be attending Georgia Tech, majoring in engineering. Grala is of Polish ancestry.
Motorsports career results[edit]
NASCAR[edit]
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Xfinity Series[edit]
| NASCAR Xfinity Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | NXSC | Pts | |||
| 2018 | JGL Racing | 24 | Ford | DAY 4 |
ATL 23 |
LVS 16 |
PHO 12 |
CAL 14 |
TEX 26 |
BRI 38 |
RCH 30 |
TAL 20 |
DOV 37 |
-* | -* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fury Race Cars | 61 | Ford | CLT 10 |
POC 16 |
MCH 12 |
IOW 10 |
CHI 40 |
DAY 5 |
KEN | NHA 14 |
IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI | ROA | DAR | IND | LVS | RCH | CLT | DOV | KAN | TEX | PHO | HOM | ||||||||||||||||
Camping World Truck Series[edit]
| NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | NCWTC | Pts | ||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | GMS Racing | 33 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | MAR 31 |
KAN | DOV 10 |
CLT | TEX | 28th | 132 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | IOW 29 |
GTW 8 |
KEN | ELD | POC | BRI 11 |
MCH | MSP 26 |
CHI | NHA 7 |
LVS | TAL | MAR 15 |
TEX | PHO 28 |
HOM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 33 | DAY 1 |
ATL 15 |
MAR 15 |
KAN 8 |
CLT 30 |
DOV 2 |
TEX 10 |
GTW 13 |
IOW 24 |
KEN 24 |
ELD 31 |
POC 23 |
MCH 12 |
BRI 28 |
MSP 3 |
CHI 9 |
NHA 10 |
LVS 5 |
TAL 29 |
MAR 7 |
TEX 6 |
PHO 5 |
HOM 13 |
7th | 2214 | ||||||||||||||||||
K&N Pro Series East[edit]
| NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | NKNPSEC | Pts | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Turner Scott Motorsports | 31 | Chevy | NSM 10 |
DAY 10 |
BRI 20 |
GRE 7 |
RCH 14 |
IOW 22 |
BGS 11 |
FFL 16 |
LGY 5 |
NHA 10 |
COL 8 |
IOW 8 |
GLN 4 |
VIR 5 |
GRE 11 |
DOV 2 |
7th | 542 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Ben Kennedy Racing | 3 | Toyota | NSM 18 |
GRE 6 |
BRI 4 |
IOW 17 |
BGS 7 |
LGY 17 |
COL 3 |
NHA 3 |
IOW 7 |
GLN 15 |
MOT 7 |
VIR 2 |
RCH 8 |
DOV 19 |
7th | 483 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | NSM 15 |
MOB 5 |
GRE 9 |
BRI 3 |
VIR 20 |
DOM 4 |
STA | COL | NHA 21 |
IOW | GLN 4 |
GRE | NJE | DOV | 16th | 272 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
K&N Pro Series West[edit]
| NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | NKNPSWC | Pts | ||||
| 2015 | Ben Kennedy Racing | 3 | Toyota | KCR | IRW | TUS | IOW | SHA | SON 17 |
SLS | IOW | EVG | CNS | MER | AAS | PHO 30 |
41st | 41 | ||||
Pinty's Series[edit]
| NASCAR Pinty's Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | NPSC | Pts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Scott Steckly | 22 | Dodge | MSP 20 |
SSS | ACD | ICAR | TOR | EIR | SAS | CTR | RIS | MSP 15 |
ASE | KWA | 41st | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
ARCA Racing Series[edit]
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| ARCA Racing Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | ARSC | Pts | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Mason Mitchell Motorsports | 88 | Chevy | DAY 10 |
NSH | SLM | TAL | TOL | ELK | POC | MCH | MAD | IOW | IRP | 48th | 405 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MDM Motorsports | 41 | Chevy | POC 4 |
WIN | ISF | ROA | DSF | SLM | CHI | KEN | KAN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship[edit]
(key)
24 Hours of Daytona[edit]
| 24 Hours of Daytona results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Class | No | Team | Car | Co-drivers | Laps | Position | Class Pos. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | GTD | 16 |  Change Racing
|
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 | Spencer Pumpelly Justin Marks Corey Lewis
|
521 | 42 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Kaz Grala". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ a b c Doyle, Bill (January 28, 2016). "Kaz Grala, 17, is the youngest driver at Rolex 24". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ a b c "At Just 15, Westborough's Kaz Grala A Rising Star In MotorSports". WBZ-TV. February 14, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ Staff, Speed51.comT (2018-03-08). "The 51's: 2017 Rookie of the Year Award Goes To… | Speed51.com". Speed 51. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ "Turner Scott Announces '14 K&N East Lineup". NASCAR Home Tracks. January 20, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Kaz Grala to Drive for Ben Kennedy Racing in 2015". Speed51. October 16, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- ^ "15-Year-Old Kaz Grala Of Westborough Earns First NASCAR Win". WBZ-TV. July 9, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "KYLE BUSCH, LARSON SLATED FOR MARTINSVILLE TRUCK DUTY". NASCAR. March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ "2016 Alpha Energy Solutions 250". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- ^ "Kaz Grala Confirmed for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Full Time in 2017 Crew Chief Jerry Baxter Joins GMS Racing and Tapped to Lead No. 33 Chevrolet Team". GMS Racing. December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
- ^ Utter, Jim (February 24, 2017). "Grala wins first Truck race after violent last-lap wreck". Motorsport.com. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ^ "Rookie Kaz Grala avoids massive last-lap crash for Truck Series win". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. February 25, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ^ Staff, FrontstretchT (2017-11-17). "Kaz Grala Crashes Out of Playoffs in Talladega | Frontstretch". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
- ^ Staff, SPEED SPORT (2017-11-17). "JGL Racing Aligns With Roush, Signs Kaz Grala | SPEED SPORT". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
- ^ Long, Dustin (May 15, 2018). "Kaz Grala no longer with JGL Racing in Xfinity Series". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Steven B. (May 18, 2018). "Kaz Grala to Run Next Four NASCAR Xfinity Series Raceskful". Speedway Digest. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
- ^ "2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
External links[edit]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaz Grala. |
- Official website
- Kaz Grala driver statistics at Racing-Reference
