Teenager Hits the asphalt
Randy Wrenn
Daily Herald Sports Writer March 1, 2012 Most fifteen year olds only dream about driving legally on asphalt, but Roanoke Rapids resident Garrett Marchant not only drives on asphalt, he drives fast on it. This Saturday Marchant will be starting his third year of racing cars in circles and his first time running for a season points championship. This seasson Marchant will be both in a new division and at a new track he has never raced on. |
Photo Courtesy of Randy Wrenn
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Marchant who is home schooled raced in his first race in 2010 at Coastal Plains Raceway Jacksonville, NC in the Goodyear young guns division at the age of thirteen. Then in 2011 he moved to the Budweiser Pure stocks division at Orange County Speedway and South Boston Speedway. In September of that season he was given the opportunity to drive a Limited Late Model race at Orange County Speedway. Starting 13th and finishing 10th bringing the car home in one piece. In his family owned BMR Motorsports #77 Lone Star Car Transportaion, Last Lap Marketing, Racing 2 Cure Limited Late Model Marchant will be racing the 2012 season at the reopend NASCAR sanctioned Southern National Motorsport Park (SNMP) off Interstate 95 in Kenly NC for the Series Championship. The racing season kicks of this Saturday with Grandstands gates opening at noon with green flag scheduled to drop at 2 p.m.. Sunday March 4th has been scheduled as the potential rain date.
Marchant will also be the youngest know to date to be competing in the track championship for the Limited Late Model series title.
BMR Motorsports, based in Kinston was formed in the 1970’s by Marchant’s grandfather, former dirt track driver Gary Marchant. Gary raced at the famed County Line Raceway in Elm City, NC as well as Chantilly Speedway, Halifax County’s Clary’s Speedway, Fayetteville Speedway, and Concord Speedway. Gary ended his racing career when his son Burney Marchant began racing. Gary now spends his time working on racecars all week and is at the racetrack with Grandson Garrett.
Marchant’s father Burney began his racing career at a young age also. At the age of 14, He would run dirt for a few years until he began racing at Southern National Raceway Park at age 19. Burney raced Super Stocks and Late Models on tracks such as, Southern National, Coastal Plains Raceway, East Carolina Motor Speedway, Dillon Motor Speedway, and Florence Speedway. Burney is not fully retired though, he crew chiefs for Garrett Marchant and is the owner of BMR Motorsports. He looks to maybe run a select schedule sometime in the near future once Garrett’s career takes off!
For more information on Garrett Marchant Racing please visitwww.garretmarchant.com, Facebook: facebook.com/garrettmarchantracing, Garrett’s personal Twitter: @OfficialGarrett.
Marchant will also be the youngest know to date to be competing in the track championship for the Limited Late Model series title.
BMR Motorsports, based in Kinston was formed in the 1970’s by Marchant’s grandfather, former dirt track driver Gary Marchant. Gary raced at the famed County Line Raceway in Elm City, NC as well as Chantilly Speedway, Halifax County’s Clary’s Speedway, Fayetteville Speedway, and Concord Speedway. Gary ended his racing career when his son Burney Marchant began racing. Gary now spends his time working on racecars all week and is at the racetrack with Grandson Garrett.
Marchant’s father Burney began his racing career at a young age also. At the age of 14, He would run dirt for a few years until he began racing at Southern National Raceway Park at age 19. Burney raced Super Stocks and Late Models on tracks such as, Southern National, Coastal Plains Raceway, East Carolina Motor Speedway, Dillon Motor Speedway, and Florence Speedway. Burney is not fully retired though, he crew chiefs for Garrett Marchant and is the owner of BMR Motorsports. He looks to maybe run a select schedule sometime in the near future once Garrett’s career takes off!
For more information on Garrett Marchant Racing please visitwww.garretmarchant.com, Facebook: facebook.com/garrettmarchantracing, Garrett’s personal Twitter: @OfficialGarrett.
