Catchfence

NEWTON, Iowa (July 13, 2011) – - Saturday is a big day for LaGrange, Missouri native Justin Jennings. After a successful stint in Late Model racing, Jennings will take a leap in his racing career by participating in the Prairie Meadows 200 at Iowa Speedway for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

For his inaugural ARCA debut, Jennings has aligned with Tennessee-based Hixson Motorsports where Jennings will pilot the No. 28 LG SEEDS Chevrolet Impala for his inaugural stock car start. Teaming up with a respectable organization like Hixson Motorsports not to mention the unconditional support of family, Jennings hopes to fly under the radar all the way until the start of the 11th race of the season before planning to make an impression in his ARCA short track debut.

In addition to partnering with the veteran Hixson Motorsports team, Jennings has brought a new marketing partner to the series in LG SEEDS – who makes the jump from local sponsorship to now pairing with a team and driver in a nationally televised event.

LG SEEDS is a Brand of AgReliant Genetics, the fourth largest corn seed company in the USA. LG Seeds offers corn, soybean and alfalfa seed to farmers throughout the Corn Belt. LG SEEDS headquarters is located in Elmwood, IL.

“I still cannot believe this is happening,” said 18-year old Jennings. “We put this partnership together with Hixson Motorsports relatively quickly and late but now I’m off to compete in ARCA. I’m excited but confident any jitter bugs I have will disappear once I strap behind the wheel of the No. 28 LG SEEDS Chevrolet Impala.

I cannot thank LG SEEDS enough for believing in me enough to make this jump to the ARCA Racing Series. Everyone at LG SEEDS is such a pleasure to work with and I’m hoping that we’re able to go out there on Saturday, run well and hopefully work out something where we’re able to keep this alignment going for some potentially more races down the road.”

While adjusting to a 3400-pound stock car is no easy task, if there is a bonus for Jennings leaning into the weekend, it will be his familiarization with the .875-mile paved Iowa Speedway. With prior experience at the Newton, Iowa race track in the ASA Challenge Series, Jennings is hoping that what he learned in that race will help when practice initiates on Friday afternoon.

“Iowa Speedway is such a smooth place,” he said. “I love racing there. From what I understand the competition level will be similar to what I’ve experienced in the ASA Challenge Series, so my biggest focus before the race is getting comfortable in the No. 28 LG SEEDS Chevrolet Impala. Iowa is definitely a momentum and handling track. We’ll have some time to dial in our car before qualifying and the race on Saturday, so we just need to make the best of the time allotment given to us.”

As for a realistic goal for a finishing position in his ARCA Racing Series debut, Jennings laid out a very feasible and obtainable mission.

“It’s not about winning this weekend, although that would be awesome,” Jennings sounded. “Realistically, we all would be siked with a top-20 finish and most importantly taking the checkered flag. We have to stay out of trouble in order to be there at the end, so keeping on the straight and narrow is a huge priority for me in order to complete my goal(s).”

In addition to LG SEEDS, Jennings brings additional sponsorship support for his ARCA Racing Series debut from Grants Tire of Taylor, Missouri and Jennings Bros. Trucking based in LaGrange, Missouri.

The Prairie Meadows 200 (200 laps / 175 miles) is the 11th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The sixth ever ARCA race at Iowa Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, July 15th with an hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 3:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. A final fifty minute session has been etched in from 5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated for race day, Saturday July 16th set to begin at 12:10 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 4:15 p.m. The event will air live on SPEED. Additional event coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,323rd race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.

For additional information on LG SEEDS, please visit; lgseeds.com.

ABOUT LG SEEDS:

LG SEEDS is a Brand of AgReliant Genetics, the fourth largest corn seed company in the United States. LG SEEDS offers corn, soybean and alfalfa seed to farmers throughout the Corn Belt. LG SEEDS headquarters is located in Elmwood, Illinois.

- Jennings Motorsports Press Release