With the 2024 off season in full swing currently, we have some updates on what Ron Aurand Racing plans currently are. Unfortunately our 2023 racing season was cut short after a crash this past Labor Day weekend which sidelined me with a minor upper back fracture. Unfortunately pretty much everything I owned was destroyed in the crash. After taking the past 2 1/2 months to heal up, I have started to evaluate what we need to be able to field a car this season.
We were able to pick up a RPM chassis off of Russ Mitten this past week and currently have it down at CMC in Sunbury getting it powder coated by the best in the business Jeff Furlong. My plans are to continue to work this off-season on acquiring the needed parts to be able to run a limited 410 schedule throughout Pennsylvania and possibly a trip or two to Ohio if our budget allows us to do so. We are actively searching for marketing partners to be able to help with our budget.
Now that we have addressed what our 2024 plans are I would like to take a minute and let everyone know that this will be my final year fielding my own race car.
Unfortunately as every race team is well aware the costs of fielding a car are not cheap and to the point of us no longer being able to do so after this season. I have nothing but respect for team owners and drivers who can perform at the top of their game and continue to field a car year in and year out, it's amazing and as a fan of the sport as well, these people sacrifice so much in their lives to be able to put a car on the track weekly for all of us fans to enjoy!
I have been blessed beyond words to be able to live my dreams of running a sprint car at my home Track Port Royal Speedway, and even won a few races over my time in a 305 sprint car at my favorite race track Bedford Speedway and one at Hesston Speedway.
It's crazy to think that this all started for me in 2005 when my father in law Rob Grassmyer called me redneck because I asked him to go to the races with his daughter and I at Williams Grove season Opener and a few weeks later he was so in love with racing that he asked me to go with him to pick up a 270cc Micro Sprint that he bought. Funny thing is the entire way to pick up the car I thought he was planning on driving it and just wanted me to help out. It wasn't until on the way home from picking it up that he asked how quick I can buy a race suit for us to be able to race that I realized it was for me to drive haha. After a couple years of that we decided to move up to 305s and had some fun for a few years and in 2015 Ron Aurand Racing was formed between my dad Duff and I where we picked up 3 wins together and in 2022 purchased a -12 410 engine from Ronnie Rough. I always had the dreams of running a 410 Sprint car and thanks to my dad who busts his but nonstop in the shop, I was able to do so and get to race alongside some of my childhood hero's!
I would like to thank the following car owners for allowing me an opportunity to make some amazing memories and friends driving their cars over the years, Rob Grassmyer #86/17D (AG MotorSport/RPG Motorsports) Jim Tush #92(Jim Tush Special), Ron Aurand Racing #86.
Currently my hopes are to do some more behind the scenes social media content this off-season and keep everyone up to date!
Whether you just follow my social media, purchased a T-shirt over the years, One of our amazing sponsors past or present, or are a fan, I can't thank you all enough for being part of our journey over the years.
Special thanks to my crew guys who volunteered so much time over the years to help us out Bob Logan, Scott Settle, Matt LeFevre, Dan Cram, Jordan Aurand, Adam Bailor, Sean Fluke. Most importantly thanks to my dad for all the years of telling me it's the driver not the car. Now enough of that heartfelt stuff and here's to making memories and having fun together in 2024!
- administrator on Feb 02, 2024
- Article Date: 12/10/2023