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13-year-old Logan Ruffin prepares to go up against some of the best in the
country in Hoffman, Stremme, and the best of the South in Lakeland.Posted
January 22nd, 2008
13-year-old Logan Ruffin will head down to SpeedFest 2008 to compete in the
Crate Late Model Challenge 100 this Thursday-Saturday January 24-26, 2008
at the USA (FL) International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida. (Total
Performance Driver Development Photo)
By Total Performance Driver Development/M.P.H. Promotions
Brentwood, Tennessee (01/22/2008): 13-year-old Logan Ruffin has already
gave in to the fact that his 2008 racing season is going to be a form of
schooling for the Brentwood, Tennessee teenager. Ruffin knows that to be the
best in the business, he will have to learn from those widely regarded as the
best in the short track racing.
Going head to head with the likes of Wheaton, Illinois veteran, Eddie Hoffman
by itself is no small task. Throw in NASCAR driver, David Stremme, 2007 Pat
Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Sean Murphy and Medina, Ohio
veteran, Jack Smith, and Ruffin knows he needs to bring lots of paper and
pens because he’s going to school with some stout teachers.
For the 2008 season, Ruffin, driving for Total Performance Driver
Development, will make a run at the Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year
title in the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division as well as the freshman
title in the ASALMS Southern Division. But first things first, Ruffin will get a
sneak preview at what’s in store for him in 2008 as he goes after Two
freshman titles!
His first live ASALMS competition of the 2008 campaign comes this weekend,
Thursday-Saturday January 24-26, 2008 in the running of the Crate Late
Model Challenge 100, which is part of SpeedFest 2008 at the fast 0.750 Mile
Progressively Banked Paved Oval of the USA (FL) International Speedway in
Lakeland, Florida
“I’m so excited about my first ASALMS outing of the year. The competition
should be awesome and I hear the track is really a fun place to race.” The
excited 13-year-old stated. “This will be my first shot at a 3/4 mile track, and I
am looking forward to the challenge. I would imagine the track will be fast and
require a very good handling car to make the race and be competitive.”
Ruffin then added; “I know that Chuck (Crew Chief Chuck Moores) will have
the car ready to go and we should be able to unload with a great car. With a
good bit of practice time, I believe we should be able to dial the car in and be
in a position to get a spot in the field. Then on Saturday, we will just go out and
do the best that we can to be competitive at the end of the race.
The run for the 2008 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title for Ruffin
begins with the 2008 ASALMS Challenge Division Opener at Tri-County (NC)
Motor Speedway in Hudson, North Carolina on Friday and Saturday March 14-
15, 2008 for the running of the Rumble in the Hills / North Carolina 200.
Then two weekends later, the quest for the ASALMS Southern Division Rookie
of the Year title begins with the 2008 ASALMS South Season Opener at the
Bronson (FL) Motor Speedway in Bronson, Florida on Friday and Saturday
March 28-29, 2008 in the running of the Bronson 100.
Overall during the 2008 season, Ruffin has between 35 and 40 races
scheduled all around the United States. In addition to his ASALMS schedule,
he’ll also make starts in the PASS South Series as well as the CRA Super
Series, the Southeast Tour, and even on off weekends, he plans on running
local shows around his Brentwood, Tennessee home.
Ruffin’s 2008 campaign actually began on January 12-13, 2008 in the special
“Ice Cold Shriner Bowl” in a 100-lap Feature for Pro Late Models at the Lanier
(GA) National Speedway in Braselton, Georgia.
Prior to the Shriner Bowl, Ruffin’s last appearance at the 0.375 Mile High-
Banked Paved Oval was a flag to flag Feature Win in a “Run What You Brung”
Super Late Model Special on November 24, 2007. So Ruffin and the Total
Performance crew were ready for a return trip to the Peach State speed plant.
Things didn’t go quite as planned for the Volunteer State teenager as he was
caught up in an early wreck in the opening laps of the century grind. Ruffin
was an innocent bystander and had nowhere to go. After assessing the
damage, Moores sent Ruffin back out even with the damage and Ruffin gained
valuable experience in finishing a respectable Ninth.
“Lanier was a great chance to get back in the car after a few weeks off. With
some of the new equipment that Chuck has put in the car, like the new brake
system, Lanier gave me a chance to get the feel of the car back and to knock
off the dust.” Continued Ruffin.
“With the wrecks and contact early, I didn’t get much of a chance to really
stretch the car out due to some damage to the front suspension. I believe that
we would have had a Top Five car, but the toe getting knocked out kept me
from being able to move above Ninth place. I’ll chalk Lanier up to some good
seat time and a decent shakedown of the car.” He ended.
During the 2007 season, the 13-year-old Ruffin attempted to become the
youngest driver in ASALMS history to Qualify for an event when he entered
the Adam Petty Memorial / All-American 200 at the Music City (TN) Motorplex
in Nashville, Tennessee on November 3, 2007.
Although he failed to Qualify for the prestigious race due to a broken
Driveshaft during Qualifying, the lessons learned throughout the weekend
proved to be beneficial as the teenager looks ahead to the 2008 campaign.
Also in 2007, Ruffin competed in the Pro Challenge Racing Series as well as
600 Racing Legends Series events all over the Southeast where he picked up
several Feature Wins and an impressive 14 Top Five finishes.
Later in the season, Ruffin debuted his Late Model and a few races into his
Late Model career, he qualified into the Mason-Dixon Meltdown at the Concord
(NC) Motorsport Park to become the youngest driver to do so in the events’
history. He would close out the year with his first Late Model Feature Win at
Lanier.
Logan began his racing career in Quarter Midgets at Nine Years Old in the
spring of 2004. In the middle of the 2005 season, Logan was put in a Mini Cup
in the MMRA Series. Logan successfully completed four Mini Cup races during
2005, with a best finish of fourth place.
The 2006 racing season was initially set for Logan to compete in Quarter
Midgets and in the MMRA Mini Cup Traveling Series. Logan’s 2006 racing
season started on New Years Day in New Smyrna, Florida. Logan scored first
place finishes in Light B and Light AA and a third place finish in the Light
Modified at the Little New Smyrna 500.
In February 2006, Logan returned to Florida to race the Winter Nationals at
Orlando Speedworld in his Mini Cup car. During this two-race event, Logan
scored a first place and second place finish. Ruffin finished the Mini Cup
season with 27 starts, 15 wins and only two finishes outside the top three.
Ruffin finished the National Championship competition in second place,
missing the title by only one point. Also in August 2006, Logan began
practicing and racing in the 600 Racing Legends Semi-Pro Classification.
For the 2008 season, Ruffin will steer a Total Performance Driver
Development / R Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo carrying primary
sponsorship from; Torco Racing Fuel, Impact Racing, and Joe’s Racing
Products.
In addition, more support comes from; Schoenfeld Headers, Basset Racing
Wheels, Tiger Rear Ends, ARP Bodies, Hamner Racing Engines, FSR
Radiators, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Butlerbuilt Seats, and AP Racing
Brakes.
To learn more about Logan Ruffin, Total Performance Driver Development,
and the 2008 racign season, go to the teams website at: R Motorsports
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