|
As the 2004 season starts
NASCAR's big push for the "Drive for Diversity" has started.
Enter “Chewy” Jesus (Pronounced hey-sus) Hernandez. Chewy Hernandez has run
over 36 NASCAR sanctioned events in 2002 and 2003.
The last three years he has finished in the top five every year in
the Grand American Modified Championship, securing a fourth place in
championship points for the 2003 Season. “Chewy” or Chuy is a
first generation Mexican American. He
is also the ONLY true diversity Winston Racing Series champion in the
series having won at Madera Speedway. “Chewy” Hernandez is
also very will rounded; he has obtained a business background that has
been developed through hard work and dedication. He has many academic
achievements. He has made the Deans list of Honors in college and has a AA
in business Administration and is currently attending Chewy was very excited to
be able to go down and test for Joe Gibbs Racing the third week of
December. He was one of 6
drivers that were chosen out of hundreds in a national driver search for
Joe Gibbs late model Program. “I was very excited to
be down in Hickory to test for Joe Gibbs and his organization.
When we first got in I put a call in to Steve Desouza who scheduled a
tour with JD Gibbs to go see their Winston Cup Operation. “ Hernandez met up with JD
and went on a tour of the Winston Cup shop and at the end of the tour met
with Joe Gibbs. “Mr. Gibbs
seemed like a very nice gentlemen and he has a great organization,”
commented Hernandez. Friday he was ready to
rock and roll and was one of the first drivers to go to the track.
Chewy got there early to check out the track and to get a feel for
it. That day there were 4
drivers testing. He was given
a choice to drive a Chevy or a Dodge and he chose the Chevy. “Everything fit really well in the car. The driver before us who shook down the car set up the car pretty good. Curtis Markham who is in charge of special projects for Joe Gibbs. was also the spotter for this session. “He gave me my first
lap times. After 15 laps Ray
the crew Chief and Curtis gave me feedback.
They told me Turn one and two where perfect, and that there was
just a change in my driving style in three in four that was slowing me
down. So following their
advice I began chopping down my lap times and got faster and faster.
The car was real neutral and very comfortable. We were hitting A camera crew was present
at the testing and went over to interview Chewy after he got out of his
car. When asked his
thoughts on his experience. “Over
all the whole experience was executed perfectly and I feel that Joe Gibbs
has a great organization.” I
am ready for whatever the future brings.” While NASCAR is gearing
up for 2004 and their diversity program, G&G Motorsports Marketing and
KWK Motorsports have been working for a while on this program.
The program was started over a year ago when “We are excited that
Chewy had this opportunity to test for Joe Gibbs and hope for the best but
in the interim we are continuing to work on our program.
We are in the process of securing sponsorship for Chewy for the
2004 season which will include a full season of NASCAR Winston West series
along with 4 Craftsman Truck races. Mr.
Hernandez is "One Driver with Twice the Potential” commented
Francine Schill of G&G Motorsports Marketing who is in charge of
Marketing and PR for Hernandez.
|
||||||
