Cornelius, NC ~ Andrew Carlsen and the Carlsen Motorsports team had the 2008 roller coaster season come to an end Saturday night at Concord Motorsport Park in Concord, NC.  Fortunately, it was a solid ending to the season.

After grabbing two Melling Select Rookie of the Race awards in the first half of the season, Carlsen struggled through the last half, but on Saturday night on the half mile "Super Speedway of Short Tracks", the young driver capped off the season with a 14th place lead lap finish.  Carlsen qualified a very disappointing 24th but worked his way through the field very quietly.

He picked off a few cars, got tangled up in three (3) wrecks, not of his doing, during the 150-lap event, but when the checkered flag fell over the UARA-STARS Late Model Stock Car series, the CPCC sophomore found himself on the lead lap.  After each incident, he needed to come into the pits working the pace car not to go down a lap or more.  “What hustle the team had for me tonight in the pits.  They keep me on the lead lap with great and fast work to change tires and tear off body parts that were hanging off.” Carlsen wasn't thrilled with the finish, but knew after the recent experiences he was grateful to take what he could get.

"We just never clicked in the second half of the season.  We were looking good through the first six or eight events and always had strong cars, we just didn't have lady luck on our side," commented Carlsen.  "This team worked really hard all season long and a lot of people can't see the progress we made, but I think next year we could easily be in contention for the championship.  Of course that's the goal and I think we can make that happen."

Sponsorship is needed for next year and the Carlsen team is actively looking for companies that would like great exposure to thousands of fans all over the four state region. “We are getting down to business, the business of getting ready for the 2009 season.  While the season opener is likely just over five months away, the team knows that in order to be prepared for the season the way this year’s championship contenders were, it's going to take a lot of hard work and preparation and sponsorship.”  Please call Andrew with any leads or possibilities you may have.

Carlsen finished up the 2008 season just one point out of 11th place in the standings and finished 4th in the Melling Select Rookie of the Year standings.  “We missed the Hickory Motor Speedway Championship by only two points last year and this year’s competition was really top notch so we are good to go for next year!”

For more information on Andrew Carlsen, please visit www.andrewcarlsenracing.com or contact Carlsen Racing at (704) 651-3651.  
 
 

2008 Season Stats: