Jake Engle driver of the #51 Jake Racing Chevy Impala was selected to perform in a Chevy truck commercial while racing at Orange Show Speedway. According to the producer, Jake was chosen because of his marketable appearance and his mature attitude.

Link to commercial:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJls9ijZ1u4

The person or persons that identify Jake in the commercial will win Free tickets to his next race in Charlotte North Carolina.

As the 2010 season comes to a close, Jake would like to express his gratitude for the support, mentorship, and love he’s benefited from along the way.

To the McCrays, my extended family. You’ve treated me like a son since day one. Rick, you gave me my first big break. Sandy, you provided some much-needed “Mom Love” on the track. Toni, you’ve been a great friend off the track and great resource on it. For all that and more I am eternally grateful.

To Mr. Hess, a racer’s racer. I’m excited for the opportunity to drive for you. With your guidance, as well as Clay’s, I truly believe this is the beginning of a winning partnership. See you in Mooresville.

To my mom, Susan Engle. I know I haven’t always been the perfect son, but you are and always will be the perfect mom. Thank you for supporting me both emotionally and financially throughout the year.

To my dad, Dan Engle. No amount of words could express how lucky of a son I am.

To my step mom, Lisa Sanderson. I know at times it’s difficult to understand the crazed world of racing, especially when we’re traveling three weekends per month. But you’ve made the best of it. Thank you for supporting me since we embarked on this journey ten years ago.

To my sister, Maddie. You never complained about the constant chatter of racing or being hauled off to the track. Thanks for taking it all in stride.

To Fred Hernandez, director of operations and crew chief for Jake Racing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. Your wisdom and guidance has made me a better driver and helped me mature as a person. Of course, thanks for putting me in fast cars, too!

To James Carpenter, spotter. Thank goodness you’re on our team.

To Jerry Cook, the utility man. Every great team has one! From spotting to tires to crew chief, you stepped in where you needed to and helped Jake Racing immensely. I will never forget your dedication. You definitely earned the turkey drumstick!

To George Boulden, the engine guy. Your knowledge of motors made our team stronger and me better behind the wheel. Thanks for everything.

To Bill and Billy Thomas, the part timers. Your professionalism and desire put me in a position to win every race. Thank you and good luck at Vision!

To Linny White, the chassis man. The flying 51 was always faster coming out of your garage. Thank you for sharing your skills.

To all the Orange Show Speedway Drivers, particularly Glenn Cummings, Frankie Gould, and Mark Shackleford. Your support and mentorship on the track was invaluable. Thank you for believing in me!

To the staffs at the Orange Show Speedway and Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. You all make the races happen and for that you have my profound thanks and respect. I hope to see you all in the future!

“The team put on a clinic today,” said Hernandez. “It was the finest showcase of driving I’ve seen in a decade and I couldn’t be prouder.”

45 laps into the main event, Engle had moved from tenth to six and was poised to take the lead. Though the engines of the five cars ahead roared loudly, he chipped away with a heavy foot, stealthy technique, and steady lap times. But it wasn’t enough. Minutes later, the #51 AccessAgility Chevy Impala dropped a valve and began to puff smoke.

“Bill Maropulos built a great engine and we have the utmost confidence in him when it comes to both power and reliability,” said Engle after the race. “We simply had to run on the ragged edge of our RPM range to compete. It was our best strategy given the circumstances.”

“Up until that moment, the team was working in perfect unison, the car was humming, and we were making a run,” he added. “We’ll learn from this, build on it, and come back even stronger.”

“Jake’s restarts were flawless,” commented James Carpenter, Engle’s spotter. “On the second restart, he passed three cars down the front straight and maintained the low line in order to hold the pass. He has the unique ability to find those opportunities where he can move up in the field. Opportunities that most drivers can’t recognize.”

Carpenter continued, “People know Jake for his aggressiveness. His performance tonight will put him on the map as a strategist, too. I couldn’t ask for a better partner out there. He follows my direction to a “T,” adding some improvisation of his own.”

Next up for Jake Racing is a much-anticipated move to Mooresville, North Carolina, where Engle has a spot reserved in the Billy Hess Racing Garage.

The day began with a motivational speech from Fred Hernandez, the crew chief of the Jake Racing Team, who told Engle to drive the car “like you stole it.” Minutes later, Engle recorded one of his fastest qualifying times ever in a car he said was “tuned to perfection.”

Starting in the eighth position for the main event, Engle advanced to third in just two laps with his sights set on the leader. His run was cut short during lap three, however, when he was bumped from behind and spun out. But as he’s done time and time again, Engle proved he is as unflappable as he is talented.

On a track where taking the high line is considered both challenging and dangerous, even by the most experienced drivers, Engle saw an opportunity to regain ground quickly and drove the high line. After 12 laps, he advanced the #51 car from last to sixth. By lap 40, he reclaimed third and was only three car lengths behind the leader when the checkered flag flew on lap 50.

“We just ran out of laps,” said Engle after the race. “Obviously, we’re here to win, and it’s disappointing when you come up short. But the team came together out there, we overcame a lot of adversity, and that’s something to be proud of.”

As the 2010 season comes to a close, Team Jake Racing has announced that Jake Engle will be competing in his final race at the Orange Show Speedway – a racetrack that has played host to the 17-year-old’s budding NASCAR career since 2008.

From the outset, Engle set himself apart from other drivers. Following his first race more than two years ago, a racing legend commented on his clean, aggressive style of driving. That same season, McCray Motorsports owner Rick McCray was quoted as saying, “Jake is simply one of the most talented drivers I have seen at this level of racing. He is going places.”

At the opening race of the 2009 season, after not seeing the track for five months, Engle finished fourth. Then he followed it up with a number of top 10 finishes. The season culminated with a trip out east, where the Jake Racing Team competed in the Myrtle Beach 400 for Billy Hess.

In South Carolina, Engle started in the 42nd position after encountering some difficulties while qualifying. But the team remained unfazed. Over the course of the race, Engle – 16 years old at the time and with only seven races under his belt – managed to move up 28 spots, finishing 15th. Not surprisingly, he had gained the respect of a field of experienced drivers.

Days later, Engle and the Jake Racing Team returned home to compete in the Toyota All-Star Showdown where he finished 14th despite car trouble.

Coming into the 2010 season at the Orange Show Speedway, with a more experienced Jake Engle at the helm, the Jake Racing Team was the car to beat. In the first race, Engle qualified on the pole and ended up finishing 3rd. He followed up his performance with a win at the Trophy Dash as well as a number of top five and 10 finishes. Perhaps most impressively, Engle recorded his first two wins in 2010 and later missed breaking the track record by only one hundredth of a second.

During a recent interview, Engle reflected on his time at the Orange Show Speedway and the success of the Jake Racing Team during the 2010 season.

Q: What’s next for the Jake Racing Team?

A: We’re headed to our new home in Mooresville, North Carolina for Hess Race Cars, Inc. And we’re excited to begin a new chapter in Jake Racing, but it’s bitter sweet. We spent the last two seasons here, and I’ve learned so much. It’s tough to say goodbye, and we leave with plenty of love and respect.

Q: How did you start at Orange Show Speedway?

A: I owe much of my success to Mr. Rick McCray, owner of McCray Motorsports. I remember asking him early on why I was competing on such a small track – one that most people hadn’t heard of. He said, “It doesn’t look like much, and it doesn’t get all the hype of Irwindale, but Orange Show Speedway is a breeding ground for true racers. If you can win here, you can win anywhere.”

Instead of pushing me through the ranks and forcing me into the NASCAR Series, Mr. McCray helped me understand that my time would come. He told me to watch, learn, and prepare.

Q: What did you learn from your time on the track?

A: The Orange Show Speedway is a tight, rough, bump-and-grind track. It’s where my love for racing became a passion. It’s where I learned about the grassroots of racing. Most of all, it’s where I learned about timing, precision, and that driving is an art. With so little room to maneuver and pass, I’ve come to understand the value of holding back, preserving my equipment, and being a smart, poised driver.

Q: Who do you look to for guidance?

A: From the pit to the track, I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by so many seasoned veterans since the beginning of my career. Fred Hernandez, Linny White, and Rick McCray. Not to mention all the talented drivers I’ve faced. After each race, they were there, providing invaluable advice and preparing me for the next level.

I would like to thank everyone at McCray Motorsports for their support, as well as my sponsors Access Agility, CustomRaceShirts.com, Who’s That Guy Chassis, and Rock Solid Designs. A special thanks to all of my fans and the officials at the Orange Show Speedway. The Orange Show Speedway is my home track now and forever.

Just weeks after his second career win, 17-year-old driver Jake Engle continues to wow crowds. This time on the small screen. Engle has won the lead in a national television commercial for Chevrolet after being approached by casting director to read for a supporting roll. Ironically, the new part calls for him to play a motocross racer. But as an up-and-comer that has driven Chevy cars since the beginning, Engle remains eager for the opportunity.

“I’m honored to be cast,” said Engle. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I can’t pass it up. I’ll be back on the track soon, doing what I love to do.”

Unfortunately, due to the commercial’s shooting schedule, Engle will not be eligible to win Rookie of the Year honors at the Orange Show Speedway. Despite the news, the Jake Racing Team remains optimistic about the future.

The spot is scheduled to air soon.

September 20th, 2010—
Just two weeks following a win in the Trophy Dash, 17-year-old Jake Engle and his team Jake Racing were back in action at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, CA.

The talented, young driver kicked off the day with a solid qualifying time, leaving him in the seventh position to start. Of the run, Engle said, “The team and Linny White put me in a great car and we had a good run. If I could do it again, I wouldn’t have pushed so hard. But you live, you learn, and you keep driving.”

Engle drove on. And by lap 40 of the main event he was in third place, pressuring David Ross and Brett Edwards – two drivers with plenty of bad blood between them.

It didn’t take long for the blood to come to a boil. Minutes later, the crowd watched as Edwards’ car launched over the rear of Ross’ car, taking them both out of contention. Unfazed, Engle made a quick move inside to avoid the wreck and took the outright lead. He completed another two laps before the race ended under a caution flag. It was the second time in Engle’s budding career that he and the Jake Racing Team claimed victory lane.

“Edwards and Ross were battling, so I sat back and let nature take its course,” said Engle after the race. “The strategy paid off. This is an amazing feeling. We come out week after week with one of the fastest cars and it’s frustrating taking the licks that we have. But our determination and resiliency have finally paid off.”

He continued, “None of this would have been possible without an amazing supporting cast, including our crew chief, Fred Hernandez, our spotter, James Carpenter, our tire specialist, Jerry Cook, and our motor specialist, Gorge Boulden. A special thanks to Linny White of WTG for supplying a winning car and all my sponsors – Access Agility, CustomRaceShirts.com, Rock Solid Designs, Hess Race Cars, and my favorite charity the Christian Stover Foundation.”

Jake Engle, a talented, young driver, made his way to the winner’s circle for the first time in his career at the Orange Show Speedway this past weekend. The win comes just two weeks after the Jake Racing car was completely destroyed at the same locale. But on this night, driving the AccessAgility | Customraceshirts.com | Christian Stover Foundation Flying 51 Chevy SS Super Late Model, Engle claimed the Trophy Dash.

Starting from the Pole Position, he drove away from the four-car field as soon as the green flag dropped and never looked back. Minutes later, he was holding the checkered flag and a microphone in his hands. Amid the bustle, the San Diego native thanked his crew chief Fred Hernandez, Linny White of WTG racing, his sponsors – AccessAgility and Customraceshirts.com, as well as his favorite charity – the Christian Stover Foundation.

Later, with time to savor his victory, Engle reflected on the race, “I could definitely get used to this. Winning the Dash is a big accomplishment for our team. But I still have a long way to go as a driver and a manager. We’re here to win the Main Event, and we won’t stop until we’ve done it.”

Engle finished 6^th in the Main Event that night, weaving inside and out to make a run from the back of the pack.

“I made some good passes against a field full of experienced, accomplished drivers,” added Engle. “Of course, there were also a few that I wish I could have back. But hindsight is 20-20. Like all the other races, I’ll learn from my mistakes as much as my successes and press on.”

Engle closed the interview by saying, “I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to handful of professionals that continue to provide the guidance I need to achieve my dream of reaching the top level of NASCAR – Glen Cummings, Mark Shackleford, Tony McCray, and ‘Frankie.’ Also, a special thank you to Mr. Jerry Dodd for his insight and counsel. I’m lucky to have such an amazing supporting cast.”

Engle and the Jake Racing Team are scheduled to return to the track in less than a month.

The Flying 51 car lived up to its name at the Orange Show Speedway on June 5th, but not in a good way. After the Jake Racing Team posted its fastest qualifying time ever, Jake Engle, the team’s talented, young driver, started in the eighth position. When the green flag dropped, he wasted no time moving up in the ranks. By lap three, he had claimed the fourth position, using the outside line to advance – something most drivers avoid on this particular track in hopes of staying out of trouble.

“After posting our qualifying time, the entire team was as pumped up as I have ever seen them,” said Engle. “There was electricity in the air, we knew had the best car in the field, and all that energy translated to my driving early on. I was in the zone.”

Unfortunately, Engle’s good fortune didn’t last long. Heading into lap four, the caution flag waved as the leader spun out. During the restart, the new leader, #80, drifted high and ran into the #22 car, which was just ahead of Engle. Engle darted inside to avoid a collision, but was cutoff again by the #22 car as it caromed off the wall. This time, Engle and the cars following close behind had nowhere to go.

The multiple-car pileup sent the Flying 51 car into the air, over the #22 car, and back down hard into the pavement. The good news is Engle walked away uninjured. The bad news is that the race will be recorded as the team’s first finish outside of the top 15. Not to mention the status of the car.

“A roof and four wheels – that’s about all I could recognize,” said a frustrated Engle, as he continued to reflect on the night. “Racing happens in seconds. For a moment, I felt like I could drive anywhere; and I was headed to the front of the field. The next, I was looking at an oversized paperweight.”

“I’m not sure how it’s going to happen, but we’ll be back on June 19^th,” added Engle. “I want to thank my team, including Fred Hernandez, and Linny White of WTG for giving me the chance to race such an amazing machine. Obviously, I wish the outcome could have been different.”

Flyin’ 51 car leading the pack through 39 laps

17-year-old driver Jake Engle and his team Jake Racing were back in action recently, this time at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, CA, competing in the ASA Super Late Model race. From the get-go, Engle owned the track. Not only did he start in the pole position, the Flyin’ 51 car clearly had an edge. In fact, the talented, young driver led the pack through 39 laps.

“This was the first time since I began racing Super Late Models where the race was mine to lose,” said Engle after he pulled into the pit for the final time. “Finishing in the top 15 is something our team should be proud of, but I know I let this one slip away.”

Rolling into lap 40 under yet another restart – the seventh of the night due to caution, Engle was on high alert to maintain his position. Unfortunately, as the green flag dropped, fellow driver Brett Edwards visibly jumped the start. Unbeknownst to Engle and the Jake Racing Team, the race director was set to initiate the eighth restart of the night. But before he could drop the yellow flag, Engle caught Edwards’ Chevy Impala in turn three and attempted an outside-in pass. Already committed, Engle nicked his bumper, caused a spin out, and sent both drivers to the back of the pack.

“A few seconds later, there would have been a restart, and we could have avoided the trouble altogether,” added Engle. “Still, I made a good move, closed fast, and I thought I could make it. Obviously, I was wrong. This one stings, and I feel bad for Brett. Linny White, too, who prepares our cars. But that’s racing.”

Engle fought back before the checkered flag dropped, finishing in the top 15. Nonetheless, it was a very disappointing night for the up-and-comer, who previously finished third at the Orange Show Speedway.