JR Motorsports Adds Second Late Model Team

Fresh off its first Late Model championship, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s JR Motorsports is adding a second team to the grass-roots program by hiring Reid Lanpher to drive in 2013. 

Lanpher, 14, will join reigning champion Josh Berry in the 2013 JR Motorsports driver line-up, with both drivers competing for the title at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. Motor Mile is one of five NASCAR Home Tracks in Virginia, and hosts NASCAR-sanctioned races in both touring and weekly racing series.

This will be the first time in four years that JR Motorsports has fielded a multi-team operation in its Late Model program. 

“We’re looking forward to having Reid join the JRM team,” said team manager, L.W. Miller. “We’ve seen a lot of young talent cut their teeth running late models. After the success we had last year with Josh, we’re anxious to get a head start with Reid in 2013. He has a lot of experience for someone his age, and we want to help him fine-tune his skills and succeed at this level.” 

A native of Manchester, Maine, Lanpher began racing motocross at the age of five, winning multiple championships before moving to competitive snowmobile racing. A transition to four wheels in the Maine Mod Series followed in 2010, followed by his NELCAR Legends Tour debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2011. He became the youngest winner in the track’s history with a victory last May. Lanpher also became one of the youngest drivers to compete in the Granite State Pro Stock Series this year, earning a pair of Top-10 finishes in his first three races. 

“The opportunity to drive a Late Model for JRM is by far the biggest highlight in my racing career,” Lanpher said. “I feel honored to have such a chance, and I’m hopeful that we can be a real threat on the track. Everyone at JRM has been very supportive, and I’m excited to get racing.” 

The JR Motorsports Late Model team is coming off the most successful season in team history after Berry clinched the organization’s first championship at Motor Mile Speedway. Along the way, he drove the No. 88 Speedco Chevrolet to one win, 15 Top-5 and 17 Top-10 finishes. The team also earned seven poles and earned an average finish of 4.2 in 18 races.