Kevin Girard Jr. looks for great things this season as he gets ready to race in the Amsoil NELCAR Legends Tour. “We don’t have an exact set schedule, but we will be running every NELCAR race at BRMS, and all the other NELCAR tour races after the Thursday Thunder season for sure. We haven’t decided whether or not we will run any Saturday tour races during the Thursday Thunder season. BRMS will be our main focus.”
There are all different type of local short track racing, pro-4, modifieds, late models, the list goes on but one of the most unique racing series, is the NELCAR Legends. Scaled down versions of race cars from the 1930’s with a motorcycle engine and can reach speeds in excess of 100+ mph. “Ever since I first saw a Legend car, they have been one of the most interesting racecars out there to me. It seemed like a good choice for someone who is just getting into racing, but wanted plenty of speed right off the bat.”
Like all race teams a lot of work goes into setting up the car, and sometimes repairing the car after the race. “My crew chief is Michael Olanovich. He’s been so helpful in getting this all started and we work great together. He and I do all the work on the car, and neither of us work on it alone. We always work together. My father Kevin Girard Sr. and my uncle Darren Day, also help us work on the car. My dad is part owner as well.”
Even though race season hasn’t begun the drivers and teams are constantly busy. “Just about every spare second that I’m not sleeping or working, I work on the car. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Of course the really fun part is bringing it to the track. But I have a lot of fun working on the car and getting familiar with it, especially since it’s my first season around these cars.”
Working on the race cars all winter the drivers are looking forward to a test & tune. “We will be bringing the car to opening day at Wiscasset for sure, but we’ve been thinking about renting a track like Oxford to shake the car down before the season.”
Legends racing this season has split off into 3 different series, NELCAR, TNT, and Granite State. The Granite State Series located at NHMS, a combination of the road course and the Mini Magic Mile. This season looks like Kevin may pass on racing at NHMS. “The chances of that are pretty slim. For my first season, I think it will be in my best interest to stick with the NELCAR races. But hey who knows? If we get the itch enough, maybe we’ll swing down to NHMS for a few.”
Every driver has a favorite race track where they run great, “I’m really looking forward to going back to Oxford. I had a lot of fun up there last year.”
