CONCORD, N.C. – In motorsports, “moving up” refers to rising through the ranks and performing well in a division with stronger competition, faster cars, and sometimes older drivers.
For Lawson Rogers, a 16-year-old out of Concord, N.C., his decision to “move up” this season involves all three of the latter categories.
For the past couple of years, Rogers has been a hotshoe in both the Young Guns and Stock 4 divisions. Winning multiple races in Young Guns and having great finishes in Stock 4 at multiple race tracks, Rogers ultimately decided to get rid of his 4-Cylinder equipment during the offseason.
After that, he and his family went out and bought a 602 crate engine-powered open wheel modified.
When asking Rogers about the switch, he said the transition has not been all that difficult.
“I’ve found the modified to be a lot easier to drive than a 4-Cylinder” Rogers noted. “I have a lot more confidence and feel more comfortable in the car.”
Even though it has been pretty simple, Lawson is still finding his footing in the more powerful machine.
“Even though it has been easier to drive, I’m still just trying to find speed and pick up tenths everywhere I can,” said Rogers.
In a 4-Cylinder, most of the time going into the corner, drivers are letting off the throttle for a split second and mashing it back to the floor to get the car off the corner.
With his modified, however, Rogers finds himself going into the corners having to apply the brakes – the biggest thing he has had to learn.
“Throttle and brakes have been the hardest (things) for me, just being able to get the car planted and keep it on the bars. That has been a learning process.”
Rogers has had good runs through the first half of the season, but he is itching to get that first win under his belt.
“I’m definitely going to try and get a win,” he stressed. “I just have to get the monkey off my back and get rid of all this bad luck.”
Even though Rogers is a kid compared to some of the drivers he is racing against, he feels that he has the talent and the capability to be a star in the 602 Modifieds.
“I think we can definitely get there,” Rogers said. “It’s just going to take some hard work.”