BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. – T.J. Lilly is looking forward to the start of the racing season.
It will be his first at NASCAR-sanctioned Grandview Speedway, which is entering into its 58th consecutive season of presenting stock car racing.
The 19-year-old Pen Argyl, Pa., resident is looking forward to the start of the season when he takes part in the third annual VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Money Market Memorial set for Saturday, April 4th on the one-third-mile banked clay oval.
Racing modifieds is actually a change from the original plan for Sprint Cars. He had gotten his start at age 4 in Kid’s Karts, at 11 he moved into Micro Sprints and then at 16 it was on to stock cars.
“I actually was headed toward sprint car racing but settled on Sportsman and 358 Modifieds,” Lilly said. “In a season and a half I got three wins at New Egypt Speedway and we raced three years there weekly.”
The plan now is to be a regular at Grandview. It is a lot closer to home.
“We need to work on our Saturday night setups, be smart and not push things. My goal has me thinking as a weekly contender who is expecting to qualify for every race and finish every race,” said Lilly. “The racing at Grandview is completely different than what I have been doing. There is different competition.”
His dad, Travis, and his uncle, Rick, have been big supporters of his efforts. And sponsorship, always important in racing, will come from Stasak Auctioneers, new this year, along with Thresher Mechanical and a long list of others.
Lilly, who turns 20 in June, will be going up against some of the toughest talents in Modified racing including Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren, Doug Manmiller, Brett Kressley, Jared Umbenhauer, Kevin Hirthler and a host of other outstanding talents.
As indicated he plans to be a Saturday night regular with a goal of being a top 5 finisher on a regular basis with some wins thrown in.
He will also be part of the Thunder on the Hill Series specials run at the Bechtelsville facility along with making visits to other special events at area tracks. It will be a busy season.