INDIANAPOLIS – Reigning NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series Rookie of the Year Andrew Layser will embark on his second season with the series in new pastures.
Layser has inked a deal with Tucker/Boat Motorsports to compete full time on the USAC National Midget trail, hoping to add to his top-rookie status from a year ago with a championship in 2020.
The Collegeville, Pa., teenager moves over to Tucker/Boat Motorsports from the Clauson/Marshall Racing stable, where he recently completed his first year on the road with the United States Auto Club.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for me,” Layser noted. “(Team owner) Chad (Boat) is a great driver, a great crew chief and a great mentor, and I’m really looking forward to working with him for the whole 2020 season. They have a great foundation for a team, and I think that showed with how strong they were this past year.”
Layser finished 11th in USAC National Midget Series points this year on the strength of eight top-10 finishes in 24 starts and highest among the rookie contenders that competed during the coast-to-coast schedule.
While it wasn’t necessarily the year he’d hoped to have, Layser is optimistic about the lessons he’s learned so far in his midget career and eager for the days to come.
“Seeing the results that Chad’s had over the years, and with the others who’ve driven for him, it’s obvious his cars are top notch,” Layser relayed. “On any given night, you can win, and that’s the goal for me this year, to go out there and have good runs, and hopefully, the wins will fall into place. I see what he’s doing not only as a team, but what he does for his drivers.
“That really appealed to me and I really couldn’t be more excited to be working with him.”
After already adding veteran Chris Windom to his stable this week, team co-owner Chad Boat is looking forward to what a young rising star like Layser brings to the table as Tucker/Boat Motorsports continues to grow and strengthen.
“I think Andrew has a great foundation,” Boat said. “Obviously, he’s worked with some good teams and I think that foundation will carry him into next year. I believe that by him going to these tracks for a second time, he’ll be able to pick up right where he left off.
“When somebody gains experience then has a little bit of an offseason to think about, you see them excel,” Boat continued. “I think you saw that with Zeb (Wise) last year and I think there’s no reason Andrew can’t put up the same results.”