Northern Light IRL: Heritage Motorsports, Ward return to series at Nashville
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 20, 2001INDIANAPOLIS - Heritage Motorsports has returned to the Indy Racing Northern Light Series this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway after a one-race hiatus with Jeff Ward also back as driver.
The team, which debuted in Indy Racing this season, skipped the Ameristar Casino Indy 300 on July 8 at Kansas Speedway to refocus its efforts on the final three races of the 2001 season.
But Heritage is finalizing an agreement with a sponsor, and details will be announced early next week, team officials said. The new alliance has allowed Ward to return to drive the No. 35 Heritage Motorsports/Firestone/Menards G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone at the Harrah's Indy 200 on July 21 at Nashville Superspeedway.
"Getting back on the track as soon as possible is best for everyone on the team," said John Mecom III, co-owner of Heritage Motorsports. "It was a disappointment to have to miss the Kansas race, but that was the right move for the team at that time. Sometimes you need to take one step back to get two steps forward, and that is what we have done with this short break.
"We will continue to make the necessary adjustments needed to achieve our long-term goals. We're fortunate to find the financial backing at this time that we need to run competitively. We have not altered our original plan, which is to build a model open-wheel organization."
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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