New NASCAR Nationwide Team, JGL Racing, Brings Renewed Partnership For 2014

On Monday, January 20th, James Whitener along with Denise and Gregg Mixon, announced their partnership and the formation of JGL Racing. They were partners in the early 2000’s and felt this might be the perfect time for another go around. Veteran racer Carl Long will handle the Director Of Competition duties for the team and with all the experience this team has incorporated, the team hopes to make a good showing for the 2014 season.

Everyone involved scrambled to get everything they needed purchased, inspected, registered and completed by the deadlines for the Drive4COPD 300 February 22 at the infamous Daytona International Speedway. A lesser group of people couldn’t have made this happen. Cars were purchased from Penske and the team will use the Penske engine leasing program.

Mike Wallace will pilot the #28 Dodge Unker’s Multi-Purpose Medicated Cream for the Daytona event and will drive full time for the team this year. I caught up with Mike to get his take on this upcoming season.

“First of all any time you get to go to Daytona and race, as I have fortunately been able to do for many years, and to go with a new organization and a new program, it’s exciting,” he said. “I hope I can bring something to the table, that we can compliment each other and go down there, have a fun time and run well. Our sponsors are from a little bitty small company built in Upton, Wyoming and this sponsorship is a result of a conversation that dates back 3 years ago with the lady that owns the company.”

“She always wanted to be involved in racing,” he continued, “but wasn’t in that position at that time. She took over the company from her father and just a few days after Gregg and everybody got together and talked about going to Daytona, she reached out to me and that’s what’s on the car for Daytona. It’s a company based in Wyoming and is unique in that aspect because I’m not sure there has ever been a Wyoming based sponsor on a car before. It’s a small town and the whole state only has 600,000 people in it. And this town that this product is made in only has 1100 citizens and the company has only 5 employees.”

“This is a small team and a small sponsor striving to perform on the biggest stage in the world as far as motorsports goes. The car is the #28, yellow in color and our sponsor has a very Christian based faith and the label reads “To God Be The Glory.” And that’s on the hood of the car. So this is going to be a fun time. This will be her first race ever. She’ll attend the race at Daytona and I think this will be a good, fun and exciting time for everyone. The team itself is thrashing to get done in time. They’re working very hard. Of course they put this all together, in race terms it’s called really late, but they were able to obtain some Dodges from Penske Racing and so we’re going there with a manufacturer that isn’t actively involved in motorsports but Penske Racing still actively has their engine program in place so that Penske Dodge engine is in the car and with the qualifying format at Daytona I think we should be just fine. We’ve got to go out there and, as they say, lay down a good lap, get in the race and as new and as small as the team is, I hope I can bring some experience behind the wheel and possibly pull off a great finish at the end” he concluded.

As the new team came together they needed employees for a variety of positions so when Carl Long became Director Of Competition for the team he recommended Matt Carter as a jack of all trades position, more or less. He and Matt have been friends since Carl drove some for Matt’s father, Travis in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

“I’m just trying to do what I can, anything I can, to just get the opportunity to get something worked out so I can go racing. It takes money, though, so I am hoping something can be worked out, but there are a lot of drivers who are in the same situation. It’s really tough these days. A lot of drivers are doing start and parks just hoping to get an opportunity. Carl’s been a good friend and has always tried to help me out when he can. So that’s how I got here. He’s worked hard and kept trying to put something together for himself. He’s an honest guy and he’s had it tough trying to go racing, too, so I really appreciate what he’s done for me. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here.”

“After Homestead last year Carl and Gregg bought some cars and we put them in Dad’s shop trying to get something going for this year. I brought something to the table that way. I’ve got tools, equipment, some parts and pieces to get my foot in the door, so I’ve been working everyday at the shop to get this deal going. We’re moving in the right direction, hired some new people and moved into a new shop with more room.

James has put a lot into this deal. He’s worked hard and he’s a competitive person and he’s a lot like myself. He’s determined, he’s straight forward, he wants to race and he wants to show up at the track and be competitive. We’re about a month behind where we need to be. We’ve had some issues with certifying cars, stuff like that so it’s just been a slow process these first 2 months but it’s coming together. I hope James is able do what he wants to do, I hope we can help him do what he wants to do and I hope he gives me the opportunity to prove to him what I can do and moving forward I can be one of his drivers.”

Matt became a first time father last year so he feels this might be the last year to follow his dream if something doesn’t come together for sponsorship, but for now he’s doing everything he can and is grateful for the opportunity James Whitener and Gregg Mixon has given him. Matt is trying to get his fan club text messaging up and going. There are no signup fees and you will get text updates. Just text gomatt to 20300. You can opt out anytime.

It’s always fun to see new teams enter this sport and getting to know the people and processes involved is a great way to learn a lot about the whole racing experience. I wish them all great success! Mike and Matt…go get’em!