PEORIA, Ariz. (November 1, 2016) – Joshua Shipley is putting his eggs into the winged sprint car basket next year.
Shipley, who has three career winged sprint car races under his belt driving for Alan and Kaylene Verville, is gunning for the 2017 ASCS Southwest Region championship thanks to a pair of big sponsors returning next season.
“Our goal is to be the 2017 ASCS Southwest champion and I believe we can get the job done thanks to a great opportunity from the Verville’s and tremendous support from our sponsors,” Shipley said.
Christie Grading & Paving and Aero Panache Aircraft Detailing, which are both located in Arizona, have each signed on as returning partners in 2017.
“It’s vital because in 2016 I decided to start my own non-wing team,” Shipley said. “When I did that I didn’t have any other financial backing or sponsors. Getting sponsors is probably the hardest part of racing. You have to have those to back your system. That was a big feather in my cap to get Christie Grading & Paving and Aero Panache Aircraft Detailing on board again for 2017.”
Shipley, who has one more event on the schedule for this season – Nov. 25-26 at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz., for the Copper Classic with the ASCS Southwest Region – has improved his feature finish during each of his three sprint car starts.
“The first time I drove a winged car I led 21 of 25 laps and spun passing a lapped car,” he said. “The second race I was battling for third and got spun on the last lap. And the third race is the only one I was able to finish. We’ve run strong every time out.”
Shipley recorded results of 15th, ninth and seventh, respectively, and he’s looking to close the season with his first top five to build momentum entering 2017.
“I want to concentrate on fine-tuning my driving in the winged car,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity so I want to focus on improving.”
Shipley also earned three non-wing feature wins this season.