WELCOME, N.C. – Third-generation short-track racer Landon Huffman has joined forces with Team Dillon Management and will have an opportunity to return to racing on a national stage later this month.
As part of the new opportunity, Huffman will compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 27, driving the No. 38 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
Plan B Sales, a long time supporter of Huffman, will back the effort.
If additional sponsorship can be secured, Huffman hopes to also compete in the Truck Series races at Arizona’s ISM Raceway on Nov. 9 and Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Nov. 16.
For Huffman, who has only made a handful of late model starts this season, the chance to work with the Dillon family and get in a solid Truck Series ride was one he couldn’t pass up.
“I got in contact with Team Dillon back in May, and we started talking and a few meetings later, we meshed really well and it seemed like this could work really well for me,” said Huffman. “I struck up a good working relationship with Austin Craven, who’s the manager over there, and with AD (Austin Dillon) and all the folks in their department.
“I feel like it’s just a good fit, not only on the racing side but on a personal level as well,” he continued. “We have a lot of things in common and things are working, I feel like. We’ve been working on sponsorship since that day and finally, we’ve got some good news here that I think will only grow.”
Huffman admitted there have been times during the year where he wondered if the work that he’s put in off the track would pay off at all, but much like Matt DiBenedetto on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series side, he stayed persistent until things came together for him.
“This has been a crazy year. My patience has been tested this year more so than any other year in my life,” said Huffman. “I’ve only gotten to race two or three times in the late model, and I haven’t gotten to run a truck at all, even though I’ve been at the race track almost every week spotting. I spotted for Anthony Alfredo in the K&N Pro Series East, I’ve done a few Xfinity and ARCA races as a spotter … and won a few races doing that as well, but it’s kept me around everyone and in everyone’s minds.
Huffman does have one Truck Series start at Martinsville, finishing 17th last fall in a collaborative effort with MB Motorsports and Copp Motorsports. Fittingly, Plan B Sales was aboard his truck that day, too.
“I can’t thank Plan B Sales enough for coming back on board. They helped me do the Truck Series deal at Martinsville last year with (Mike) Mittler and D.J. Copp, and it’s a great feeling to see them back, to offer the diecast and to have a promotion where fans can have their name on the truck and the diecast,” noted Huffman. “They’ve really meant a lot to my career, especially the last couple of years, and hopefully we can deliver them a great result next weekend.
“I really believe we’ll have a shot to contend for a top-five finish. I have high expectations for the race.”
Huffman becomes the latest short-track graduate to get a big opportunity in NASCAR’s national series over the past two months, following in the footsteps of Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, Daniel Hemric and most recently, Matt DiBenedetto.
The 22-year-old native of Claremont, N.C., feels that it marks the start of a shift back in time when it comes to talent and grit being able to be successful at a high level in the sport.
“I feel like this is kind of fitting. I think that times are starting to change a little bit in NASCAR,” explained Huffman. “First Ross (Chastain) gets an opportunity, and then all of a sudden people are like, ‘oh, hold on a second, maybe we are missing something here.’ I’ve been really good friends with Matt (DiBenedetto) ever since my dad crew-chiefed him back in the K&N Pro Series days, and he’s worked his tail off to get an opportunity, just like I’ve been trying to do. Ryan Preece and Daniel Hemric are two more who are home-grown short-track racers as well that have advanced in recent weeks.
“I feel like there are a lot of positives coming from the short-track community into NASCAR right now and I’m grateful to be a part of that and have a chance of my own.”
