Column By: BILLY HODGES / RPW – JOHNSTOWN, NY – Pro Stock campaigner Jason Morrison is all in for the 2023 season, with his eyes set squarely on the big prize.
Morrison, driver of the Mountain Creations & Designs, Morrison’s Auto Repair, Ted’s Body Shop #715, is a nine-year veteran of the full-fendered division.
This coming season, he has designs on becoming a championship driver.
“I’m not finished yet,” Morrison said. “Not by a long shot. This year, I would love to chase a track title at Utica-Rome and grab a few more wins.”
For the season coming up, the Johnstown, NY native will compete once again at Utica-Rome Speedway on Friday nights while heading roughly five miles away from home to Bridge Street in Fonda, NY to go after wins at the famed Fonda Speedway.
“We got a win last year at Fonda,” he said. “We want more though. Once you get a taste, you want it again and again and we want more victories.”
Last year, in 2022, Morrison picked up a huge victory at the “Track of Champions” and finished fourth in points. He also came home with another top five run in the season-long standings at Utica-Rome, but the checkered flag eluded him.
“We had a good 2022 season with a lot of top 5’s at both tracks,” he said. “I feel like we had a good car ever week but never got the breaks we needed to get to victory lane. We definitely wanted more wins.”
What makes Jason love these two tracks so much?
“Fonda Speedway is just so wide open,” he said. “The speed, traveling through the corners there is crazy and the history of the track can’t be compared to any place else. Utica-Rome is somewhat the same. You’re more up on the wheel there but still carry so much speed. Both places are just fun to race.”
There will be some changes for both of these tracks in 2023 with the addition of the NASCAR sanctioning. Good move?
“I think it’s a great idea,” he said. “Brett (Deyo, promoter of both tracks) is all about paying the drivers and this is just another benefit for exposure.”
The 715 bunch, which includes Morrison’s wife, Colleen (his biggest supporter) as well as his buddies John, LJ, Jimmy and son, Jason, are not going to sit around and simply race their weekly stomping grounds.
“My team’s going to do some traveling during this season,” he said. “We’re planning to run a few big races. We might go to Orange County for their Pro Stock but we’re definitely going back to Port Royal Speedway.”
There’s also one race Morrison will not miss at the “Great Race Place.”
“We’ve got the big $10,000-to-win Autism Awareness Pro Stock race at Albany-Saratoga circled on our calendar this year,” he said. “It’ll be amazing to be part of such a special event for a good cause. We’ll definitely be there to support that one.”
Jason Morrison has his eyes set on the brass ring. He wants the ring at the end of as many race nights as possible but also the big one at the end of the 2023 season.
He wants wins. He wants championships. He wants to be the best, and that starts with the next race.
Bring on 2023!
