LUCAMA, NC – Mason Diaz became one of the hottest young prospects in racing, not just in short track racing but all of racing, thanks in part to his success at Southern National Motorpsorts Park in 2017.
The 16-year-old from Manassas, Virginia impressed in multiple disciplines, scoring five wins in the Late Model Stock Car division at Southern National Motorsports Park and clinching the championship while also winning a Fast Five Pro Late Model race in October.
“Our goal this year was to walk across the stage at the NASCAR banquet,” Diaz said. “We succeeded. We won the track championship at Southern National Motorsports Park and won Rookie of the Year in two states. I can’t thank my team, Mike Darne Racing, my family and sponsors enough for the season and not giving up.”
Along with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship at Southern National Motorsports Park, Diaz also clinched NWAAS Rookie of the Year honors in North Carolina and in Florida. His success was not limited to Southern National either.
Diaz won the Rusty Harpe Memorial at Caraway Speedway, ran inside the top-10 for much of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 Late Model race at Martinsville Speedway before being swept up in an accident and had a strong run in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville.
“I wanted to qualify for the [Camping World Truck Series] race and I did that,” Diaz said after his Truck Series debut, where a cut tire relegated him to a 23rd place finish. “I qualified ninth. My other goal was to complete all the laps and have the truck in one piece. Even though I didn’t complete all the laps, I did finish out the race and the truck had all the fenders on it.”
In all, Diaz has scored seven wins at two different tracks as well as 23 top-5 finishes and 35 top-10 finishes at six different tracks in three different states.
Now, Diaz hopes to finish the season with a strong performance in the Thanksgiving Classic and in the Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race in Pensacola, Florida on December 2nd.ssa
“It’s just giving me more momentum going into the last two races of the year which are the two biggest races of the year for me,” Diaz commented. “I’m looking forward to the races and I’m very proud of the year I’ve had from Mike Darne Racing and Brandonbilt Motorsports and everyone who has helped me and supported me this year.”
