Ryan Lawler Adds to His Hickory List of Accomplishments

Just two short years ago, in the 2006 Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway, a smiling young kid from Texas made his debut in a full-sized racecar. 

Ryan Lawler had won plenty in legends competition, but that event was the first time that he got to try his skills in a Super Late Model.  He surprised everyone by finishing fifth in that event.

Later that same year, he won his first PASS South race at Hickory.  In 2007, he won the Easter Bunny 150.  Saturday night, just one week before Lawler makes a major career step into one of NASCAR’s top three divisions, he returned to the track and fought a fierce battle with Corey Williams for the victory.

Lawler finished second this time around and he knows that a lot has happened in two years’ time.

“There’s no doubt about it,” said Lawler.  “This is

Ryan Lawler  (51 Photos)

definitely a special place for me.  I’ve won more races here than anywhere else and it’s where I ran my first Super Late Model race.  Every time that I come here, I seem to run well.”

Running well this time included staying out front for a 20-lap span late in the race.  But as the feature wound down, Lawler got a bad break that cost him the lead.

“A little bit of oil got on the racetrack and I got into it.  I kind of wish that I was in second at that point because I might have seen Corey sliding around at the same time.  I thought that I had a flat tire.”

That led to a lap where Lawler and Williams exchanged the lead at least three times, before Williams stayed out front to go on to the victory.

“I don’t even know [how many times the lead changed],” said Lawler.  “I thought I had a tire going down when the car just slid up the track.  He managed to get by a little bit and then we went into turn one and he hit a patch of oil and slid up the track.  I got back under him and were banging doors and getting each other sideways.  It was a good time.  We’re not going to try to take each other out, but first place sounded good to both of us, so we fought for it.”

This coming weekend marks another big milestone in Lawler’s career.  He will enter his first ever NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event.  The race is set for Saturday, March 30th, at Martinsville Speedway and Lawler already has a successful test at the track behind him.

Ryan Lawler's #31 Super Late Model.

“I’m really pumped up and hoping for good things from this deal.  It is my one opportunity to show what I can go out and do.  We had a good test and I think that my truck will race pretty good.”