Travis Motley Builds On Experience To Have A Successful Test at Hickory
Motley is able to translate driving style into a great learning experience in new surroundings

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 2, 2010)- Activ8 Development Driver Travis Motley held a one day test at Hickory Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 31. The Tucson, Ariz. native drove an Orion Motorsports Late Model looking to gain additional experience in preparation for his 2011 season.

Taking laps around the historic .363 mile asphalt-oval track, Motley was able to adjust his driving style to suit the demands of the track.

"The biggest challenge for me was me adjusting to the track," Motley explained. "At Hickory, you have to really drive it in as deep as you can and then roll on the gas a little later in the corner. At Irwindale, where I usually run, you roll it in easy and then get on the throttle real hard in the center of the corner. My biggest challenge here at Hickory was waiting to get on the gas later in the corners."

On top of acclimating himself to a totally new track, Motley also had to adjust to some of the differences between the Late Model cars he has been racing on the west coast to the one that he tested with here on the east coast.

"Well, with the four barrel carburetor that was in the car, it had a little bit more power, and I had to get used to being able to drive it in the corner a little deeper," he explained. "The suspension parts on the car are a lot nicer than what we are able to run out west. It also turned a little bit better than what I am used to, so that was something to get used to as well."

Overall, Motley was able to learn new technique's and tips that he can put to use in future races. One of the most important lessons he learned was how varied tracks can be compared to one another.

"The most important thing I learned was just how line sensitive that track was," he explained. "If I missed my line a little bit, especially when my tires got greasy, then it ruined the whole corner."

Hitting the track in the late afternoon after the track had sat empty all day proved to be no challenge for the 20-year-old.

"It was hot all day, but the car was pretty good. It was consistent the whole time, and we didn't change a whole lot," he said.

"Travis was able to adapt to the track really well," said Mike Calinoff, longtime NASCAR Spotter for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth "He was able to adjust his driving style and put down some quick laps."

Being able to test at Hickory Motor Speedway was a learning experience in itself for the West coast racer.

"It was a really cool place to go race, or go test at least. Going into the sign up room, they had a bunch of pictures of all the guys that had run there in the past. Also, having Mike (Calinoff) and Ed (Cox) there on the radio with me the whole time telling me where I was messing up so that I could fix it the next lap was a good learning experience."