Wilson Will Drive The Number 23 Car At Daytona

Veteran ARCA Truck Series owner-driver Frank Wilson has teamed up with longtime ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards team owner Wayne Hixson for the upcoming Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on February 6th. Wilson, 43, of Saint Marys, West Virginia, will pilot the #23 Hixson Motorsports Chevrolet as he fulfills a lifelong dream to race at the "World Center of Racing."
"I've been racing since I was 14 years old," Wilson said at the recent ARCA Daytona Open Test. "It's always been my dream to race at Daytona. Last fall at Salem Speedway, I was there with my truck team on the backstretch, and the ARCA Cars were qualifying. I found myself talking to Wayne Hixson as he was waiting for the 23 car to qualify. I asked him what it would take to run Daytona and one thing just led to another, so here I am. I couldn't be more excited. We are not quite ready to announce our sponsor package for Daytona, but that will all be finalized in the next two to three weeks."

Wilson just completed the ARCA Open Test at Daytona. It was his first chance to work with the Hixson Motorsports team, and his participation was required in order to receive clearance to run on the superspeedway. And while the team was near the bottom of the speed charts during their one day of testing, the team accomplished their goal of getting Wilson approved for competition.

"We just didn't have a lot of motor," said Team Owner Wayne Hixson. "We knew coming down here we were underpowered, but we needed to get Frank comfortable in the car and get him approved, and we did that. We didn't do any drafting, but Frank was able to learn the line, and that will be important when we come back in February. We'll have a better engine under the hood for the race, so overall we consider the test a success."

In a racing career that spans 29 years, Wilson already considers running the upcoming Daytona race as one of the high points, and that's with it still a month away. Starting in Dirt Go-Karts at the age of 14, Wilson moved to Semi Late Models at 18. In 1989 at the age of 23, Wilson made the move to dirt Late Models, and over the next 15 years racked up 34 race wins and 2 Track Championships. He was also the West Virginia State Champion, racing primarily at Interstate and Tyler County Speedways.

In 2005, Wilson made a big step, and purchased two NASCAR Camping World Trucks. Wilson made 9 race attempts during 2005, but without major sponsorship and with a team of volunteers, the underfunded team did not make any of the races they attempted. It was, however, a major learning experience.

Wilson returned to his roots for 2006, running Dirt Late Models. Then, in 2007 Wilson entered the ARCA Truck Series as a team owner and driver. In his first year, Wilson won from the pole at the Springfield mile dirt, and is still holds the track record for qualifying. Wilson won his second race at Winchester (right) in 2009, and also broke the track qualifying record at Salem in 2009.

"We've had a lot of success in the ARCA Trucks," Wilson added. "I am planning to field a two truck team from Wilson Motorsports for the full 2010 season, in addition to running a handful of races with the ARCA Racing Series. Right now I am working with several potential sponsors to secure funding for at least three more events. We want to run Texas, Talladega, and Michigan, and I am planning to partner with Wayne (Hixson) again for those runs."

During the recent Daytona Test, Wilson found himself on track with Josh Richards, who was testing a car for Ken Schrader, and Wilson shared this interesting tidbit. "I was the promoter at Interstate Speedway about 15 years ago. Josh was about 9 or 10 years old at the time, and he drove the packer car to run the track in. Now here we are both at Daytona. It's been 15 years since we were on track together at Interstate, and now to be at Daytona. Sometimes, I still don't believe it."

Even when he is not driving a race car or race truck, Wilson never gets far from racing. For 2010, he is a member of Phoenix Management Group LLC which will oversee the ARCA Truck Series. Wilson will serve as the Chairman of the ARCA Truck Series in addition to his role as a team owner and driver. He is also the Co-promoter at Tyler Country Speedway in West Virginia. On top of all of his racing duties, Wilson is the President of Lifeguard Medical, the largest supplier of medical supplies in West Virginia.

Wilson is married to his wife of two years, Lori, and has three children: Seleana (1), Kali (14) and Corey (16).

For Hixson Motorsports, the fast approaching start of the 2010 season will mark the 12th consecutive season of full time competition for Wayne Hixson and his #23 race cars. The 2010 season will see a rotation of drivers in the #23. Frank Wilson Jr. will take the wheel at Daytona, and is tentatively scheduled to run Texas, Talladega, and Michigan. Veteran Ron Cox will climb into the cockpit for several races, most notably the Springfield and DuQuoin mile dirts later in the season. Look for Cox to run several short track events in 2010, and he is very eager to make a return trip to Mansfield. Jeremy Petty, who drove the #23 in 2009, could also see action in a handful of races. Charlotte, North Carolina's Jeff Buice is currently scheduled to run both road course events.

Hixson Motorsports will return several veteran crew members for 2010, as well as add a few new faces. Crew Chief Jon Griese will return for his fourth season, and second as crew chief after graduating from the University of Northwestern Ohio last summer. Griese returns to changing front tires for 2010 after spending 2009 as the Rear Carrier. Jared Slav returns for his second season, and after graduating UNOH this past November, steps into the Car Chief - Lead Mechanic Role. Slav moves from Front Tire Carrier to Jackman for 2010. Big Roy Shipley will be back for his seventh full season, and will serve as Tire Specialist and Gas Man, in addition to handling Team Manager duties. Current UNOH students Matt Bastion and Crystal Bates also return for 2010. Bastion will be the Rear Tire Changer for a second season. Bates, who served as Scorer last season, will handle Timing from pit road. She is also training to become a tire changer. Two new faces are UNOH Student Tony Hines, who joins the team for 2010 and will serve as Front Tire Carrier, and Ohio native Andy Kistler, who will handle Catch Can duties. The Rear Tire Carrier and other pit support positions will be filled prior to Daytona.