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Max Gresham got a taste of the big time visiting the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series garage area prior to the running of the American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Gresham, 15, is an up and coming Atlanta area racer who will wheel a Gresham Motorsports American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Asphalt Tour Late Model Stock Car in 17 events at tracks throughout the southern United States as well as compete in four NASCAR Camping World East Series events at the controls of a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
On Saturday, Gresham got a close up look at where he hopes to be someday - a part of a one of NASCAR's 'Big Three' touring series.
"It was different being in the garage area this time," said Gresham, who has attended a host of NASCAR races at AMS, his former home track where he has previously won Bandolero and Legends Car titles. "Normally, I'll just walk around and not talk to anyone because I don't know anyone. Today, getting introduced to so many people was pretty incredible. I was in the loop, not standing in the background. It was exciting, professional, and I liked it a lot. I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time meeting people and getting to know the NASCAR community."
Gresham, who will swing into action Friday and Saturday, March 27-28 with an ASA Southeast Tour doubleheader
at Five Flags Speedway (Pensacola, FL) and Mobile (AL) Speedway, seemed to quickly fit in with several of the Truck Series regulars.
"It was great getting to meet some of the guys in the series like Rick Crawford, Brian Scott and Terry Cook," said Gresham. "What kind of surprised me was that they already knew who I was before I met them. I guess the news about our NASCAR Camping World East Series effort with Joe Gibbs Racing has gotten around. That was pretty cool. It made me feel like I already belonged here."
Gresham was particularly impressed with Scott who stopped by on his way to making his qualifying run.
"Brian and I talked for a long time," said Gresham. "He was really helpful. He's not that much older than I am and he raced through the ranks when he was a teenager, so we have some things in common. I was sitting there thinking how cool it would be to have my suit on and be carrying my helmet down pit road to get ready to qualify. It's going to take a little while - a couple or more years - but my one of my goals is to be there racing against guys like Brian, Rick and Terry someday. That would be so neat if that happened. I know it's going to happen."
