---

Okrzesik #1 PLM, #5 SLM to Run All 250 Laps Saturday

Story by Speed 51

 

Connor Okrzesik heads to Five Flags Speedway chasing two championships at the Pensacola speed plant. The Grand Bay, Alabama driver leads the Allen Turner Pro Late Model points standings and sits fifth in the Blizzard Series points, just 21 points behind leader Lucas Jones.

The 17-year-old recently won his second-career Super Late Model race in the Southern Super Series event at Crisp Motorsports Park (GA), outgunning Bubba Pollard late in the going. He has finished in the top five in all but one Late Model start at Five Flags Speedway in 2019, giving him a boost of confidence he hopes will lead into his first championship and race wins at what he considers his home track.

“I’m feeling really, really good, we definitely want to win the Pro Late Model championship and we want to win both races,� Okrzesik told Speed51.com. “If we can win both races this week that would be awesome.�

This weekend’s races have extra importance as the final tune-up for the Snowball Derby and the Snowflake 100 in December. However, Okrzesik and his team have other business to take care of before thinking about the first weekend in December with championships at both Five Flags and in the Southern Super Series on the line.

“This is the final time for us and everybody that’s racing can get tuned up and get ready for the Derby,� he said. “That’s what it’s going to be about, just trying to get the car right so we can have a really competitive car for the Derby. We want to win that championship and we’re within striking distance in the Southern Super Series as well. We’re trying to win all three championships, but we definitely want to win the races. That’s our main concern right now, getting through this weekend and trying to win both these races and get ready for the Derby.�

Okrzesik has earned the points lead in the Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series by finishing second in all three races to this point of the season. He has also added two fifth-place finishes in the Blizzard Series and was racing Casey Roderick for the lead late in the opener before both drivers were taken out in a late-race wreck. He sums up what it will take to win in Pensacola this weekend with one word.

“It’s just going to be perfection,� he said. “We’re going to have to be perfect, everyone’s dead even in the Pro Late Model. In the Super Late Model we’ve been trying some different things throughout the year. Some have worked, some haven’t worked, so we’re going to put the best of both worlds together this week and hopefully have a chance to win in the Super Late Model.�

While in the hunt for three different championships, an elusive win this weekend would be big for Okrzesik. To be able to celebrate in front of friends and family is something he is longing to do.

“Five Flags is my home track,� he stated. “I haven’t won there in a Late Model yet and it’s killing me, I really want to win there. It’s one track where I really want to win really bad.�

Race fans unable to make it to Five Flags Speedway this Saturday night for the Blizzard Series finale will be able to watch all of the racing via a live pay-per-view broadcast on Speed51.com. Live video tickets can be purchased today by clicking here.

-Story by: Koty Geyer, Speed51.com State Editor (IN/MI) – Twitter: @kgeyer3

Back to News