J.C. Cleckler is a veteran racer well known in central Alabama, having raced in several racing divisions from Karting to Street Stocks to Asphalt Outlaw cars but there is one kind of car that he has yet to familiarize himself with.
The Pro Late Model.
Pro Late Models are a premier division across numerous short tracks around the country. At Cleckler’s local track, Montgomery Motor Speedway, the Show Me The Money Series stands as one of the most competitive and healthy tracks for that discipline. Cleckler participated in the 2023 Show Me The Money finale at Montgomery, but aims to run the full schedule in 2024.
“I thought about running Mobile, and maybe some Pensacola, but it’s just too much on me. I do all the work myself,” Cleckler told Short Track SCENE. “Right now, what I’m planning is to run the seven Show Me The Money races. I don’t know if I can handle that 200-lapper but I’m going to give it a shot.”
The 200-lapper that Cleckler referred too is the Alabama 200, one of the biggest races in the category. With the Alabama 200 being Montgomery’s biggest Pro Late event of the year and also being the season opener there, Cleckler will have stiff competition to start the year but he is no stranger to fighting against tough fields of racers.
For the past few seasons, Cleckler has been a regular in Outlaw Late Models. Outlaws, while not an extremely common sight at any given track, can be spotted at several different facilites. In fact, the Outlaw class at Five Flags Speedway saw some notable names compete, such as Jeremy Mayfield, Augie Grill, and Chad Chaffin among several other regulars.
Cleckler had some struggles with his Outlaw car, though. Struggles that seem to have faded away with his foray into the Pro Late Model program.
“I like this car better than anything I’ve been in for a long time. It drives a lot better, which I’m sure has something to do with the ten-inch tires,” said Cleckler. “That Outlaw whooped me every time I got in it. You know that Ross Chastain move against the wall? That’s what it felt like you went into a corner. Just seemed like there were a lot of g-forces.”
With a better handling race car at his disposal now, Cleckler can focus less on the mechanical gremlins and more on enjoying his upcoming rookie season.
“I don’t know how many rookies there are, and who all will be there. It doesn’t really matter. I’ll just be out there having fun anyway.”
