Super Late Model rookie Jade Avedisian is making her first appearance at Cordele Motor Speedway just weeks removed from her first top-10 finish in ASA Southern Super Series competition.
Avedisian became the first woman to win in the zMAX CARS Tour with her victory in a Pro Late Model at Coastal Plains Raceway back in March. Since then, she has continued running a limited schedule in both Pro and Super Late Models, and she feels comfortable at Cordele after logging laps in practice on Thursday ahead of the weekend’s doubleheader.
“It’s a cool little place,” Avedisian told Short Track Scene. “I’m excited to have two races this weekend too, so that’s kind of something new for me. I decided to get on the racetrack tonight and go race. Into turn three is a little tricky, no back straightaway wall is tricky, can’t really see where your runoff is and there’s not much runoff down the back straightaway. Getting into three, it’s a little blind, you can’t really see four, but I don’t know. It’s a pretty cool little racetrack.”
Avedisian prepared for the race by watching past races from Cordele. Her expectation is to put herself in position for a strong finish, if not a win, in tonight’s 75-lap race while also taking notes for Saturday’s 125-lapper.
“My goal is, every time, to win the race and have the opportunity or put myself in position to win a race,” Avedisian explained. “It’s the same thing tonight. As long as I put myself in a good position after qualifying, have track position and then be there that last like 10-15 laps is always my goal. I’m not going to say I’m going to win. I’m not going to say I’m going to go finish third tonight. But I know, if I start up front, qualifying up front, and go race a smart race, I’ll be just fine.”
Running two races in a single weekend is a new experience for Avedisian, who knows she has to try to be competitive while taking care of her car and equipment for tomorrow night.
“That’ll be different of course,” Avedisian said. “I feel like tonight, obviously, we’re going to go race to the best of our abilities, but keep in mind, we still have another race tomorrow. So, you know, just be smart throughout the race. We still have another race tomorrow, so just be smart throughout the race, not put myself in bad positions that could end my night tonight and tomorrow. I just want a good clean race tonight to set up tomorrow.”
Avedisian has not made any commitments for races later in the season and said she will know in the coming weeks if she is going to return for the World Crown 300 in late-October.
Friday and Saturday night’s Super Fest races at Cordele can be seen live on RacingAmerica.TV.
Short Track Scene’s Daniel Vining contributed to this report.
