CJ Faison News
Pre-Season Thunder Q&A with CJ
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 01/18/12
2012 Pre-Season Q&A with CJ Faison:
Q: What race and/or event was most satisfying and what was the biggest disappointment looking back to 2011?
A: I would have to say the NASCAR K&N Series East race at Dover that was the best feeling in the world. My team and I went in the race as underdogs and set 8th fastest time in practice. After Thursday’s practice my crew chief, car chief, and I went out to dinner and talked about the car for the Friday race, we had the feeling I could possibly “flat foot” the car for the 2 qualifying laps. Friday morning at 10am I did just that and set 4th fastest time in qualifying. When they through the green flag I had chills going down my back, I was living my dream. The power steering went out on the 2nd lap and I had to drive the whole race without it, I’m pretty sure the adrenaline was compensating for my muscles. On lap 87 my right rear shock bolt broke and I had the drive about 50 laps or so without the right rear shock. I was still making ground on the leader but my team saw that the shock was dragging the ground and as a safety hazard to fans and drivers we made the decision to pull in with 20 to go. There was no need to tear a perfectly good racecar up with the tire wear that we had going as well.
Q: What keeps you busy over the winter season?
A: Well this winter will be a lot different than last year. I’m making the move to North Carolina to better pursue my racing career, I’ll be moving to Mooresville, NC where my cars will be kept in shop space from Dale Jr. Motorsports. We have 4 cars that were Dale Jr. Motorsport’s 2010 season cars in the Nationwide Series, those will be the cars I’ll drive in 2012 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. So making the move to NC, hanging out with friends and family, and also getting the cars ready for next year will keep me busy! Trust me haha.
Q: How do you think 2012 will differ from 2011?
A: The biggest difference will be our preparation for races and our equipment. We had the top of the line equipment here at JMI. With the additions to our team we have made over the off season will definitely show with our performance on the racetrack.
Q: Looking to 2012, what’s the main goal?
A: Well I think we definitely have a shot at the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award and I could say that we have the chance to win races and the Championship but we just need the cards to fall into place with us. Ending the 2011 season with my new team at Dover, with a strong run going definitely put it into perspective that we have a shot at winning races next year (2012). I haven’t been this confident going into a race season. As we all know we need the cards to fall into place, so I pray that we will bring back good results and make good showings.
Q: What are some ways that fans can get closer to CJ Faison and know what he's doing outside of racing?
A: Well I’m starting up a mini series of video shows on my website that will show the behind the scenes look at my life and what I do during the off season, can’t wait to start it! Also like me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter…. www.twitter.com/cjfaison
Faison graduates High School in January
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 01/05/12
As many young teenagers are taking their Mid-Term exams in the next couple of weeks, Faison will be graduating with his High School Diploma January 27, 2012. Faison who has buckled down and did his second half of his senior year while completing the first half of the year will graduate early from Salisbury Chrisitian School. We asked the question: How does it feel to graduate earlier than everyone else in your senior class? Faison responded: "I am extremely excited to look back and know that I completed my senior year early. I'm looking forward to moving to Mooresville, NC in February."-CJ Faison
As an Academic Achievment award isn't enough, Faison does not have a grade less than an 85% "I'm proud of my hard work and dedication to my school work. I will greatly miss all of my classmates and faculty members of Salisbury Christian School but I reassure all of them I will come back and visit. Thank you to the SCS staff who helped with my schoolwork along the way!"-CJ Faison
CJ will be moving to Mooresville, NC in February to further pursue his racing career in NASCAR.
Be sure to follow CJ on Facebook and on Twitter as he's one of the funniest personalities in racing.. www.twitter.com/cjfaison
NASCAR K&N Pro East Series Schedule Released
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 12/27/11
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR announced today the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule that features 14 races at 12 different short tracks and speedways across the eastern United States.
The 26th season of K&N Pro Series East competition will see NASCAR’s top developmental division visit 10 states, and will be highlighted by three additions to the calendar: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Raceway Park in Clearfield, Pa., and Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway.
“The NASCAR K&N Pro Series continues to establish itself as a desired destination for developing talent and the schedule has been designed with that in mind.” said George Silbermann, NASCAR Vice President of Regional & Touring Series. “With a diverse mix of historic short tracks and speedway companion events with the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, the 2012 calendar will provide competitors with the experience they need to further their careers.”
The 2012 season will commence with the inaugural K&N Pro Series East event at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile,” Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, on March 17 as part of the spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend. It will be the third event in series history in the Volunteer State.
Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway is back on the schedule with both spring and fall dates for the second year in a row. The first race at the venerable half-mile is slated for March 31 with a return engagement on Sept. 3 during Labor Day weekend.
Iowa Speedway has also added a second date for 2012. The sixth edition of the traditional spring combination event with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West returns to the schedule on May 19 and it will be complemented with a second combo race on Aug. 3. Both events at Iowa will be held in conjunction with the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
In addition to Bristol and the two Iowa races, the K&N Pro Series East will have three more companion events in 2012 with NASCAR’s national series. The East will return to Richmond (Va.) International Raceway on April 26, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., on Sept. 22, and Dover (Del.) International Speedway on Sept. 28.
The July 14 date at Raceway Park will mark the third time the K&N Pro Series East has visited the central Pennsylvania facility, and first since 1988. The reconfigured facility now features a .625-mile layout.
The 2012 season will conclude with the inaugural stand-alone race in K&N Pro Series East history at Rockingham. It will be the series’ first visit to the high-banked mile, since the East competed in combination with the Nationwide Series at “The Rock” six times from 1987-92.
Additional 2012 schedule notes:
• In addition to Richmond, three other facilities that welcomed the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East for the first time in 2011 have returned to the schedule. Historic Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., is slated for June 2, Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., returns for a June 23 race and Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway’s event will be July 21.
• Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga., is on the calendar for the third year in a row with a June 9 race date.
• The event at New Hampshire moves from a Friday in recent seasons to Saturday as part of a doubleheader with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
• The Rockingham date will be a doubleheader with the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
• Bristol, Clearfield and Rockingham will bring the total of tracks in which the K&N Pro Series East has held stand-alone races to 43 since competition began in 1987.
• All 14 events will be contested directly in - or in the coverage area of - the top 100 media markets in the nation.
Weekend Update from CJ
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 12/08/11
Hey everyone, i'm back again! What a fun weekend, Friday night I went to the local parade in Laurel, DE with my girlfriend and her family, it's crazy to see some of the floats that people design up (quite impressive actually). And I must mention that our dinner at Pizza King was pretty awesome too! Saturday morning I did my usual, I woke up and washed my truck... Nothing new. Saturday night I drove my Corvette through the Seaford, DE parade escorting my girlfriend. (She's Miss. Blades 2011) Yes, it was extremely cold and I plan to wear warmer clothes if I attend next year haha. Sunday morning I went to Church and it was a really awesome service since the preacher was talking about his trip to Talladega.
Hope everyone is getting their Christmas shopping done! For me, I haven't even started, looks like there will be some updates about me shopping this weekend! :)
-CJ
Weekly Update from CJ
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 11/21/11
Hey everyone, once again I had another great weekend! Friday night I went to see a movie with my girlfriend and her family, we saw the new Twilight movie and I'm still confused about what it was about. (Guess I should have watched the first couple of movies leading up to that one, right?) haha. Over all it was a really fun night! Saturday morning I helped my sister and her boyfriend move into their new house, it was an all day event but a lot of fun as well. Sunday was a fun day, I went to Salisbury, MD to watch my little sister and my girlfriend compete in a beauty pageant. Although my little sister is 2 years old she did a great job! My girlfriend was the 1st runner up and did a great job! I was very proud of both of them!
Coming up this week: Loading up more racing equipment and moving it to our shop in North Carolina.
Well I hope everyone has a safe and happy thanksgiving, be sure to eat tons!
Thanks,
CJ Faison
Weekly update from CJ
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 11/16/11
Well I've had one busy weekend, on Saturday I took sometime to hangout with my girlfriend at a local festival, after that I went bowling with some good friends from the racetrack that I haven't seen in a long time. Just to let you know I'm sticking to racing instead of bowling, I'm a terrible bowler haha. On Sunday I went to church with my family and as soon as church let out my dad and I drove to North Carolina. We had a fun 8 hour drive, it was good to have some quality time with him. Once we arrived in North Carolina we went to the new raceshop in Mooresville and started setting up some of the racing equipment. Everybody from Dale Jr. Motorsports has been very helpful in this move into their smaller shop where our cars will be for the 2012 season. While we were down in Mooresville we also looked at some housing for me to live in while I'm down there, I'm excited!
ATTENTION FANS: Please comment or email me questions that you would like me to answer next week!
Thanks!
CJ Faison
Special thanks from CJ Faison
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 11/11/11
As the leaves on the trees are falling, its a sign that race season is over, with all of that being said I have to thank all of my guys who support me inside and outside of racing. Here's a special thanks to all of my crew, each and every one of you who put your blood, sweat, and tears into my racecars this year. I'm looking forward to a great 2012 season, better than we have ever had, I just have that feeling.
While my crew and I were on the road traveling this year we have made a lot of memories. As we all I know I love to play pranks and have a fun time, my crew finally got me back pretty good this year with the "water bucket over the door" prank... I must say that was pretty good haha.
But in conclusion I have to thank each and everyone of you for the hard work you put in this season and cannot wait to grow our team even more. I had fun!
Thank you, CJ Faison
CJ's weekend
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 11/06/11
What's up everybody! I had a pretty laid back weekend, it started off by going to watch my girlfriend cheerlead at a local football game. (I didn't mention that it was 27 degrees outside and we were watching her from the top row.... Can you say COLD?) Anyway, Saturday morning my dad and I went to pick up some equipment for the new raceshop, bought some really cool things! Saturday night my girlfriend and her family took me to a haunted house in Georgetown, DE and needless to say I way terrified haha. And Sunday I went to Church, did some yard work and hungout with my dad. In conclusion I had a great weekend and can't wait for race season!
-CJ Faison
Update from CJ
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 11/04/11
Hey everyone, sorry for not posting the weekly updates lately. I have been busy with school, I'm doubling up on all of my classes so I can graduate early. Our plans for 2012 will be released soon, but I can give you all a hint: I'm moving to North Carolina in February to further pursue my racing career. I'm so blessed with the opporitunity and I will make the best of it while I'm living down there.
The past couple of weeks I've been taking it easy by spending some time with friends and family. It's nice to relax for a couple of weeks before getting back into the swing of racing. It's nice to look back on 2011 and see how much progress we have made in just a years time. Can't wait for 2012 to come around so we can progress from there!
I really want to encourage everyone to connect with me through social networking!
Add me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/cjfaison
"Like" me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cjfaisonracing
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cjfaison
Thanks! -CJ Faison
Thank
Note from CJ
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 10/04/11
Hey everyone, this is CJ. Just want to say that we rounded out the 2011 season on a positive note! (My arms are still a little sore from driving 130 laps without power steering at Dover) But I will be posting updates on what I am doing throughout the winter and I'll be sure to post pictures!
Thank you all for your support!
CJ Faison
Faison turns heads in the NASCAR K&N Pro East Series race at Dover International Speedway, young rookie driving like a seasoned veteran....
by Mike Jones/News Editor on 03/31/11
DOVER, Del. –
Dover International Speedway will played host to the NASCAR K&N Pro East Series which had "Delaware's own" local resident CJ Faison. Faison, only 18 years old competed in the 150 lap race September 30, 2011. During the practice laps at Dover, CJ quickly jumped to 9th fastest out of 36 cars. Faison at that time quickly caught the attention from the seasoned vertans in the sport, and also caught the attention of his tire Specialist Ray Reddington. "It was a pleasure to work with CJ at Dover !! I have worked with a 1/2 dozen of NASCAR'S best drivers both past & present , CJ got up to speed as fast or faster then some of the best .. CJ is a true race car driver !! He only made 26 laps in both practice sessions & then put up two very fast laps on friday ! And to run in the top 10 the entire Race with out power steering for most of the race and the broken rt rear shock & still passing cars on the out side !!" -Ray Reddington
CJ qualified 4th place out of 30+ cars, as the green flag dropped Faison lost his power steering, but that didn't phase the young rookie. CJ went on to pass multiple cars throughout the race, as pit stops helped his track position CJ also told his crew "I'm holding the car back for the last part of the race".
Lap 92 Faison was runnning a strong top 10 place, thats when the right rear shock absorber broke off of the mount from the car. With a broken shock the young rookie still did not back down, Faison drove another 40 laps with no power steering and no rear shock. CJ continued to pass cars on both the outside and inside. While his crew was in shock about how well CJ handled and drove the car, CJ then came in for a pit stop to fix the issue with the shock.
As a potential threat of safety to fans, drivers, and crew at the track CJ and his crew chief Chris Lawson decided to pull the plug and end their race. "As dissapointing as it was to pull in early, I still had this feeling as if I won that race. For it to be my first time racing at dover and to be running with the best in the series, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Now were just looking forward to 2012, full seaosn in the NASCAR K&N pro East Series, should be fun!!"- CJ Faison

