It’s been nearly two and a half months since JJL Motorsports has hit the track.
However, the wait is nearly over.
After contending for their first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in February, crew chief Matt Noyce and veteran driver Jesse Little have been diligently working on their family-owned operation preparing for next weekend’s JEGS 200 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
With the “Monster Mile” being one of Little’s favorite race tracks, the JJL Motorsports team sees the 200-lap race as a perfect opportunity to propel their team into the spotlight.
“Atlanta went incredibly well for us,” recalled Little the son of former NASCAR driver Chad Little. “We went there with a brand-new truck, manufacture and engine package. Our result showed how hard Matt (Noyce) and team worked and how determined we are at JJL to be competitive.”
Even though Little found himself trapped on the final restart and slid back to a career-best eighth place finish, the team’s performance motivated them to go back to their Sherrills Ford, N.C.-shop more determined than ever.
Under the guidance and leadership of Noyce, the team has spent the last nine weeks prepping the No. 97 Ford F-150 they’ll boast at Dover next weekend. Little says the downtime for the part-time organization has allowed them to be more attentive to detail – something he hopes will pay dividends on the race track.
“Our biggest advantage right now is our time of preparation,” added Little. “We have the ability to take our time and do things exactly the right way, not just the easiest. We are able to plan far ahead and prepare for almost any situation.”
With a flux schedule still ahead for the JJL Motorsports team, the 21-year-old Little knows another worthy performance could help propel his team forward to more races whether he’s behind the wheel or not.
“We’re building JJL for the future,” added Little. “I want us to succeed whether I’m behind the wheel or not. I think we were able to show at Atlanta that despite being an under budget team – our determination and hard work makes up for everything else we’re lacking.
