HICKORY, N.C. -- Brody Gunter, 18, of Stark, Florida will take another step up the racing ladder this weekend.  The multi-time winner and champion in Quarter-Midgets and Legend Cars will race a Pro Late Model for the first time in Saturday's Carolina Pro Late Model Series event at the second-longest running NASCAR weekly series track in history, the Hickory Motor Speedway. 

Gunter will drive for Matt Drake in a car that his driving coach, Jordan Black, raced to a victory in a similar race one year ago.  

"I have dreamed of this opportunity for a long time," Brody smiled. "Tom Baker helped me to have a chance to test a Pro Late Model back in March with Randy Joyner's team, which we did at Caraway Speedway.  That test went well, and Jordan was with me that day, helping me out. It gave me the confidence that l was ready to try racing a full-size car.  Jordan had raced once in a Pro, for Matt Drake, and he won at Hickory.  Matt called us and offered us the chance to run a race for him, and we were able to work things out to run this Saturday, May 10th, at Hickory."

Asked about his goals for the weekend, the driver didn't hesitate. "My first and foremost goal is to finish the race and learn as much as possible.  I'm not as concerned with where I finish as I am that I run a clean race and finish with the car and me in one piece. If we accomplish that, then we will discuss running again with Matt in the future.  I'm grateful to Matt for the opportunity, and to my family and supporters for making it happen. Many of the NASCAR legends have raced at Hickory over the years, so it means a lot for me to be able to compete there.  We're hoping for a solid weekend with no issues, and if we accomplish that, then we've won no matter where we finish."