From Race Suit to Race Team, Saldana Partners with Motter Motorsports
UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit starts STP Sprint Car Series season
BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Jan. 30, 2013 — It was in the pits at the scenic Deer Creek Speedway last September when Joey Saldana began a conversation with opportunity.
It was a chance discussion between a former World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series car owner, Dan Motter, and one of the series’ stars. What started with Motter – the president of Motter Equipment Inc. who owned, drove and crewed on various racing teams in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s – agreeing to get Saldana a racing suit for his offseason trip to compete in Australia turned into something much more significant.
Flash forward several weeks as Saldana began to wrap up 2012 by garnering his sixth top-four finish in the last seven seasons on the circuit. Saldana was informed of his release from Kasey Kahne Racing effective at the end of the season.
“You have to be at the right place at the right time,” Saldana said. “Luckily I had that conversation with Dan about helping me out in Australia. When he heard I got released he was right there to step up and build a team to run for an Outlaws championship.”
