SHERRILLS FORD, N.C. (October 12, 2011) – Team Little Racing has announced that third generation driver Jesse Little will compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2012.

Currently a 14-year-old high school freshman, Little will advance his NASCAR racing career to the level where his father won a championship. Chad Little, a former Sprint Cup Series driver, competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West from 1985-88 and earned the title in 1987. 

Team Little Racing is owned and managed by Chad’s brother and Jesse’s uncle, Jason Little. 

“The K&N Pro Series is one of NASCAR’s most competitive touring series in the U.S., and it’s a natural progression for our team and for Jesse,” Jason said. “It’s the next step for a driver aspiring to someday compete at NASCAR’s top level.”

The team has been preparing to race in the K&N Pro Series for past couple years, running several late model touring series and USAC Ford Focus Midgets. In 2011 Little participated in NASCAR  Whelen All-American Series and UARA Late Model events.

"I like racing different tracks each week,” Jesse said. “It’s a challenge to get the car set up in a short period of time.

Little has had strong runs at tracks Motor Mile, Hickory, Concord and Rockingham in his young career. Most recently, on Oct. 8, he became the first 14-year-old to participate in the famed Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville Speedway, where he finished 17th.“We race against some of the toughest late model competitors in the country,” Jesse said. “It’s helped me learn how to race, and more importantly, when to race.

Running cars similar in chassis design to the K&N Pro Series is an added benefit of the experience the team has gained in recent seasons.

“The NASCAR late model cars are a close cousin to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series,” Jesse said. “The weight and horsepower ratio is similar, as are some tracks. It will be a learning curve for sure, especially at the intermediate tracks, and I look forward to that.”

Little will make his NASCAR K&N Pro Series debut after he turns 15 on April 15, 2012. The team plans to compete full-time in the K&N Pro Series East and make selected starts in the K&N Pro Series West.

Team Little Racing is located in Sherrills Ford, N.C., and has strong alliances with established programs and veteran crew members like RCR’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series crew chief, Harold Holly. Holly was Chad Little’s crew chief during his NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series years, and continues to be a close friend and mentor for Jesse.

“We bought our cars from RCR, and Harold has provided direction as we prepare for the step up to K&N Pro Series competition,” Jason said.  

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series is a developmental series within NASCAR, concentrating on developing driver’s skills at a variety of tracks. Drivers have the opportunity to compete at some of the toughest short tracks in the nation as well as events at intermediate facilities like Dover International Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Richmond International Raceway along with road courses such as Infineon Raceway.