en en en en id en en en en en en en en id en en en en it en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en en
Mason Diaz will make his first career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East start on Sunday night at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, kicking off his 2019 season.
Diaz, 18, from Manassas, Virginia, hopes to run the entirety of the 2019 K&N East Series schedule in pursuit of Rookie of the Year honors and possibly a series championship.  The 2019 season for the tour gets underway on Sunday night at New Smyrna Speedway – a track Diaz has enjoyed success at.
“I’m really looking forward to getting the 2019 season started,” Diaz said.  “We’re going to a track where I’ve had some success at, getting the pole in my first Super Late Model race and winning the Pro Late Model race last year.  I’ll be in a new car where I haven’t run a lap in it yet, but I have experience in the NASCAR Xfinity and Gander Outdoor Truck Series that will help me get the hang of the heavier style car.  My Late Model experience in the past will also help me transition into the heavier car at New Smyrna.”
Diaz won the 100 lap Pro Late Model race at New Syrma Speedway’s World Series of Asphalt last February, holding off a late race challenge from Mike Skinner. He hopes that experience will be an asset on Sunday night in the K&N East 175.  He hopes to start out the 2019 season strong on Sunday night in hopes of propelling him to success all year.
“Hopefully all goes well this weekend which will carry over into the rest of the season,” Diaz remarked.  “I just want to do the best that we can given that this is my team’s first time and my first time running one of these races.  The rest of the season, I want to improve.  If we do run for the full season, then we’d like to get Rookie of the Year and hopefully, we’ll do well enough to contend for the series championship.”
In addition to the K&N Series, Diaz will also run select races in the CARS Response Energy Tour and PRA Tour in his Super Late Model.
“I’m hoping to run the full K&N season while also racing in the Super,” Diaz commented.  “We’ve got a great team this year, awesome sponsors and great fans.  I can’t thank them all enough, we couldn’t do it without them, or my family which sacrifices so much to allow me to race.”
Diaz is supported by Solid Rock Carriers, Prince William Marina, Accent Imaging, MAD Motorsports, The Sign Shop and, for the K&N race on February 10th, the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
The K&N Series race will commence on Sunday, February 10th at 7:30pm.  The race will be broadcast on a tape delay on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) at a later, to be announced date.
To learn more about Mason Diaz Racing, check out his website at www.masondiaz24.com, “like” Mason Diaz Racing on Facebook or follow @masondiazracing on Twitter.
Tagged: Mason Diaz New Smyrna Speedway
Andy Marquis is the managing editor of Race22.com, joining the team in 2011. Marquis has vast journalism experience, having covered ARCA, INDYCAR, NASCAR, AMA and IHRA Drag Racing. He has also covered politics from the local level in Maryland to the national level in Washington. Currently, he oversees the editorial side of Race22.com on a day-to-day basis while also contributing features and covering races on location.