RJ Hampshire was back to his best at Daytona and it was an emotional win for the 2024 250 West champ, being the first race he won without his dad, who sadly passed away in the off-season, at the very venue he did used to bring him too as a child.
It’s special,” said an emotional Hampshire. “Man, I lost my dad a few months ago, and this was his race. This is the only race we used to come to. He was here with us today. Some guy came up to us in the pits with one of my dad’s jerseys. I don’t know, it was just special today. I felt good, I had that comfort and that’s what was missing in those first two races. Finally got to burn one down in Daytona! That one was for dad.”
Hampshire is now fourth in the championship, 14 points behind championship leader, Max Anstie, with a pivotal East/West shootout this weekend in Indianapolis, don’t count Hampshire out of this East Coast championship fight.
Coming in this year, I didn’t have much of an off-season,” reflected Hampshire. “I knew I would get stronger as the season progressed, we worked hard with the team over the last two weeks and found a setting that made me really comfortable. I felt good as soon as my wheels hit the dirt here in Daytona, gelled with the track all day, and led 90 percent of the Main Event, which was awesome for us. We’re back on track and I’m stoked on the whole day and to finally add this trophy to the cabinet.”
