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September 10, 2013
The Tri-parish area’s most prestigious racing prospect is going to be back on the NASCAR Nationwide series this season.
When he takes the wheel, he will do so with a new sponsor donning his customary No. 44 car.
Galliano native and Nationwide Series driver Hal Martin announced on his official website this week that he is partnering with ORACLE Lighting – a New Orleans-based company that has been in business for more than a decade.
Martin said the partnership will be for the Kansas Lottery 300 race in Kansas City on Oct. 5.
“To represent a thriving business with such a unique and fun product line is a very thrilling opportunity,” Martin said. “I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the No. 44 ORACLE Lighting Toyota Camry.”
For Martin, the Kansas Lottery race is a source of excitement – it will mark his first time on the NASCAR track since May 25’s History 300 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Martin ran 10 races in the beginning portion of the season in a car sponsored by American Custom Yachts.
During that first run, the rookie Nationwide Series driver tasted moderate success, accumulating 163 points and an average finishing position of 27.8.
Martin’s top start was possibly his last when he navigated from the 36th start position and worked his way up to a 23rd place. Martin had also posted a 23rd place finish in his second start of the season. In total, he was in the top 25 in five of his 10 races.
When that deal ended, Martin took a break from action, spending some time on karts at NOLA Motorsports Park.
That’s when ORACLE Lighting came into the fold.
The Louisiana-based business said it is happy to be working with Martin for the upcoming race.
Martin’s new car will be red and black with ORACLE’s logo plastered across the sides of the car.
“The entire team here at ORACLE Lighting is very excited about our recent partnership with Hal Martin,” said Justin Hartenstein, ORACLE’s product development director. “We are especially enthusiastic to support a driver and a program that, like our own company, got its start here in Southeast Louisiana. … We know Hal is a true competitor, our staff had the opportunity to go head-to-head with him on the kart track recently at NOLA Motorsports Park.
“If Hal is half as good of a NASCAR driver as he is on the kart track, he is going to continue to excel in this sport.”
For Martin, the race will be doubly sentimental, because it’s a reunion of sorts.
The local driver’s first-ever start on the Nationwide Series came at this race last year. He qualified in the 16th position in that start and finished 25th after experiencing mechanical failure early in the race.
Back in action, Martin said he’s eager to give it a second go.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to where my NASCAR Nationwide Series career began,” Martin said. “It’s hard to believe that all this started a year ago. I feel like I’ve grown so much as a driver and competitor.”
