Will Rodgers

Will Rodgers
Rodgers at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2018
Nationality  American
Born (1994-10-08) October 8, 1994
Maui, Hawaii
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West career
Debut season 2016
Current team
  • Jefferson Pitts Racing
  • REF Motorsports
Years active 2016–present
Car no. 7, 4
Starts 26
Championships 0
Wins 1
Poles 2
Best finish 5th in 2017
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East career
Debut season 2017
Current team Jefferson Pitts Racing
Years active 2017–present
Car no. 7
Starts 4
Championships 0
Wins 3
Poles 0
Best finish 22nd in 2017

Will Rodgers (born October 8, 1994) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, driving the No. 7 Ford Fusion for Jefferson Pitts Racing and the No. 4 Ford Fusion for REF Motorsports. He also competes in the ARCA Racing Series part-time for Ken Schrader Racing, driving the Nos. 52 and 11 Toyota Camrys. He is currently a member of the NASCAR Next program.

Racing career

NASCAR

Rodgers began racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016, driving for team owner Dave Hanson. He made his debut at Sonoma Raceway, finishing in 17th.[1] He ended the season with four top-ten finishes.[2]

Rodgers crossing the start/finish line at Sonoma Raceway in 2017

Rodgers returned to the series in 2017, running full-time in the K&N Pro Series West for Jefferson Pitts Racing. He opened the season with four consecutive top-five finishes.[3] At Sonoma, Rodgers qualified on pole position, earning his first career pole in the series.[4] While he led early, Rodgers was eventually passed by 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, finishing second.[5] Rodgers said after the race, "For some funny reason, I had a feeling as far back as four weeks ago that it was going to be me and Kevin coming into turn 11 on the last lap. And sure enough, there we were. He ran a really good race, I learned a lot from him. We were able to lead some laps there in the beginning. It doesn't feel too bad to finish second today."[5] Harvick, meanwhile, was impressed with Rodgers' performance, stating, "That was really what this was all about, to shine a little light on a kid like Will and race against him and give him the recognition he deserves. I want to keep supporting the series and bring that bright light on some of these kids who need the opportunity."[6] The race became a turning point for Rodgers' career; in May 2018, Autoweek writer Matt Weaver argued that Rodgers had "gained more from his graceful defeat than if he had won the race without the participation of a Cup Series veteran."[7] Rodgers spoke of the race as having done "wonders for my career. We got a lot of attention....I can't say enough about how helpful Kevin was. He put me on his radio show and told the world that he respected me. That was huge."[7] Rodgers ran the rest of the season for Pitts' team, adding another second-place finish at Evergreen Speedway.[8]

Rodgers also ran the two road course races in the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season. Rodgers earned his first career K&N Series win at Watkins Glen International, holding off Rubén García Jr. after García hit the wall attempting to overtake him.[9] After the race, Harvick, despite not participating in the event, visited Rodgers in Victory Lane to congratulate him on the win.[10][11] Rodgers also won the second road course race of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park.[12]

In 2018, Rodgers returned to Jefferson Pitts Racing for the K&N West season opener at Kern County Raceway Park. After finishing a disappointing 16th,[13] Rodgers moved to Bob Farmer's team for the doubleheader at Tucson Speedway. He finished ninth and seventh in the first and second race respectively.[14]

Rodgers on track at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2018
Rodgers in Victory Lane after winning the race

On June 16, Rodgers returned to the East Series to run again at New Jersey Motorsports Park. He won the race after qualifying second and leading 49 of the 55 laps,[15] earning his third road course victory in four such races at the K&N level and establishing himself as one of the series' road course ringers.[16] Two days before the race, Harvick reaffirmed his support for Rodgers and argued, "When the road course stuff shows up, Will is probably capable of being in an Xfinity race or a Cup race. In the right equipment on a road course, he'd be a top-10 competitor."[11]

Rodgers went on to win from the pole at Sonoma Raceway in 2018, beating five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the process.

The next week, Rodgers returned to Sonoma for the K&N West race; while Harvick did not enter the 2018 race, a total of five Cup Series drivers (Aric Almirola, William Byron, Daniel Suárez, Erik Jones, and Alex Bowman) did participate.[17] Rodgers beat all of them, qualifying on the pole and winning his fourth consecutive road course race at the K&N level.[18]

ARCA

Before the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, Rodgers was announced as a driver for Ken Schrader Racing for select races in the 2018 ARCA Racing Series season, including Daytona.[19] The race was Rodgers' first on an oval track longer than one mile in length.[20] At Daytona, Rodgers was involved in an accident in turn 4 on lap 21, which led to him finishing 25 laps down in 30th place.[21] Rodgers then rebounded to finish eighth in his next race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.[22]

Personal life

Rodgers was born in Maui, Hawaii and currently resides in Solvang, California.[23]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NKNPSEC Pts Ref
2017 Jefferson Pitts Racing 7 Ford NSM GRE BRI SBO SBO MEM BLN TMP NHA IOW GLN
1		 LGY NJE
1*		 DOV 22nd 95 [24]
2018 NSM BRI LGY SBO SBO MEM NJM
1*		 THO NHA IOW GLN
2*		 26th* 48* [25]
Norman Levin Racing 10 Chevy GTW
26		 NHA DOV

K&N Pro Series West

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NKNPSWC Pts Ref
2016 Richard DeLong 84 Chevy IRW KCR TUS OSS CNS
Wth		 16th 201 [2]
Dave Hanson 06 Chevy SON
17		 SLS
8		 IOW
10
Toyota EVG
14		 DCS
Ford UMC
7		 UMC
7		 MER AAS
2017 Jefferson Pitts Racing 7 Ford TUS
5		 KCR
3		 IRW
5		 IRW
5		 SPO
19		 OSS
20		 CNS
9		 SON
2*		 EVG
2		 DCS
4		 MER
3		 AAS
5		 KCR
8		 5th 520 [3]
27 IOW
8
2018 Jefferson Pitts Racing 7 Ford KCR
16		 SON
1*		 10th* 212* [26]
REF Motorsports 4 Ford TUS
9		 TUS
7		 OSS
11		 CNS DCS
Wth		 IOW EVG
13
Norman Levin Racing 10 Chevy GTW
26		 LVS MER AAS KCR

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Racing Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ARSC Pts Ref
2018 Ken Schrader Racing 52 Ford DAY
30		 NSH SLM TAL TOL POC
18		 MCH
6		 MAD GTW CHI
9		 IOW ELK POC
8		 ISF BLN DSF IRP SLM KAN 21st* 610* [27]
11 CLT
8

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References

  1. ↑ "2016 Chevy's Fresh Mex 200". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Will Rodgers – 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Will Rodgers – 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  4. ↑ Segal, Davey (June 24, 2017). "QUALIFYING: Rodgers Scores First K&N Pole". NASCAR Home Tracks. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  5. 1 2 NASCAR Wire Service (June 24, 2017). "Kevin Harvick holds off Will Rodgers for NASCAR K&N West Sonoma victory". Autoweek. Crain Communications. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  6. ↑ Utter, Jim (June 24, 2017). "Harvick returns to his roots with win in K&N West race at Sonoma". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Call It 'Six Degrees of NASCAR Next Separation' for Kevin Harvick and a Trio of Prospects". Autoweek. Crain Communications. May 30, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "2017 NAPA Auto Parts 150". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ Legare, Andrew (August 4, 2017). "WGI Notebook: Rodgers holds on for K&N victory". Star-Gazette. Gannett Company. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ NASCAR Wire Service (August 4, 2017). "Will Rodgers earns maiden NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory". Autoweek. Crain Communications. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  11. 1 2 McFadin, Daniel (June 14, 2018). "NASCAR Next's Will Rodgers, Hailie Deegan get boost from Kevin Harvick". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  12. ↑ Mulranen, Patrick (September 17, 2017). "Local fans impressed with NASCAR's return to Millville". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  13. ↑ "2018 Bakersfield 175 Presented by NAPA Auto Parts". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  14. ↑ "A Few Things We Learned In Tucson". NASCAR Home Tracks. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. May 8, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2018 JUSTDRIVE.com 125". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  16. ↑ Jacobs, Jaxson (June 19, 2018). "What We Learned In New Jersey". NASCAR Home Tracks. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  17. ↑ McFadin, Daniel (June 19, 2018). "Five Cup drivers set for K&N West race at Sonoma". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  18. ↑ Southers, Tim (June 23, 2018). "Will Rodgers bests Cup stars for first K&N West win at Sonoma". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Will Rodgers to race for Ken Schrader's ARCA team with Drydene Oil" (Press release). Catchfence.com. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Will Rodgers prepped for ARCA Racing Series debut at Daytona International Speedway" (Press release). Catchfence.com. February 7, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  21. ↑ "2018 Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Drydene announces more ARCA races with KSR; starts at MIS". ARCARacing.com. June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  23. ↑ Stern, Elliott (May 25, 2018). "Solvang's Will Rodgers named to "NASCAR Next" class of 2018". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Will Rodgers – 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Will Rodgers – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Will Rodgers – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Will Rodgers – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
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