Brandon Gdovic and Ronnie Basset Jr., unfortunately, were not selected into the 2014-2015 NASCAR NEXT program, making them this season’s ‘snubs’, however, both competitors are hoping to use the rejection as extra motivation this season and beyond.
Gdovic, 22, has not begun the 2014 K&N Pro Series East season the greatest. He finished a season-best ninth in the UNOH Battle at The Beach in February, but has yet to experience another top-10 run through four races.
“This season, obviously, we are not running full-time,” Gdovic explained to Speedway Media on Friday about his time in the K&N East Pro Series this year. “We’re trying to conserve money, but we’ll be running in other series, looking to post some top-fives and compete for wins, just hoping to avoid frustrating weekends.”
Despite not running the full K&N schedule, Gdovic is still going to be racing at local short track levels trying to re-earn his credibility and recognition.
“We’ll run the K&N car at Langley Speedway, Virginia (International Raceway), Watkins Glen (International Raceway), Dover (International Raceway), and a few more.” Gdovic further expressed about his plans this season. “We’ll run late models at Langley, some legends and modifieds, we just want to run 50 races this season rather then the 15 on the K&N schedule.”
Gdovic was not an inductee in this season’s NASCAR NEXT class; however, he’s not dwelling on the unfortunate.
“I don’t really think about it too much,” Gdovic noted about not being inducted to the 2014-2015 NASCAR NEXT class. “It is what it is, just means I have to try harder, and it is hard to go up against teams like Turner Scott Motorsports, but when you can beat them, it’s just that much more satisfying.”
Bassett Jr., like Gdovic, has been competing across the eastern coast racing in the UCAR Series and other local divisions, which he believes has helped him improve on the K&N side.
“It’s pretty cool,” Bassett Jr. explained to Speedway Media on Friday about running across the east coast in a multitude of series. “We’ve traveled around a lot, I’m not one track wonder, and the extra track time at different tracks has really helped a bunch.”
Bassett, 19, has preformed quite nicely this season in the K&N East Series, finishing a season-best second at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and posting another top-five last weekend at Richmond International Raceway.
The performances, though, were not enough to include his name on this season’s NASCAR NEXT program.
“It sucks,” Bassett further explained with a disappointed tone about not getting into the NASCAR NEXT class this season. “It just makes you want to perform better and strive to make yourself better, and open some eyes, but it’s definitely a setback.”
However, the Winston Salem, North Carolina driver is hoping to prove to critics, and NASCAR, that he deserved a spot on the list.
“Hopefully, we can give the guys who did get in a run for their money, and show NASCAR they missed out on something, being left out just makes you want to drive harder all the time.”
Nice to see my photo being used!