Local Racer Makes it to the National Stage: Itasca Illinois’ Camden Murphy to pilot No. 08 in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville
(10/24/2014)
(Martinsville, VA) - By Scott Kosak, RacingIn.com - Camden Murphy will fulfill a dream at Martinsville Speedway this weekend when he lines up for the start of the Kroger 200 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Having won races and titles since 2009 at places like Illiana Motor Speedway, Grundy County Speedway, Madison International Speedway, and even the famed Milwaukee Mile, when the green flag waves in Martinsville, the 18 year old will do his best to pilot No. 08 Ronald McDonald House Chevy Silverado to a strong finish for Bobby Dotter and SS Green Light Racing.
There’s more to this story though than a young racer getting his first shot at one of the biggest stages possible and that’s where this story gets a little more personal for me as the founder of RacingIn.com with a true focus on supporting the racers and tracks from the grassroots up.
When I first met Camden Murphy in early 2010, it was through the father of another racer, Kyle Brinkmann. Both racers had created some of the first ‘Racer Pages’ at RacingIn.com and I eventually met both of them (and third of the group who refers to themselves as the 'Three Amigos', Garret Goodwin) through Ken’s Indoor Racing League where they would spend a winter racing against some of the most well known asphalt oval racers in Illinois. It was a fun event, racing gas powered go karts at an indoor track where passing happens at a premium. Thinking back to those Sundays, it was always impressive to see how Camden was able to slowly and methodically work through the field, picking off one racer at a time, and nearly always finish in the top 3 or 4 in fields of 12 to 14. Given the extremely tight course and the low frequency of passing, Camden seemed to have a natural instinct for racing.
Fast forward to today. While he's preparing for his first race on a truly national stage, the challenges of others are always things Camden has appreciated. Even before he got this big break, Camden was involved with the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Ronald McDonald House Children’s Charities, who he'll race in support of at Martinsville. As explained by Camden, who earlier in 2014 took time to bring his personal race simulator to a Chicagoland Ronald McDonald House, “Seeing what the kids and the families go through, doing work with the house and working with the families and the kids, it truly means so much to be able to support them in this way.”
Click Here to learn more about the Ronald McDonald House Childrens Charities
Making the jump to the national stage doesn’t come without recognizing that it’s a big jump to race at this level. “It is incredible and humbling to say the least. Towards the begining of the year I didn't even think it was possible and I still don't believe that it is happening,” said Camden, continuing, “I think that I will realize it when I strap in for practice Friday. I am truely thankful!”
The national stage doesn’t always mean big national sponsors either as Camden is supported in his efforts at Martinsville Speedway by local Illinois businesses like Mark Signs, The Car Doctor Jr., True Power Racing Oil, and O’Hare Auto Body. As Camden has recognized, racing at any level doesn’t happen without local support and he took a moment to recognize that. When asked of the things that have prepared him to step on the national stage at Martinsville, Camden replied, “Probably being around the right people that have helped me with anything and everything. You can't do everything by yourself.”
There will obviously be a lot of people behind Camden, rooting for him this weekend and all of us at RacingIn.com will be there as well. When someone you know accomplishes a major goal, however old or young they are, it’s a big deal. From all of us at RacingIn.com, we wish Camden great and safe racing this weekend at Martinsville.
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