Day Motor Sports Driver Profile: Jake Haddox on fire in Louisiana’s Limited Mods
RUSTON, Louisiana — While it’s the Factory Stocks that often garner most of the headlines across the talent-filled Ark-La-Tex region, you’ll also find a ton of big guns within the Limited Modified ranks. To wins races here, it takes experience, a hot car and a cool driver with the skills to get the job done.
For 30-year-old Limited Mod pilot Jake Haddox, taking on the top teams is a challenge he can accept. In 20 starts this season, he’s earned three wins (including last Friday night at Ark-La-Tex), seven top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. Haddox says a couple of factors are key to his success in 2024.
“For one thing, it takes good equipment to win at this level,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have a brand new Hughes chassis B-Mod this year, and it is an amazing piece. Along with that, it takes good people working together. I’m blessed to have several on my side, and that’s why we’re running so well.
“That win felt pretty good, since all of the fast guys were there. When things start to click and the car is consistent, it’s an amazing feeling. We’ve been working hard to get things where they need to be, and a big win like that is satisfying beyond words. It makes all of the time in the shop seem worthwhile.”
Haddox has a number of years behind the wheel, yet he was away from the sport for over a decade.
“I started out at the age of 9,” he explained. “My first full-size car was Mini Stock, then I moved up to a Limited Modified and ran one right up until 2009. I stepped away from the sport that year to do other things, and was completely out of it for 14 years.
“My most recent experience was on asphalt, since we used to go to West Monroe to race at The Rev. That was actually a concrete surface, and we really had it figured out. My Dad and I ran like 23 races there, and won 21 of them. So to be honest, racing on dirt has been a huge learning curve for us.”
You may wonder what drew this hot-shoe back to the sport. One random Saturday late last summer, a bright idea popped into his head. He pitched it to a friend, and things changed from there on out.
“I called my buddy Justin Pool, and told him he should let me drive his car that night at Super Bee,” Haddox explains. “He said that was fine with him, so off to the races we went. Once I got into his car, it ignited the fire all over again. I realized right then and there just how much I had missed the sport.
“So on Sunday, my Dad and I were pulling old cars out of my Uncle Mike’s garage. We dragged out an old 2004 chassis, converted it into a B-Mod and had it ready to go for the following weekend. So that’s why we only had 12 starts last year, but were pretty thrilled to pick up a win and four top-fives.”
When Haddox puts on his safety suit and gets ready to race, that new Hughes car makes him smile.
“This really is a top-notch race car to drive,” he added. “It reacts well to any change we make, and does so consistently each time we make one. It’s powered by a motor from Mr. John McLemore at PTS Racing Engines. It has all kinds of horsepower and is super reliable; we couldn’t ask for any better.”
Along with his brandy-new ride and years of experience, Haddox has a ton of support in his corner.
“I’ll start with thanking my family, including my wife, Claire; my daughter, Norah; my parents, Sharon and Lee Jay Haddox; my Grandpa, Doug Haddox; my uncle, Jeremy Haddox; along with friends Scott Simmons, Terry Lowery, who was my Dad’s old crew chief; Justin Pool, and Johnny Swain.
“I also want to thank our great sponsors, including LJ Haddox and Son; Train 318; Mac’s Truck Repair; Hercules Transport, O’Neal Gas; JP Oil Company; DX Financial, Virden Trucking and Cattle, PTS Racing Engines, Murphrey Oil and STS Petroleum. I couldn’t do this without their valued support.”
With summer here and racing heating up, Haddox says he’ll be out there having more fun.
“I’m not 100 percent sure just how much racing we’ll do this summer, we might even take a little time away during the hot spell,” he said. “We don’t chase points anywhere, but we will still be doing some more racing at some point. We’d love to pick up another win.
“The guys that do it every week all year have an advantage. I do know no matter when or where we unload this car, we’ll have a competitive piece. Regardless of how many races we run this summer, I know we’ll be out having big fun when we go.”
By Phil Whipple, RaceON.com Staff Writer
Photo by Austin Wilkins
