Martin Doubek will go on an adventure early in 2020: The Hendriks Motorsport driver will make his American debut in February in the World Series of Asphalt Racing at New Smyrna Speedway, competing in the Pro Late Model division. Doubek will drive for former NASCAR Truck Series champion Mike Skinner.
Despite his young age, the 25-year-old Litomysl native is a NASCAR Whelen Euro Series veteran with 30 EuroNASCAR PRO (ENPRO) and 36 EuroNASCAR 2 (EN2) races under his belt. Doubek scored three podium finishes in the EN2 championship and earned his best career points finish in 2019 with the eighth place. In 2020 he will definitely aim for a top-5 spot in the official European NASCAR series at the wheel of the #7 Hendriks Motorsport Ford Mustang.
But before heading to Valencia for the NWES season opener on April 25-26, Doubek will take the long flight to Florida to take part in the famous World Series of Asphalt Racing at the half-mile short track of New Smyrna. On three nights between February 12 and 14 he will give his best in the Pro Late Model division and put to good use the experience he gained in his eight starts at Raceway Venray in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. At the same time, he wants to improve his oval racing technique to come back stronger than ever when EuroNASCAR visits Venray on July 12-13, 2020. Doubek’s best results at the Dutch oval are two ninth-place finishes in 2016.
“Oval racing is a complete different style of racing compared to road course racing. From the outside it looks way easier than it really is,” said Doubek. “I will go to America to learn more techniques and improve my oval racing skills. My team and me are planning to the best possible results. Of course I want to learn how to set up a car for the oval and learn from the local heros that are specialized on ovals. I have no real expectations. My goal is simply to improve my lap times and my consistency. The higher aim is to be prepared for the NWES oval series round. I really want to win the race at Raceway Venray.”
To prepare for his American debut and be ready for a unique experience overseas, Doubek will test Mike Skinner’s Pro Late Model car on January 28-29 in New Smyrna.
