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Nixon Make Successful Switch To Concrete Racing At Monroe

A veteran Louisiana dirt track driver made a successful career change for 2009. After 12 years of dirt track racing, Kevin Nixon, 36, of Shreveport, La., switched to pavement Late Model racing at the new Monroe (La.) Motor Speedway. The .375-mile concrete oval that includes 12 degrees of corner banking joined the NASCAR Whelen All American Series. It is the only paved track in the state.

The track conducted several events in 2008 as a “soft opening,” before opening for regular Saturday night racing this year.

“I started racing at Monroe when it opened last year,” Nixon said. “I was leading the points at another track, but I never went back. It was time for a change. I initially started in a Legends Car but I wanted something bigger. We sold that and bought a used Late Model.”

Nixon and his wife Beverly has two you sons who are aspiring race car drivers. Jacob, 12, races Bandoleros, and Chandler, 8, is right behind him.

“Racing is something we can all do together,” Nixon said. His dad, Randy, raced until late last season when Kevin drove it in the last there races of 2008 and posted two wins and second place finish.

This year Nixon has driven his Triple N Racing Chevrolet Impala SS into contention for the track and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Louisiana state points championships. He said he had to do a lot of learning in a short period of time to start winning races.

“Racing on pavement is totally different. You can’t throw the car into the corners and power-slide like you do on dirt. I did my best on dry slick dirt tracks which is similar to pavement.

“I knew we had a pretty good car,” Nixon said of his new Late Model, “but I knew nothing about it… the sway bar and things like that. Once I came to understand it we gained speed. We picked up a lot.”

Nixon’s Late Model is based on a Port City chassis and is powered by a GM crate engine.

Nixon operates Triple N Automotive, and general auto repair shop in Shreveport, which is a two-hour haul away from Monroe Motor Speedway.

“We have to drive by a couple of tracks on the way to Monroe. One is 15 minutes from my house. Racing at Monroe is what we’re planning on doing from now on. By the time our sons are ready to race Late Models, I’ll be ready to retire and help them.”