Matt Kobyluck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matt Kobyluck |
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Kobyluck in 2009
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| Nationality |  American |
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| Born | February 19, 1970 Oakdale, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| NASCAR K&N Pro Series East | |||||||
| Years active | 1998–2010 | ||||||
| Starts | 178 | ||||||
| Wins | 16 | ||||||
| Poles | 7 | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st in 2008 | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| 2008 | NASCAR Camping World East Series | ||||||
| Awards | |||||||
| 2006, 2008 | Toyota All-Star Showdown winner | ||||||
| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 4 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 119th (2006) | ||||||
| First race | 2004 Siemens 200 (Loudon) | ||||||
| Last race | 2006 Zippo 200 (Watkins Glen) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of March 11, 2014. | |||||||
Matt Kobyluck (born February 19, 1970) is an American race car driver. He competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, which is a racing series that helps drivers get ready for bigger NASCAR events. Matt raced for ten years in this series, starting in 1998. He is also special because he is the only driver of Native American descent in the series.
Racing Journey
Matt Kobyluck started his racing career in 1993. He drove in the Late Model division at the Waterford Speedbowl in his home state of Connecticut. He was very good at driving on the small, tight track. He won many races and often finished in the top five or ten.
Because he was so good, other racers noticed him. Soon, he was asked to drive in the Modified division too. Matt kept doing well and wanted to try even bigger challenges.
In 1997, Matt moved to Stafford Motor Speedway to race in the Pro Stock division. This track was a half-mile long and was a good test for him. He was getting ready for NASCAR's main regional series, which was then called the Busch North Series.
Overcoming Challenges
In 1998, Matt had a serious accident during a race at Stafford. He was badly hurt, and his plans to join NASCAR were put on hold. But Matt was very determined and strong. By August of that year, he was back behind the wheel, much faster than doctors expected. That fall, with help from Mohegan Sun Casino, Matt made his NASCAR debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Success in NASCAR
Matt Kobyluck started racing full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Series East in 1999. Since then, he has raced in over 150 events. He has won 14 races and finished in the top five over 50 times. He also had more than 80 top-ten finishes.
In 2006, Matt won the important NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. He almost won the East Series championship in 2002. It was a very close race, and he lost by only nine points in the final event. For many years, he consistently finished in the top ten in the season standings.
In September 2008, Matt Kobyluck won the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series Championship! He finished third in the race at Dover International Speedway, which was enough to secure the title. He was the first Native American to win a championship in this series. To cap off his amazing 2008 season, Matt won his second Toyota All-Star Showdown in January 2009.
Besides racing, Matt Kobyluck is also the president of a big company in Connecticut. His company works on construction, developing land, and trucking.
Images for kids
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Matt Kobyluck in 2009
