Laprade Highlights Auburndale Twin 50s With A Victory

Matthew Laprade in victory lane at Auburndale Speedway. (Damon Laprade photo)

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – It took an extra week for Matthew Laprade and Right Foot Down Motorsports to get back to Pro Truck action at Auburndale Speedway, but once they did, the pairing made the most of it.

Laprade took home a win in the back half of Twin 50s at the track, rescheduled from May 24 due to rain.

The 13-year-old from nearby New Smyrna Beach started third and fought his way to the lead on lap 18, before controlling the remaining distance, fending off his challengers on multiple late-race restarts along the way.

Laprade beat Cody McDuffie to the checkered flag in the nightcap, with ARCA Menards Series part-timer Becca Monopoli, hard-charger Brennon Pletcher, and Carter Brown filling out the top five finishers.

In the first 50-lapper, Laprade also started third, but fell back as far as eighth after getting shuffled to the outside on the green flag and had to battle his way forward mightily.

With a huge effort out of his No. 17 Wade Tractor & Equipment-sponsored machine, Laprade ultimately made his way back to third place, setting himself up for the enthusiasm of victory lane later on.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the effort from Daniel Webster and the entire Right Foot Down Motorsports team,” said Laprade of his double-podium night. “We worked hard testing and preparing for this weekend, and it’s great to see all that time pay off for us.

“The first race was a battle with having to come through the field, but to be patient, know what we had, and fight back for the trophy in the second race really shows the determination we have as a group.”

Laprade’s overall season to-date includes six wins, 12 podiums, and 14 top fives in 15 starts. Laprade’s five prior victories came during INEX Legend car competition at Auburndale in February.

Thanks go out to marketing partners Wade Tractor & Equipment, Adrenalin Powersports, Synergy SpeedLab, Race Face Brand Development, and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation for their support of Laprade’s racing efforts.

Laprade returns to Pro Truck action Saturday night, June 7 at Mobile (Ala.) Int’l Speedway.

About Matthew Laprade

Matthew Laprade is a 13-year-old Legend car and Pro Truck racer from New Smyrna Beach, Fla., who is competing primarily in Pro Trucks this year across the Southeast, as well as in high-profile Legend car events, including the INEX Winter Nationals at Auburndale (Fla.) Speedway and the Cook Out Summer Shootout Series at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

He drives for Right Foot Down Motorsports and Kaden Honeycutt Racing in the Pro Truck category.

Laprade began his driving career at six years old in dirt go-karts, now having raced for more than half his life. He shocked the karting world in 2019 during his rookie season by winning the Vega Florida State Championship in the Rookie Division.

Invited to the nationals as a result, Laprade went on to capture the Vega National Championship that season in the Rookie Division, cementing his place as a young racer with prodigious talent.

Laprade’s second major championship came in 2021, when he claimed the Florida Dirt Championship Series title in the Junior 1 division, and he also added a victory in the prestigious World 100 karting event in Junior 1 that season as well.

After racing Bandolero cars for back-to-back seasons in 2022 and ’23, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Bandolero Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway in his sophomore Bandolero season, Laprade made the move to Legend cars for 2024. His Winter Nationals mini-series championship at Citrus County Speedway came on the strength of five race wins in five days from Feb. 12-16.

Laprade’s summer stretch was highlighted by a top-five finish during round nine of the Summer Shootout, as well as a ninth-place finish in the Thursday Thunder Young Lions standings.

Away from the racetrack, Laprade’s competitive interests include golfing and fishing, and he golfed rounds with the PGA Junior League this year during downtime from his racing schedule. He is also a supporter of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation’s efforts to fight pediatric cancer.