Laprade Learns Throughout Return To Houston Oval

Matthew Laprade in the pits at Houston Motorsports Park. (MDL Racing photo)

HOUSTON, Texas – Florida’s Matthew Laprade posted a fourth-place finish Saturday night in his return to Houston Motorsports Park, but left the three-eighths-mile paved oval motivated for even more.

Laprade qualified third for the 30-lap Pro Truck feature at HMP, settling into the podium placing during the early laps with his No. 10R for Kaden Honeycutt Racing before beginning to chase down second-running Jake Wright.

The 13-year-old from New Smyrna Beach was just a quarter second behind Wright at the halfway point when he caught the apron of the track, spinning out and being relegated to the rear of the field as a result.

Continuing to fight, Laprade climbed back to fourth place by the finish, noting that he still has a lot to learn about the tricky Houston track after just his second visit there.

“To qualify third and be running down second place was a good feeling for our team, but I caught the apron and spun myself right around halfway,” Laprade explained after the race. “We made an adjustment in the car to the brakes that ended up cooking the fronts, causing me to spin a couple more times before things were all over. I hate I couldn’t give this team a better result, and it’s something that I’ll definitely clean up for the next one.

“I also want to give a shout out to all the fans that came out to support us over the weekend,” Laprade continued. “It was a great crowd and I’m so impressed at how they always show their support of the facility in such a big way. Looking forward to the next time I get to race there in August.”

Saturday did mark a one position improvement on Laprade’s best Houston Pro Truck result, as he was fifth with KHR during his track debut back in April.

The overall season to-date for Laprade includes seven wins, 15 podiums, and 18 top fives in 20 starts. Five of Laprade’s seven 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, July 19 at Cordele (Ga.) Motor Speedway with Daniel Webster and Right Foot Down Motorsports.

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.

He drives for Right Foot Down Motorsports, Grant Thompson Racing, 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 in 2024 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.

For more information, news, and results, visit www.matthewlapraderacing.com.