The Dirt2Media American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products championship didn’t come easy for Jesse Lowe. He entered the final race of the season tied for the points, with a car he had never sat in.
“It was a nail-biter,” said Lowe, of the season finale. “[The car at the season finale] was the CVR [Race Cars] house car. We started third and broke a right-front shock with like 40 to go. It was bouncing around like a bunny rabbit. I still ended up eighth, with Josh [Dietz, who Lowe was tied with] behind me. That was stressful. But it was the best we ever started there and the best we ever finished there [at Natural Bridge Speedway in Virginia].”
Nothing came easy for Jesse Lowe, of Crossville, Tennessee, this year. The previous year he only ran a handful of times. Cory Hedgecock, of BMF Race Cars, asked Lowe if he’d be interested in driving their cars just before the season started.
“We tested like two days before the first points race [at I-75 Raceway outside of Sweetwater, Tennessee],” Lowe said. “When you travel to all these places [on the American All-Star Series schedule] that you’ve never seen before, and you’re trying to figure out the racetrack and the car, that makes it very hard.”
Add to that complication that Lowe’s crew consisted mainly of himself and his girlfriend, Alivia Lunsford.
“She didn’t know anything about racing two years ago,” said Lowe. “She’s learned a lot quickly, but she still doesn’t know the ins and outs of [of the sport] like someone who has been around it all their life.”
Tasks like setup and mechanical items fall squarely on Lowe.
“At Beckley [Motor Speedway in West Virginia],” Lowe said, “I was siping the right-front tire on the car as we were lining up for qualifying.”
Nevertheless, Lowe categorizes Lunsford’s presence at the races as a huge help.
“She takes a lot of the stress off with the little things,” said Lowe. “[For example,] by having someone sign you in, it takes 10, 15 minutes to do that.”
This weekend, Jesse Lowe will be crowned the Dirt2Media American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products champion. He said he’s not sure of his 2024 plans, mainly due to sponsorship. Lowe added he has struggled historically with getting marketing partners. However, after the recent CARS Racing Show, things might be looking up. Because of his success and his marketable personality, he added a couple. Among them included Daytona 1 by Coach, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Jones Racing Products, PopBit, Race-Fan, and XS Power.
Outside Groove Note of Transparency: Outside Groove is a sponsor of the American All-Star Series. The American All-Star Series paid for the production of this article. The content is not subject to the approval of the American All-Star Series.
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
