Gase holds autograph signing and launch party Saturday

Joey Gase, who turned 19 today, will be at a launch party Saturday, celebrating the upcoming start to his first full-time season on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule with Go Green Racing. In January, GGR announced Gase as their full-time driver for the No. 39 car. The launch party will be held at the Sip-N-Stir on Saturday, signing autographs from 5-7 p.m.

Gase, a Cedar Rapids native who graduated from Cedar Rapids Xavier last spring, ran select races for Go Green Racing and owner Archie St. Hillaire in 2011. He started five races, finishing 29th or better in all of them. Gase placed 20th in the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton last August. His average start was about 34th with an average finish of 25th.

Gase became the youngest late model season points champion at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, winning the division in 2009 at the age of 16.