OMAHA, Neb.—Jesse Sobbing has a history of speaking softly, but carrying a big right foot. However, the 2015 USMTS Rookie of the Year and his Home Pride Motorsports team are planning to make a lot of noise in 2016.

Despite a strong season last year that would be the envy of most drivers in the dirt modified realm, the final body of work was in the neighborhood of expectations for a first-year run but fell short of the standard of living the team is accustomed.

Heading into his second full season of United States Modified Touring Series competition, Sobbing and the Home Pride Motorsports team are utilizing a go-where-they-ain't, road-less-traveled approach and forming a new alliance with long-time chassis manufacturer Harris Auto Racing of Boone, Iowa.

“With our new partnership with Harris Auto Racing, we intend to grow as a team together while continuing to expect nothing but the best from ourselves on and off the racetrack,” said Luke Cochran, owner of Home Pride Motorsports.

According to Cochran, the team will be running Harris Auto Racing chassis in all four of their dirt modified ventures, including their USMTS cars, to provide research and development for Harris while also offering feedback and support for their other customers.

“Harris has a full-sized, smart staff with great technology and know-how behind them,” Cochran added. “We're confident in their ability to build a top-flight race car, and there no question we've got one of the best there is behind the wheel at making them go fast.

“Jesse Sobbing may not be in a class by himself, but the class he's in doesn't take very long to call roll.”

The strategy for Harris Auto Racing is simple: gain valuable feedback from the Home Pride Motorsports team and build brand awareness back to where it used to be in the open modified market.

“We are very excited to welcome Home Pride Motorsports and Jesse Sobbing to Team Harris this year, said Kyle Brown, President of Harris Auto Racing. “The level of passion and determination Jesse brings to the table along with Luke Cochran and Home Pride's support and our chassis and components, is a winning combination.

“Jesse will be a contender at every USMTS event as well as the Hunt for the points title. This partnership will help put Harris Auto Racing back on top in the chassis manufacturer spotlight in the USMTS.”

Harris celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2015 and has multiple national titles in IMCA, UMP and USMTS competition. They've always had a strong reputation for putting out a top quality product as well as unmatched technical service, Brown added.

Home Pride Motorsports will also the Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska dealer for Boone, Iowa-based Harris Auto Racing cars as well.

Home Pride—the premier roofing and home repair company in the region—was founded by Cochran in 1985. Cochran started racing in 1988, winning numerous races and championships, and fielded two cars in the former United States Modified Series (USMS) in 1997.

Since then, Home Pride has been a recognizable brand with sponsorship of drivers, teams, race tracks and events, touring series and more.

In addition to Sobbing's ventures in the dirt modified world, Home Pride Motorsports also supports Jack Dover—one of the premier 360 sprint car drivers in the nation.

In addition to dominating the USMTS Rookie of the Year points in 2015, Sobbing steered his No. 99 machine to two main event wins during the season and a fourth-place finish in the final USMTS standings.

Prior to that, Sobbing's résumé included 17 individual track championships, three IMCA national titles three NASCAR national and divisional titles and hundreds of victories in both weekly and high-profile dirt modified feature races.

In addition to the switch to a new chassis, Cochran also announced Tuesday that Sobbing's dirt modified in USMTS competition will be utilizing LS 525 crate engines provided by Friesen Chevrolet.

“We'll be doing things a little differently from the rest of the herd,” Cochran added, “but you can rest assured we'll be working every minute of every day to be at the front of the pack when the checkers fly. Home Pride and Harris… we facilitate success.”

Home Pride Motorsports is made possible by support from Friesen Chevrolet, Speedway Graphics, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, NAPA Auto Parts of Glenwood, Ol' Golds C.B. Shop and Marriott Enterprises.

Opening weekend for the 18th season of USMTS competition takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11-13, at the Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad, Texas, followed by tripleheader weekends at the Heart O' Texas Speedway near Waco, Texas, Feb. 18-20; Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., Feb. 25-27; and Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Okla., March 3-5.

Each show will pay $2,000, $3,000 and $4,000 to win, respectively, and will comprise the first dozen events in the expanded 17-race Production Jars Southern Region presented by Day Motor Sports.

For more information about Home Pride Companies, call 402-689-4040 or visit www.homepride.net. You can also find Home Pride and Home Pride Motorsports on Facebook.

For more information about Harris Auto Racing, call 515-432-6972. You can check out their website at www.harrisautoracing.com or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/harrisautoracing.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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