Jason LaPoint

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Jason LaPoint

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} American

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|01|30}}

| birth_place = Woodburn, Oregon

| death_date =

| death_place =

| retired = 2001

| related to =

| last series = Atlantic Championship

| years active = 2001

| teams = Lynx Racing

| starts = 3

| wins = 0

| poles = 0

| fastest laps = 0

| best finish = 15th

| year = 2001

| prev series = USF2000
Star Mazda
Skip Barber National Championship

| prev series years = 2001
2000
1998-1999

| titles = USF2000

| title years = 2001

| awards = Greg Moore Rookie of the Year
Star Mazda Rookie of the Year

| award years = 2001
2000

}}

Jason LaPoint (born January 30, 1977 in Woodburn, Oregon) is a former racing driver. LaPoint won the 2001 USF2000 championship and also competed in Star Mazda and the Atlantic Championship.

Career

LaPoint participated in karting championships of the SKUSA and WKA starting in 1989.{{cite web|title=US-FF2000/ATLANTIC: Lynx Racing announces Jason LaPoint as second driver |url=http://sporttoday.org/11_461f962a39fede46_1.htm |website=SportToday |accessdate=11 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217012738/http://sporttoday.org/11_461f962a39fede46_1.htm |archivedate=17 February 2016 }} In 1995 and 1996 LaPoint won the IKF Grand National Championship in the Formula 125 class.{{cite web|title=2012 Grand National Annual|url=http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/stroud_design_2/kn-november12-opt/2012120301/7.html#8|website=IKF|accessdate=13 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216065205/http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/stroud_design_2/kn-november12-opt/2012120301/7.html#8|archive-date=16 February 2016|url-status=dead}} After karting LaPoint moved into the Skip Barber National Championship Western Race Series in early November 1998. At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca LaPoint finished his first race in fifth place.{{cite web|title=1999 Western Series Results Laguna Seca Raceway |url=http://www.skipbarber.com/series/1999/wres9901.htm |website=Skip Barber |accessdate=11 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830145852/http://www.skipbarber.com/series/1999/wres9901.htm |archivedate=August 30, 2000 }} His first win was at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in early 1999.{{cite web|title=1999 Western Series Results Las Vegas Motor Speedway |url=http://www.skipbarber.com/series/1999/wres9904.htm |website=Skip Barber |accessdate=11 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830145945/http://www.skipbarber.com/series/1999/wres9904.htm |archivedate=August 30, 2000 }} LaPoint finished fourteenth in the championship standings.{{cite web|title=1999 Formula Dodge Western Race Series Point Standings |url=http://www.skipbarber.com/series/1999/fdwp99.htm |website=Skip Barber |accessdate=11 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010622051704/http://www.skipbarber.com/series/1999/fdwp99.htm |archivedate=June 22, 2001 }} In the Midwestern championship LaPoint won five races earning him a third place in the standings, behind Bryan Sellers and Caio Travaglini.{{cite web|title=1999 Formula Dodge Midwestern Race Series |url=http://www.skipbarber.com/series/1999/fdmp99.htm |website=Skip Barber |accessdate=11 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830150639/http://www.skipbarber.com/series/1999/fdmp99.htm |archivedate=August 30, 2000 }} As he was successful in the entry level Skip Barber series LaPoint was invited to join the Barber Dodge Pro Series at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca supporting CART. The driver from Oregon qualified eighteenth but finished on an impressive eleventh place. As he gained seven places he won the award for Most Progressive Driver.{{cite web|title=Laguna Seca Results Round 10 - September 12 |url=http://www.skipbarber.com/proseries/1999/presult10.htm |website=Skip Barber |accessdate=11 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000115162925/http://www.skipbarber.com/proseries/1999/presult10.htm |archivedate=January 15, 2000 }}

In 2000 LaPoint left the Skip Barber racing ladder to join Star Mazda. His first race was a huge success. LaPoint led his debut race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. On the last lap LaPoint was passed by Bernardo Martinez. His engine sputtered for fuel but the Oregon driver secured second place.{{cite web|title=Martinez Claims Win In Thrilling Dash To The Checker|url=http://archive.promazdachampionship.com/results/2000/westcoast/cms00.htm|website=Pro Mazda Championship|accessdate=11 February 2016}} LaPoint scored more podium finishes at Sonoma Raceway, Mosport Park, Road Atlanta and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.{{cite web|title=JASON LAPOINT - OVERALL START/FINISH POSITIONS (CLASS POSITIONS NOT SHOWN)|url=http://www.promazda.com/teams-drivers/career-stats/405|website=Pro Mazda|accessdate=11 February 2016}} The young talent took rookie of the year honors and finished third in the championship. For 2001 LaPoint joined Richard Morgan Racing for a USF2000 title assault. Again LaPoint succeeded. Despite a couple of retirements in the first half of the season LaPoint dominated the second half. Four second-place finishes and one win at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course secured the title for LaPoint.

Near the end of the 2001 racing season LaPoint competed in the final three Atlantic Championship races with Lynx Racing. LaPoint qualified his Swift 008.a on an impressive third place in his debut outing at Road America. Despite not finishing on the podium his record of three top ten finishes was very good for a rookie.{{cite web|title=Jason LaPoint|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/atlantic/drivers/LaPointJason.htm|website=ChampCar Stats|accessdate=11 February 2016}} Early 2002 LaPoint tested the new Swift 014.a at Roebling Road Raceway for Michael Shank Racing. Lacking a major sponsor LaPoint did not secure a race seat and retired from professional racing.{{cite web|title=LaPoint tests Toyota Atlantic car.|url=http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/14216/1/lapoint-tests-toyota-atlantic-car.html|website=Crash.net|date=22 December 2001 }}