Post a little about you

[flagone]

This post reminds me of the old days of 4m. Thank you.

47 y/o resident of Woodruff, SC for all but the 11 years I was held prisoner of war in Laurens, SC and a brief 3.5 years in Boone, NC for college. I am a fulltime Paramedic / Educator in Newberry, SC for the last 20 years. Have been a paramedic since I was 20. I am divorced and single with one 16 y/o daughter who I am pretty sure walks on water.

I was born into the sport as my dad owned and sponsored race cars most of my first 8 years on earth. I lived to watch my favorite Charlie Lane race at Confederate Motor Speedway. Golden Strip Speedway and Laurens Speedway. In my teen years I crewed his car. And his son Brian and I built our own car and raced together off and on for a lot of years.

In 1995 I had the opportunity to go to work at Laurens Speedway where I eventually served as Competition Director which also led to my position with Southern All Stars in 1999. I was the Series Director for SAS when I left at the end of 2010. In 2011 I began to work with FASTRAK and in 2012 took the reigns of the ULTIMATE Series, a job I still hold today. I am fortunate enough to be the Late Model Competition Director for the Gateway Dirt Nationals and Race Director for the Wild West Shootout. I also began and own the SCDRA which is a series for Compacts. I am proud to be the Secretary of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Board of Directors. I have written a monthly column for Dirt Late Model Magazine for 8 years and will now write a column for the all new Dirt Racing Monthly. I am also a regular contributor to DirtonDirt.com I am the Event Coordinator at both Screven Motor Speedway and Modoc Raceway. I also have a small motorsports promotions and marketing company. And I am currently looking for at least one more job LOL.

[SLIDING SIDEWAYS]

32 years old. Married 5 years. 3 year old daughter and a son on the way. I work for my state's department of mental health as a therapist. My dad regularly took me to the races as a kid and I've been hooked ever since. We still hit a few shows each year.

We might need you on standby for some members on here!

[SLIDING SIDEWAYS]

53 year old high school/community college math teacher, married w/2 sons.

My wife & I also have a graphics company. We sponsor a dirt car. My dad owned a gas station in Sanford NC where I grew up working afternoons, weekends & summers. So, I've always been around & loved cars. He was friends with Herb Thomas & JD McDuffie. I sat beside Les Richter at JD's funeral. So, when I see people post JD on here, my first thought is McDuffie. My wife & I used to own a store & Herb came & signed autographs. He was a great guy.

My sons are both VERY smart & actually both got scholarships to Harvard. They take after my wife. When my oldest was a freshman, his roommate was a (rich) Jewish kid from the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He would always ask my son weird questions like "Do you have parking lots where you live?" "What does BBQ tastes like?" We shipped our son some eastern NC BBQ, and his Jewish roommate who didn't eat pork ...... ate every bit of it!

One day he asked my son, "Do people actually watch NASCAR down there?" He laughed and told him about me & all the times I took him to NASCAR races, short tracks & dirt tracks. The kid couldn't believe it. I told him to bring the kid home with him sometime & I would get him "cultured".

My racing buddy has a daughter that goes to Duke. He almost died a few years ago from a ruptured gall bladder & lost about 60 lbs. He & his wife had just separated too. He was at a very low point, sick & lonely. I started taking him to dirt races as a way to heal. As he got better, he said he would like to work on a dirt car. I got him in touch with a guy that ran a late model. He became his crew chief. I think racing literally saved his life. This year they won the track championship.

So, if you go to a race & see a guy with a Duke hat & a Harvard hat....its just us. We're not stuck up. Just proud of our kids.

Nice post!!!!!!!!!

[TBSprintFan]

49 yrs old from Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada. Married 22yrs to a wonderfull wife, who goes to the races with me all over the U.S. but mostly in Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and Minnesota. We are both Sprint and Late Model fans. Was a Registered Orthotic Technician but got hurt on the job ( had 2 disks and 1 vertebrae removed from neck and screwed and plated together and also nerve damage down both shoulders, arms, elbows and hands) and doctors have said I can no longer work. Currently on a disability pension. Parents took me to races at our home track (Riverview Raceway which has been closed since 1993 and was home to Tom Nesbitt) since I was born and also to many race tracks in Minnesota and Wisconsin while growing up, so a big shout out to them and any parents that take your children to the races. We had many big name late model drivers from the mid west show up to Thunder Bay to race such as Ed Sanger, Curt Hansen, Rick Aukland, Rick Egersdorf, Leon Plank, etc., etc..

[t3r3e3]

39 years old, married with no kids. I get paid to run around the woods, currently a botanist, have done wildlife and forestry work in the past. Do a little wildland firefighting as well. Live in SE Ohio just down the road from CnB, originally from Kentucky. I started going to races with my granddad, first race was the 84 World 100.

Granddad owned an asphalt team that ran Queen City, Shady Bowl, etc. Started going to Florence, Brownstown, Brown County, and Twin Cities back in the late 80’s, became a Jack Boggs fan pretty quick. Went to school at Eastern Kentucky, and started working in the Facilities garage. The head mechanic had a Street stock and bomber, fell in with him, and helped him out at Ponderosa, Burnside, Richmond, Montgomery County, 191, etc.

I hit up some of the local tracks over here, mostly Midway, Portsmouth, Atomic, Skyline when they’re open. Lived in Indiana for a while, went to Brownstown a bunch, loved going to Haubstadt for the SummerNats. I’ve rooted for Kentucky-area drivers mostly, Boggs (both), Carrier Jr., Josh McGuire, Mike Marlar.

Bucket list is to do a Summer Nats vacation and catch shows at Belle Vegas, I-55, Macon, Spoon River, Farmer City, and FALS.

[zyoung25]

33 years old machine operator, no kids, just a dog and cat, and a girlfriend that enjoys the races just as much as I do. I used to race go karts and quad motocross myself. I got into DLM racing because of my dad. He started taking me ariund this stuff at the ripe age of 3. He used work at Stricker auto parts (stricker streak) and helped them on the race car for several years before they got away from it for a few years, and he changed jobs. He helped several guys in the area like Barry Bragdon, Randy Boggs, and Rod Conley was the last one helped. I have helped a good friend Nick Latham the last 3 or 4 years, and have gotten to know a lot of people that I never thought I would, and got to learn a lot along the way that I didn't know sitting in the stands. I pretty much enjoy watching anything race that has an engine bolted to it.

If you ever see a tall skinny guy with a hat, and a French bulldog (Jeg) at the race track, that's most likely me, come say hey.

[1forthe$]

maybe im a racing nerd.. but its so cool to read everyone of these stories. Seeing as how many of us started at very young ages, I bet im not the only one who has filled many notebooks of DLM drawings/sketches instead of schoolwork as a kid lol

[Pennsboro23]

28 years old, been married for a little over a year. No kids as of now, just a couple pups. (GSD and Doberman). Love them like kids. Played and watch a lot of sports. Also love to bow hunt whitetail bucks. I work at the family business which is a Tire Shop/ATV and Lawnmower repair shop. We sponsor a couple race cars in the area. Grew up just a mile and a half from Pennsboro Speedway, I can remember dad and I walking to the races to avoid the parking. My dad and grandpa raced street stocks for many years in the area, and my dad also owned a street stock that Keith Riddle drove for a long time that won many races. Started going to the races at a very young age and have been hooked ever since.

[drunkinashortbus]

45 yrs old living in Mansfield Ohio. It was awesome to finally have dirt back in Mansfield. When I first moved here from Plainfield Ill in 89 Mansfield was dirt and when that went away it sucked. I grew up at Santa Fe Speedway in Hinsdale Ill and loved dirt racing. At 14 I started working there. My dad was a track official and I started as the scoreboard operator. In late 88 my dad who for worked for GM found out they were closing the GM plant there. We moved in June of 89. While living in Illinois my dad and I traveled a little Hales corner, Kankakee, Sycamore, Lasalle and Grundy county when Santa Fe wasn't racing. I admit I knew nothing about Eldora and the world 100 until we moved to Ohio. We attended our 1st world 100 in 89 and haven't missed one since.

I have 2 daughters 23 and 21 who try to attend the races with me as much as possible they also love Eldora. For Christmas they got me a awesome gift a hand painted sign of the last remaining sign of Santa Fe that was still standing I believe the original was on top of a garage or something that you can see from the interstate. They know my love for racing.

Now I travel mostly in Ohio or 3 hrs from my house. Last yr I did finally make it back to Lasalle and fairbury and plan on going back next yr. I did make it to Arizona for the wild west shoot out and will be back. Been to east bay once. My goal is to one day follow the whole summer nationals but with work that wont be for a while. I love dirt racing and love to travel.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

maybe im a racing nerd.. but its so cool to read everyone of these stories. Seeing as how many of us started at very young ages, I bet im not the only one who has filled many notebooks of DLM drawings/sketches instead of schoolwork as a kid lol

Yep. They used to have them sprint car, racing coloring books.

[Madcat]

35yrs old, married for 6 years now, 5yr old boy and twin 3yr old boys. I work in the building industry as a salesman for concrete anchorage products based out of Columbus, OH but cover OH, KY, and IN. Fwiw I hate the buckeyes and have cheered against them since birth.

Started going to dirt races at Mansfield and Lakeville(closed), back when it had one restroom and was a dump in the 90s. Just a few times a year. I remember it like yesterday, but I remember going to Wayne Co for a Stars race and dad got a Chubb shirt autographed and was so happy.

We got serious in 06, went to Eldora and tent camped when it was like 120* for both races. Dad got hooked and I did too. Bought a camper with a buddy the next year and since then we usually average 8-10 races a year. Mom was sick for 2.5 seasons so only made a few those years.

She’s passed from cancer so dad and I got a whole new toy hauler and went to some new races this season.

Next year my kids and wife will accompany us and we’re hoping to set a record(14 or 15) which is good for us.

We’re regulars at Attica and work on a locals car. We actually made the Mansfield Million Race last year, his shop is 5 miles from the track and we grew up 10 miles away so nice to come home.

[B_K]

42 years old
Married for 8 1/2 years with a 5 year old daughter.

I handle some national account sales for a rug company in Dalton, Ga but have accounts from Rhode Island to California. Was born into my fandom. My father helped Charles Hughes for fairly long time including 1976 (year I was born) when they won the World 100. Dad also helped Charles' son DeWayne and a few others including Chip Brindle. Grew up around the shop listening to stories I probably was too young to hear from some legends in this area and being snuck into the pits covered by jackets in the floorboards of the truck.

Been lucky enough to have seen a lot of different tracks. My favorite, no matter how frustrating it can sometimes be is North Georgia. It's home. It will always be home. More of a fan of bullrings than bigger tracks. I can appreciate any style of racing, but I'll always pick a tall cushion over black ice.

Don't travel nearly as much to races anymore. The job, wife, and kid make it tough to just get up on Saturday morning look at a radar and pick a direction like I might used to. Went to 12 races last year. All were within 2 hours of the house.

[WisWildManFan]

31 years old, aerospace assembler, no kids that I'm aware of and a great woman by my side. Was at a dirt track a few weeks old because my dad was racing street stocks (2 time Champ the 2 years he ran) my grandparents got him into racing both dirt and asphalt. They became big fans of the 410 winged stuff since they saw it more often than lates. I ran karts for a few years as a kid and had to make a decision between that and hockey at a young age. I managed to pick the 2 most expensive sports possible. I chose to play hockey even though I was naturally better at racing because I knew at least I would get beat by talent instead of money. I now enjoy playing iracing when I have time and try to live life to the fullest. I'm a gym rat usually 5 days a week. Racing and hockey are my passions, I also enjoy football and mma. I wish I would of grew up in the 70s and 80s but didn't have much of a choice lol!! My only Xmas wish is they would forget qualifying and pill draw all heats or at least invert them!

[Shiny Side Up 18]

28 years old and single. I currently live in Peoria Heights, IL and work as a recycler at the local community college. My formal introduction to auto racing was via NASCAR in 2001 when I was 10. My late mother took me to my first dirt track race at Peoria when I was 13, and I attended sporadic weekly shows at Peoria and Macon, thinking that was as good as it got. Then 2014 happened. I found out that the Lucas series was coming to Macon. That was my favorite track at the time, and I'd seen the Lucas series on TV, so I had to check it out. The heat races blew me away, as I'd never seen that much high dollar equipment in one place. I quickly realized what I'd been missing out on. That was the year I discovered FALS (more on that in a bit). I attended a handful of Hell Tour shows, where I was treated to some hard racing and dramatic moments, such as the classic Babb/Feger/Unzicker battle at Spoon River, and the Babb/Pierce incident at Macon. I wasn't a goner quite yet, but the knockout blow was delivered shortly thereafter. I had made my first trip to FALS that June for their fan appreciating night, but for whatever reason, it didn't really leave a positive taste in my mouth (I sat on the frontstretch as I didn't know any better). Then the PDC happened... I actually had ZERO intentions of going back to FALS after my first trip there, but I had nothing else to do that Saturday. The weather forecast was for severe thunderstorms that night, but right at the last minute, I said to myself, "ah screw it, I'll go and see what the fuss is about". When I arrived there, I was blown away by how many campers had descended on the small town, and the anticipatory atmosphere that was building. The crowd was electric, and the racing was red hot, with Tim McCreadie winning a thriller. THAT was the knockout punch. It was all over after that night, and FALS is now my adopted home track. I attended roughly 20 races in 2015, and from 2016 on, I've attended 50+ races per year, including my first trips to both Eldora and Knoxville, with the Hell Tour as the bread and butter of my race chasing. I've met the vast majority of my friends through this sport, and would love to have a career in racing in some form or another. (And I STILL can't figure out how to break text into paragraphs on here).

[1forthe$]

42 years old
Married for 8 1/2 years with a 5 year old daughter.

I handle some national account sales for a rug company in Dalton, Ga but have accounts from Rhode Island to California. Was born into my fandom. My father helped Charles Hughes for fairly long time including 1976 (year I was born) when they won the World 100. Dad also helped Charles' son DeWayne and a few others including Chip Brindle. Grew up around the shop listening to stories I probably was too young to hear from some legends in this area and being snuck into the pits covered by jackets in the floorboards of the truck.

Been lucky enough to have seen a lot of different tracks. My favorite, no matter how frustrating it can sometimes be is North Georgia. It's home. It will always be home. More of a fan of bullrings than bigger tracks. I can appreciate any style of racing, but I'll always pick a tall cushion over black ice.

Don't travel nearly as much to races anymore. The job, wife, and kid make it tough to just get up on Saturday morning look at a radar and pick a direction like I might used to. Went to 12 races last year. All were within 2 hours of the house.

Small world..I lived in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga from about 2003-2009. Got many friends that work at the Lowes in Dalton. (I worked for Lowes for 15 years) The store manager and several of the assistant managers are good friends of mine. Several friends around North Georgia/Chattanooga. My son lives in Jasper,Tn with his mother.. so I'm there from time to time. Not so much now that he is old enough to drive to my house lol.

I made one trip to North Georgia Speedway in 2009 before I moved back home to paducah. Cleveland Speedway was my favorite in the south. Boyd's was fun cause it was so close. Made the trip to Atomic one night when I was 18. Racing was so-so for what I remember, but glad i can say i went now.