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StumbleuponTuesdays with Jack big for drivers
Some of Miami County's best in sprint cars come together with legend Hewitt; share knowledge, love of racing.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
PLEASANT HILL — Ask Jack Hewitt why there are so many sprint car drivers in Miami County, and the legendary racer does something he never did in a sprint car. He takes a backseat.
"It's not 'cause of me," said Hewitt, who was listed among the 25 greatest sprint car drivers of all time by the National Sprint Car Poll. "Racing is just a popular deal in our county and our area."
Maybe it's growing up in the shadow of historic Eldora Speedway. Maybe Troy's past two tracks laid the groundwork. Whatever the reason, Miami County might soon be able to field its own feature.
All the drivers have at one time or another received advice from Hewitt. The theme: hammer down!
"I don't think he's told me anything other than 'gas it,' " said Aron McFadden. "You're not standing on it hard enough. That's his claim."
"It's one of those deals where you wish you could take your finger and stick it in their ear like a computer and just give them what you already know," Hewitt said. "You gotta take it as a compliment when they come ask what to do here and what to do there. You keep an eye on them."
Family Fenner
Technically, Luke Hall is the official driver for Bob Snead's Team Fenner. But at the track you'll just as likely find Hall or the Sneads hanging out at the hauler of Ron Blair, Mark Hery or Matt Westfall. And vice versa.
"We think we belong to all their teams, too," Susie Snead said at a recent Tuesday night gathering. "If we don't make the race, we're there for the next guy. We're pretty small-town. We don't have big sponsors. We just do what we love."
Many in the group got their starts together running go-karts at Willowdell Raceway. Some work together. Some had relatives that raced and crossed paths. For the drivers, it doesn't matter how they met.
"In a small county like this, a lot of people know each other," Kyle Simon said. "It's something you want to do, and once you do it, you can't stop it."
Finding their groove
Of the drivers, Westfall and Hall have had the most success. Simon leads the nonwing points at Waynesfield Motor Sports Park. Kent Wolters is having a strong season at both Limaland Motorsports Park and in the National Racing Alliance. A few of the other drivers are in points chases, too.
"We tease, but we're happy for whoever wins," Westfall said. "There are no grudges or anything. We come out here (on Tuesday) to get away, have fun."
"We're not out here to make a living off of it," Dustin Trost said. "We'd like to. If it works out for different people, good for them."
On the fast track
Most of the drivers realize the local shows are as far as they will go in racing. And they're fine with that. With the rising cost of fuel and finding replacement parts, the drivers know it's important to stick together to keep racing.
"If you need anything with these guys around, you can come over and get something. Parts, help loading the car, anything," Wolters said. "We all help each other out. And we need to."
Said Hery: "All these guys run you pretty clean. That's important that we know each other and do that. If you don't, you don't want to make an enemy of your neighbor."
Pit stop
The adrenaline and thrill keep them on edge during the weekends. The stories keep them entertained on Tuesdays.
Sitting around listening to Hewitt and Snead talk about their racing days is a form of Sprint Car 101. It's just that some of it can't be published. This current group, though, is writing its own story.
Hall has a pretty good one about how he got started racing sprints.
"It was a night of drinking. (Snead) knew I wanted to race, and he said if I can come up with a car he'll power it," Hall said. "I took my tax money and bought an old, bent frame and was real proud of it. He went from there, put it together and here we are."
And at the Sneads' they'll continue to be for Thanksgiving cookouts, Fourth of July parties and season-ending bashes.
"The camaraderie and hanging out with the guys," Blair said of what keeps bringing him back. "Everyone is so supportive. No matter how bad you think it is, you come out here and it lifts your spirits up."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991 or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Pleasant Hill Posse
Ron Blair, 30, Troy: Dad Randy owned and sponsored sprints, so driving seemed a given for Blair. Picked up second career feature win in March.
Luke Hall, 26, Ludlow Falls: Fourth-year sprint car driver won Limaland's King of the Quarter Mile in 2007.
Mark Hery, 45, Piqua: Got a later start by running karts at age 33. "I have to try and stay young. That's my theory."
Dallas Hewitt, 29, Troy: First-year sprint driver has kart experience. Also hopes racing is in his blood: He's the nephew of Jack Hewitt.
Aron McFadden, 28, Pleasant Hill: Raced karts starting at 10, but took a break from racing when he was 20. Raced often with Jack Hewitt's son Cody.
Kyle Simon, 18, Covington: The fourth-year racer won his first race before he could drive a street car. Nabbed that win in his eighth start the night before his 16th birthday.
Dustin Trost, 30, Covington: Started racing karts at age 7, and won Waynesfield points title in 2005. Cousin of Matt Westfall.
Matt Westfall, 31, Pleasant Hill: 2002 USAC Silver Crown rookie of the year started racing karts at age 6.
Rob Winks, 30, Piqua: Rookie sprint driver has experience in karts, Legends and Stocks. His dad was a late model track champ at Kil-Kare, Shady Bowl and Columbus in the 1970s.
Kent Wolters, 42, Tipp City: A visit to Eldora Speedway fired up his desire to drive and started running sprints in mid-1990s. Impressive consecutive streak of making National Racing Alliance features ended after eight years.
