Page 7 of Trading Paint
They both laughed as time trials got underway. I ended up qualifying for the A-feature behind my dad in the second row. For being my first time in a 410, I was content with that starting position.
This particular race, being a World of Outlaw event was a different format than USAC and the Northern Sprint Tours.
When the World of Outlaws lined up, they lined up four-wide and made a complete lap that way which was called the 4-wide salute to the fans.
I’d see it done many times by my dad and other drivers but to do it myself, with my dad beside me, was tear worthy.
Here was the man I looked up to my entire life, racing beside me. I had no words for how I felt other than emotional.
Dad revved his engine beside me, jolting him forward a few feet. I did the same as did Bucky and Shey who were beside us.
When the race started, I held back for a few laps, watching my dad make his way to the lead position. I slid past Shey Evans with ease, and knocked off Bucky in the next turn. This left me right behind my dad coming out of turn two.
I think he wanted me to catch him; at least that was my theory. So when he came out of three and went low, I saw my chance.
He knew it and I knew it.
I threw my car hard like I always did when he shot up and pushed against me, I knew he wouldn’t give the position easily. That wasn’t his style.
When you passed Jimi, you earned it. He could block with the best of them and could slip into a position faster than any other driver, making room where there wasn’t. Other drivers called him “Shimmy Jimi” because one minute there wasn’t room and then there he was in front of you.
The only problem with racing against your dad is that he knows what you do to outsmart the other driver. I also knew what he would do though, I knew where he was strong and I knew where he struggled. Turn four in Bloomington was his weak spot. While he ran high in three, he would swoop down low into four and ride the rail. Then he’d shoot up the track on the front stretch and nearly brush the wall with his right rear before hurling the car sideways high into one and two.
I watched him for about four laps before I decided to make my move. Yet another trait I learned from him over the years: patience in racing is your virtue.
When he guided the car low in four, on impulse, I went high letting my right rear bounce off the cushion. This gave me the extra boost needed to slingshot past him coming out of four.
I knew I wouldn’t pull a slide job on my dad without him coming back for more.
I was schooled.
He shot back down on the inside and slipped past me going into one. This went on for about ten laps, every time I slid past him, he came right back, when the caution came out for a car that flipped on the front stretch.
This left two laps to go when the green dropped. With Bucky and Shey back in the mix, the greatest drivers in sprint car racing surrounded me.
Taking a deep breath, I told myself this was time to make my move. Don’t second-guess yourself.
When the green dropped, I came off turn four strong and went high into one and two. Dad didn’t get as good of a jump on the restart as I did so this put me in line with him coming into three and four. I went low, he went high and I pushed against him taking his line.
If you could have seen my face under the helmet, you would have seen me grinning ear-to-ear.
I outsmarted the champion.
He didn’t let me go far, he stayed right beside me, taunting me in each turn.
On the last lap, we took three and four again, neck and neck. When we came down the front stretch, my wheels came across the line not more than two inches in from of his.
I smiled looking over at him and he raised his arm as much as he could, with the arm straps on, pumping his fist in the air.
I laughed.
Bloomington Speedway was essentially my dad’s home track. He was born in this small mid-west suburb in 1956 and raced here as a kid.
And his kid beat him.
This was pretty fucking cool. Not only would I have some serious bragging rights but I won my first Outlaw race.
Being fourteen, this was the coolest race I’d ever won. I’d won track championships, national and regional championships but to win a World of Outlaws A-Feature event in a 410-sprint car against your legendaryfather, thatwas cool.
