Home Sponsors Schedule Pit Crew Photos
I was born June 13, 1976. Six weeks later I was at my first race. In our family racing was life. As I grew up I spent nights in the garage and weekend at the track. This continued through 1987. My grandfather decide to quit racing. I still went to the races except it wasn't the same. I always dreamed of my chance to drive the purple # 11.
In 2003 I got my change to turn my first laps on a dirt track. I had built a street stock with a close friend and we were splitting driving time. By mid season of that year he had decided to drop out of the program with me buying out his half.
The next season saw the building of a brand new street stock with my dad. It also marked the return of the purple # 11. Even though I was now living in central IL I still felt the pride and respect in still in me by watching my dad and grandfather race all those years before.
I didn't get the instant gratification from racing that I was hoping for. It was hard for me not winning or running up front. In 2004 I got my first checkered flag for a consolitation heat win.
The 2005 season saw me going away from LaSalle Speedway to race at Bureau County Speedway. The change in tracks was a learning experience. It also frustrated me due to a lack of winning that I was so used to seeing because of the success my dad was used to when he was driving. Also in 2005 we added another member to our small two man pit crew. In July I started dating Amanda. She started helping in the pits cleaning the car between races, helping change tires, and anything else that needed done. On December 31, 2005 we were married.
The 2006 race was a limited season for us. In June of 2006 we bought a house which limited us to running just 5 nights. During those 5 nights my sister and her two daughters were here to help cheer us on. Also my brother in law was here for a night in which he took his hand at the wheel for the first time ever in dad's 4-cylinder. He had a few spins but gave the family a good laugh and really did not do bad for his first time ever in racecar.
The 2007 season saw a return to LaSalle Speedway for a full season of racing. In May of 2007 I won my first heat race at LaSalle. It was the best feeling I have had in a race car. The rest of the season was pretty uneventful. We ran good but no more wins.
There was one other big highlight to the season though. At the beginning of August my grandmother and cousin made the trip from Pennsylvania to Illinois to watch me race. It was her first time back to a race track to watch anyone since the late 80's. I didn't run as well as I hoped to but she was still very proud. She also told me it was the first time she had not closed her eyes during a race in which a family member had driven.
For the 2008 season we are hoping to collect a few more wins. A lot of memories and some fun on the way.