Lincoln Speedway winner Cameron Smith and 3 time winner during Ohio Speedweek Danny Sams join Steve Post and Ashley Stremme
[Music] ladies and gentlemen we want you to stand and we want you to make ladies and Gentlemen let’s go racing here at Knoxville oh the best go three of it is Showtime at Williams Grove Speedway ladies and gentlemen boys and girls here at Aldora Speedway it’s showtime you got him for a rep often imitated never duplicated the greatest show on dirt the World of Outlaw it’s time to sit back relax and enjoy because ladies and gentlemen it’s sh set to do battle 43 laps the green flag is waiting hello again it is Wing Nation presented by Sage fruit talking Sprint car racing our favorite time of the week and we are so glad that you have joined us Steve post here in our Concord North Carolina Studios Aaron everham is on special assignment and so Ashley strummy from our lethal chassis Studios is here as well hello Ashley how are you hey Steve I am great we are a amongst a heatwave here in Central PA so it’s a hot one up here right at the moment we are in the middle of it here in North Carolina and I can tell you from experience they’re in the middle of it in Iowa too it was warm out there it really was but uh really good uh it’s it’s a fun time of the year and I know last week I was on special assignment you and Aaron got to hang out here in new Wing Nation so it’s good to share the stage with you and looking forward to it we got a fun fun show we’ve got Cameron Smith and Danny Sam’s going to join us I I’m I’m geeked up excited uh because this is showcasing some really young talent but before we get to that Ashley there was this little weekend in Iowa um Ashley I’m telling you what between the NASCAR side and the world of alllaw side of Knoxville there was and there was a lot of traffic down that Gravel Road ran between those two tracks as well I was just going to ask you how was the vibe in the area obviously you got to attend both so how was it being able to do the double if you will the vibe was great uh Midwest fans are a different breed and and Midwest fans love sprint cars they love modifi they love NASCAR they love whatever goes fast they love indie car that that indie car race out there always does well and they really do and both Iowa Speedway and Knoxville Raceway they showed up and they showed out ashy the vibe was incredible uh when I was at Iowa Speedway people were coming up to talk about Knoxville and sprint cars when I got out to Knoxville people were coming up and talking about NASCAR and Iowa uh it was it was really as as a guy that plays both sides of these and loves both sides of these it was a fun weekend because we were all just race fans in Iowa and that turned out so good it was so neat it really was and it doesn’t hurt that a guy with the last name blay ended up in the Victory Lane at the Nascar race right not at all and this just could not have played out any better okay so yeah Ryan blay wins The Cup Series race the Iowa Corn 350 the protocol here is that TV goes out out onto the front stretch and does the interview and some weeks I get to go to the front stretch some weeks I wait for the winner with MRN our our wait for the winner in Victory Lane this was one of the weeks they had me on the front stretch and through the miracle of Craig Moore our producer this is what it sounded like and those of you watching YouTube this is what it looked like what I encountered when Jeff and Alex threw it to me to interview Ryan blay Ryan blany down here he just did his trademark his tradition there as a young race fan she has got a checkered flag from Ryan blay and his dad Dave blay down here at the friends his mom his Uncle Dale down here it’s a blay family celebration down here at the fence man oh man I’ll tell you what Ryan how cool is this to have the whole family here celebrating with you at Iowa oh it’s awesome you know I mean gosh that’s that’s all I could ever asked for you know just to have my fam here and support me um through the years and I knew it was a big weekend for us you know huge huge weekend um mom being from down the road so just uh really special to to have my whole you a lot of my family here I hate GI in here but uh Cate so how about that Dave blay the Buckeye bullets the Hall of Famer uh over the outside wall under the catch fence and up into the safer barrier to shake hands with his boy and it was really cool and and asley that was just a small part of the blay family celebration actually it’s not the blay family it’s it’s Ryan’s mom Lisa’s side of the family is out there I wasn’t aware of that yeah I wasn’t either to be completely honest with you and then when I saw there was over 80 people in the stands just there for Ryan that were all family members that really tells you how much of a family sport it is across the board whether it’s dirt or asphalt um we’re all family right but uh I’m sure that one is going to be bring extra special for for Ryan and the entire blay family for years to come yeah we know so much about Dave we know so much about Dale we know so much about Lou this is the beauty of this thing is this is Lisa’s side of the family this is Ryan’s Mama’s side of the family Lisa grew up I think about an hour south of De Moine and Ryan spent a lot of time talking about Christmases at his grandma’s house in Iowa and when we think of blay in Iowa we think of Dave blay winning the Knoxville Nationals or Dave and Dale in the Hall of Fame this just added a new layer to it a great story Dustin long with NBC Sports if you want to really get the details of this Dustin did a really good job of the story and Ashley not only that but they all got together on Saturday night at the national Sprint car Hall of Fame for a good cause as well yes really cool a charity dinner that Ryan Dave and Dale all did Raising $10,000 donated to the Alzheimer’s Association in Iowa um so absolutely incredible that they made this in a a whole event not just in the the race they made this a Full Circle event for the entire family it just was really really neat it really truly was I think they had three motor coaches four motor coach Lots they had one extra lot because that was the Party Zone and uh I am sure Sunday night the Party Zone probably got rocking and rolling really good so I I absolutely love the depth of that and again it kind of goes back to our racing routes and our Sprint car routes the blay family really really special folks really truly are so we’re we’re fortunate to claim Dave and Dale in the Sprint car world uh Lou was modified in sprint cars and uh NASCAR gets Ryan we all win when we have a blay in our world that’s for sure absolutely and they’re they’re a bunch of characters as well so it’s always you never know what you’re gonna get with any of them to be completely honest absolutely right it is fun oh by the way Knoxville did have other things beyond that Charity Dinner as well Knoxville Raceway the premier Chevy dealers clash and man they had a couple of good nights of racing Friday night Ashley it was David gravel being David gravel onreal it’s hard for me to Fathom that it’s his 97th career win and his nth of 2024 so far I feel like we just started watching David grel come on the scene just a few years ago and to think he’s almost ready to hit a 100 is incredible really truly is this was a wild one Larson came up from 10th took the lead then blew up uh gravel had a bad shock on the front of his he tore the shock apart dumping on the inside gravel really gra D David wanted Larson I mean and I know that sounds really really weird because we Larson races David wanted them and and David was pretty confident if that shock Tower is not broke uh David David’s like this might not have been I might have gone toe-to-toe with him but gravel got through in PPM Parker price Miller great run for him finished second and Rico AB was third Saturday night another one of the great topics we talk about Ashley the youth and Corey day we said David gravel was being David gravel Corey day is being Corey day and he was on Saturday night absolutely uh fifth win of 2024 um I feel like you know he’s become a household name very very quickly and he puts on a whale of a show anytime he hits the the racetrack um Corey is going to be one to absolutely watch and he’s GNA have probably a really incredible career sitting there watching this race this was fun okay this was fun because you had Corey the young star you had Donnie at Knoxville Donnie is found some things in the middle of that racetrack that nobody else has found and so you had those moments where it’s like oh boy this could look really good in August um you know Donnie there uh you had Kyle Larson and you had David gravel the front four cars all top of the sport all great stories mixing it up and really really cool Ashley uh had the chance to go to Knoxville and there’s a little place I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it across the street called Dingus um I needed to do a spot inspection there and Dingus is doing well also is it great I’m glad to hear that I know you know there’s only certain times of the year that places on the map so I’m glad to hear that it was still there and and ready to roll this past weekend for you yeah AJ had it in good shape now I was on a two beer midnight curfew and which was great and it was 11:58 when I made my way way out got halfway to the car and the downpour hit and I got soak and wet but I understand uh understand that the wrestling didn’t start till the the the women wrestling didn’t start till about 2:30 a.m. so so gravel was being gravel Cory day was being Cory day and Dingus was being Dingus we all win we’re not here for a long time right we’re just here for a good time it is cool it is cool so uh great stuff at Knoxville and uh I just I love being on that property Knoxville Raceway uh cannot wait to get back out there again in August I’ve got of got a plan for my trip out there looking forward to it Ashley we’re we’re going to we’re going to hustle through the rest of this because we’ve got some great guests and everything but it was a speed weeks uh it was it was a trio of speed weeks Ohio speed week cap Henry listen ask asle he had six Podium finishes and eight wins it’s tough to beat a guy on points when he does that yeah no doubt especially out of eight races right um so he had to have to have almost a do not start um for that to not happen but absolutely incredible that that speaks miles for what cap and his program are doing and to be that consistent every single night yeah and Danny Sams was the star of the show he kind of came out with three wins we’re going to talk to Danny in a little bit n King of the West they did the fastest days in racing their trip up through Oregon and speaking of really good runs Cole maso four top fives he won the championship but Ashley this was cool because five races five Smiling Faces in Victory Lane that’s absolutely incredible Tanner Holmes Cole maso Justin Cox Robbie price and Dominic seli all five of them that’s that’s really special when you can get a different winner every single night yep Dominic seli first win of the Season out there on Sunday night of speed week and speaking of great weeks Seth Bergman ASCS national tour speed week Ashley four races two wins two second place finishes you’re going to have a tough time beating that guy Seth Bergman has got that car rolling he really does that’s that’s almost that’s incredible I’m not gonna lie uh four nights to not have something go wrong and to finish one two one of those all four of them actually that’s absolutely incredible yes great stuff that is for sure so uh other winner and we mentioned at the top of the show Lincoln Speedway Cameron Smith picked up the win there and what we are going to do we are going to step away when we come back we were going to catch him after his first win last week but we didn’t get a chance to now he’s made us catch him after his second win Cameron Smith he joins us next here on Wing Nation Tony do you even remember how to drive one of these it’s not something you forget you should know that the drive to succeed the need to win the desire to be a champion and we surround oursel with partners that believe the same like Tony Stewart racing Sage F strives to be the best in all they do they work hard on the farm in the packing facilities and with their Retail Partners to provide highquality apples and peirs all year long you can compare apples to apples but nothing compares to a sage fruit apple winning quality in every bite welcome back it is Wing Nation presented by Sage fruit we’re going to the sage fruit outline and and and Ashley we we we talk about this a lot of times we love firsttime winners here last week we didn’t get a chance to check up with that firsttime winner at Williams Grove and so the young man who joins us now Cameron Smith says well okay we’ll just go to Lincoln and win there second career win and he joins us via the zoom line hello Cameron how are you good how are you we are doing fantastic that’s for sure what is it like to be a two-time 410 winner as an 18 year old who grew up loving Sprint car racing what’s it like uh it’s pretty cool it’s um unbelievable uh it’s it’s kind of weird that it all kind of happened within like two weeks like I was still kind of Blown Away at Lincoln Saturday that I won at the Grove the week before so and then to go and win at Lincoln the next week is is cool it’s um it’s pretty neat Cameron I know you said that Williams Grove getting your first win there was huge but I know that you were a Lincoln regular as a little kid did that one mean more even though it was the second one just because Lincoln was really a home for you as a child yeah um well the first one’s always special but uh to get my a win at Lincoln especially from starting eth is cool I went there every week when I was a kid I always watched um my Uncle Tim race there every single weekend and I don’t ever remember uh not going there during the Race season on a Saturday so um yeah it was super cool and there was a lot of there was a lot of people there in the stands that um like went to my school and and a lot of people I knew so it it was pretty cool to um get it really close to home and um a lot of people that I knew throughout my life um get to uh watch it I I can imagine that has got to be the neatest thing in the world I do want to step back though Williams Grove is one of the most difficult tracks in the country we have people that are inducted in Knoxville and the Hall of Fame saying I never figured Williams Grove out okay and you’re a regular Lincoln you’re running a limited schedule Williams Grove did you ever believe that Williams Grove would be the sight of your first win uh I don’t know um last year when I was running John’s car there uh we we came close a few times and we were running we were running uh good kind of by the end rap before I quit we were running we got better and better there and I got better driving there um and then um in n’s car I always kind of felt comfortable there and um I knew kind of when I started second if I kind of just got in clean air and and set a good pace and and um got through LP traffic clean and and kept the um quicker cars behind me that uh I I should be able to to win but it’s always hard Williams G is a really hard track it’s super long straightaways and really tight Corners so it’s it’s hard to like really feel balanced like um I talked to Troy and we’re really good friends and he he he’s really good there and he always says like it’s it’s just hard to feel comfortable there it’s just just a really weird racetrack so Cameron with that being said did you have any parties was there any celebrations after your first win and then at both tracks um no uh I uh on Friday I I was racing the next day Saturday so we uh we washed the car and and got ready for Saturday and um tried to do it again Saturday we ran fifth um pretty good so but my family actually had a pre-planned beach trip that we we usually go for just like a short week in June it just happened to be that that Friday I wanted and then um I went with my family from Monday to Thursday and it it was a really good time and then um came back in one Saturday so it’s been a really fun two weeks man I got to get on the Cameron Smith deal let’s see beat trips and Victory Lanes my God I’m busy I’m I’m busy running up and down pit roads across the country and sweating here um Cameron the last six races of your season finishes fifth 6th 1st fifth 12th and 1 have you guys hit on something how do you feel the momentum it just looks like you guys are really clicking them off now on a regular basis yeah um we we have been able to um time good pretty much the whole year and we’re good early on in the night but um the the onein Wicker Bill changed uh I always kind of struggled with um I I ran good in the 358s but the 410s are just so much more power and I always kind of had trouble keeping my wheels under me and then I started getting good at it last year at the 2in Wicker Bill and then this year when they um switched it to a one-in wicker bill I had I struggled a little bit at the beginning of the season and my crew chief Brian got the car better for um later on in the night when the track gets Slicker down the straightaways and getting it locked down down the straightway so yeah I think we I think we figured out um what we got to do later on in the night like I said we we could time TR good but then we it seemed like we kind of fall back in um feature time but now um we’re we’re moving forward in the feature and we’re getting better and better on just like tracks and um Brian’s getting me more and more comfortable in the car every time I hit the track so I’m happy I think um Lincoln was only our 20th race with the team so we won um two out of 20 races and and we really haven’t ran bad other races it’s just Friday at the Grove it was super hard to pass I was actually up to 10th but I made a mistake with two to go and let uh Chad and Lucas uh back in front of me so um I just got to uh try running consistent laps and run hard and um but still keep it under me and um I think we’ll we’ll run good okay you just intrigued because obviously one inch makes a huge difference by what you’re saying with that being said was there a large learning curve for you coming from the 358 to the 410 uh yeah um the 358s it’s it’s you just go so much slower down the straightaways and um it’s it’s way heavier in the front end so I think you actually are more stuck in the 358 and I had a issue like with the 410s like I would in 358 you could run it in like pretty much wide open and in 410 you can’t do that cuz a card are so much faster to begin with at the end of the straightaway and they slide way more so it’s it’s definitely a different driving style and um just how they drive through the slick and how they um get Bal up on the cushion and stuff’s all different but um I think I’m starting to get it down and um yeah just learning more and more every time I’m in the car let’s talk a little bit about your team owner Rick Lefever and uh he’s fielded teams for for a little bit here um but just tell me about Rick and and the opportunity he’s presented you and your 20 races into this deal with the two wins as you just pointed out um what’s what’s that been like to to be able to drive for a guy like Rick yeah RI Rick’s a super nice guy we get along well um him his dad um Brian and Terry we all we all have a lot of fun at the shop we all get along very well and um Rick’s a nice guy he he picked me up when I never even um won a race yet I just kind of I Ran John’s Car last year and then I ran um pretty good when we ran the family car and and he saw that I had potential and he picked me up and he believed in me and and um uh knew I kind of could do it and um I’m thankful for it and yeah he he me and him are really close he we get along good and um me and Brian get along well I just I just kind of tell him how I’m feeling in the car and and he adjust to it and early on in the night we’re close so really all we really have to do is adjust to the track and um Brian does a really good job and the whole rest of the crew does a really good job we’re having a lot of fun right now that’s what matters having fun and making sure that y’all are meshing which sounds like it is working very well uh I know you took a a few weeks ago you took a weekend off um for your graduation so a a fresh high school graduate what does this summer and the future look like what what are your plans going forward other than RAC and St cars um well my family owns a car lot so I I uh I was actually working at the car lot this morning I came home um because I have better better inter here to do it so I I work at the car lot and then um my Uncle Tim he’s out on the road for most of the day and he comes back around like five or so so um Mondays and Wednesdays we we go to the shop at around 5:30 and then um Tuesdays and Thursdays we uh we we work at the car lot until like 800 or 9 at night we we got to get stuff done because we’re racing all the time I’m racing he’s racing or um his daughter Harper is racing a quarter so on Sunday so there’s always something to do and um we we stay pretty busy uh we work a lot we um we take Harper racing and uh when I can I like to hang out with my friends and stuff and and play golf on the weekends nice that is good the Tim we’re referencing is Tim gladfelter of course a lot of you sprint car fans are familiar with him Tim does some racing as well so it’s really good the Family Ties there so Cameron the game plan this year was weekly at Lincoln run some at BS run some at Williams Grove run some at sein’s Grove has that plan changed or is that still the uh plan as you continue through 2024 um well now we kind of got better at the Grove um I think we’re kind of going to try to run every show there except um maybe the outlaw shows I’m not 100% sure if we’re going to run those but we’ve been able to time trial good so I think we can it’s just at the beginning of the year we were just planning on running um probably only like 10 or 12 races at the Grove but now I think we’re going to try to hit it every week and then um yeah seing Grove um maybe go to BS every now and then we kind of struggled there but uh we we had a a bad C at the beginning of the Season that we got uh rid of and um now it seems like the new one we built is working way better so um it it all depends on um how we’re running and um what the equip how the equipment is uh holding up and if we’re staying out of trouble Cameron you talk about this changing things now you’re going to race Williams Grove what were your goals for this season did you and Rick kind of sit down and decide you know what you wanted to accomplish this year and now have the goals changed because you’ve ticked not one but two wins off now um well from the beginning it was always just um Rick Rick doesn’t act like it’s um he relies on racing to live he he does it as a hobby he he still works uh a a job at his electric company and um we all work and and we we just sat down and said that life comes before racing and we we have to work and and family and stuff is before racing and and try to race for fun and uh another goal of mine was to try to get my first win of the season and then um I finally got it at the Grove so now um uh just no not really just have fun and um and not tear much stuff up and and try to get lucky and and um maybe win a few more races this year boy I’ll tell you what you’re on a good Pace to do it you’re really truly are it’s been fun to watch that’s for sure Cameron we really appreciate the time uh joining us here on the sage fruit hotline congratulations on the success and uh we’ll be following along and maybe we’ll get a chance to catch up with you later on this year with some more wins in the bank but thanks for joining us thank you thanks for having me there we go Cameron Smith joining us Fresh Off from another trip to Victory Lane this time at the fabulous Lincoln Speedway stay with us when we come back Danny Sams he joins us next Tony do you even remember how to drive one of these it’s not something you forget you should know that the drive to succeed the need to win the desire to be a champion and we surround oursel with partners that believe that same like Tony Stewart racing Sage strives to be the best in all they do they work hard on the farm in the packing facilities and with their Retail Partners to provide highquality apples and pears all year long you can compare apples to apples but nothing compares to a sage fruit apple winning quality in every bite welcome back it is Wing Nation presented by Sage fruit let’s go right back to the sage fruit outline it’s young Talent day here on Wing Nation we are airing it up with the kids that’s for sure and fresh off from not one not two but three wins in Ohio speed wake Danny Sams joins us on the line hello Danny how are you I’m great how are you guys we are well Danny you have won the setup of the year maybe the setup in the history of wing Nation with the car behind you and everything really really good uh I’m I’m assuming at the shop maintenance the the the Tuesday routine is probably going on yep work doesn’t stop stop unfortunately not much celebration time time to get back turning the wheels and try to get back up front yep all right Danny so Ohio speed weeks it started off a little rough for you what kind of flipped the coin and and what got things headed in the right direction uh we were plenty fast uh you know first night we started second quick on a group and just got bumped around in the heat race spawn out and uh know then we got spun out in the B just just not on our night and uh so so you know we reset head to Fremont quick time overall out of 50 54 cars so that was and I’ve never been good at Fremont so that was a huge boost and and the heat race going into one just uh got collected in something that I didn’t have anything to do with and you know RI the whole front end out of the car and then we go out in the B main the front Wing falls off the thing just uh a brutal first two nights uh you know we knew we were fast just didn’t go our way and we head to waynesfield and qualified really good went out really late and ended up running four so that was a good confidence booster we knew we were there we could do it and uh Wayne County we fought engine issues just uh thing after thing and you know didn’t get to spend enough time on the card getting it fast enough for uh to run up front with those guys and but we knew we were quick and then we head to Hilltop and I have a ton of confidence there I’ve been there before won there before and just went outs that quick time and and it was just our night uh everything fell together and I was able to get a win and when I came across the line I’ve never had that much emotion just an Ohio speed week win like we didn’t even that was our first goal was just to make it to the first nine nights not not let alone win a race and I came across the line I just I couldn’t believe it my mom was crying my dad’s just so pumped and it just my carer was able to be there it was a just a huge huge accomplishment it didn’t feel real but of course no partying you know we got another day coming up we’re only we’re just now halfway through and uh we ended up uh where’ we go after that Sharon Sharon yeah got our butts absolutely whooped at Sharon so we go from the ultimate highs of highs to the lows of lows and uh just uh like not even close to making the show it was almost like what happened and so we know we said you know just keep her head on her shoulders and stay strong we head to mosum ton of confidence we end up having to change an engine my sh and I have never done that before a race or anything like that we found a problem with the other engine and maybe that correlated to Sharon but uh yes so we changed engines and you know we’re tired I got to tell you that you know going to bed at 3:30 in the morning waking up at 9: and it’s it’s wearing out when there’s no you know my mom and dad are my crew here so uh go to mosum Quick Time overall run good in the heat race pull a two and raced so hard for that win and yeah made some amazing moves super blessed to be able to do that uh definitely put on a show for the fans uh just got held up in lap traffic a couple times and as soon as you break momentum you know those guys are so good here they come here comes kale Thomas and cap Henry and I had to really had to race my butt off those last four laps I said I’ve not giv up even though they put him in front of me and Cap’s so good he made that track so wide just got a really good run off of two and made a decision to cut under him and I was able to get on the brakes good enough to to hold the line and he wasn’t able to get back around me it was uh so I go from my first biggest win to two days later my next biggest win because of how hard I had to race for something like that uh just absolutely like Star Struck my car owner there again and two $5,000 checks like the biggest race races ever I’ve ever won I won two days in a row and it just I don’t know it was just I couldn’t believe it um you know everyone couldn’t believe it uh you know the first one we thought was good enough then two we’re like wow this is just we one had one heck of a first repeat winner and you go into Millstream everyone’s talking about you it’s just something I’ve never really had yet and uh I don’t so grateful uh I had a little t-shirt tent set up I was able to sell a lot more t-shirts just like the little things you know it all means means so much and we run Millstream we run just decent six uh you know which is still really good top 10 with that many cars it’s just hard enough to do so we knew we were still plenty good and going into Tomic is a track I’ve always struggled that I’ve just never been comfortable the banking something different to get used to and hot laps I was quick time overall and the motors run really good and I was like oh just qualifying I’d like to get four quick times overall would be huge out of nine races so um just kep her to the wood kept her straight and uh it was Perfect Two Perfect laps I guess you could say and I was able to get four quick times over the whole speed week so our qualifying was just absolutely killer and that makes your night so much easier uh just have to roll around in the heat race definitely didn’t push any issues just ran fourth CU that pushed me in the draw for the dash and I got lucky picked up the right Frisbee and picked up the one for for the draw and uh and my dad was kind of questioning me you know he sets up the car he’s like you didn’t look that good in heat race I was like I was just cruise control we don’t need to run it too hard when we know we’re in and so he’s like well try to run this Dash so I know what to do and so I gave it all she had in the dash and it was really fast and uh we just made small changes and got a great start on the on the start and as I’m going around there I was like this is 10 grand don’t mess it up don’t mess it up and then I’m getting a lap traffic uh I could I couldn’t couldn’t get around some of the guys um there someone running in Lane they’re running double file and I know cap would be coming and I was able to finally get around some lap cars and put some distance between us and the flagger gives us five to go coming around the next lap caution I said no way this is going to be you know the most important restart of my life and uh I’ve I’ve had a couple restarts I was like I’m gonna change it up so I went to the top like coming out of four and got a massive restart and uh just got clean air and I started judging my distance on lap cars slowed my car down a little bit so I wouldn’t get to him too fast so that way I could avoid making a mistake and I just needed four clean laps and uh coming across the line of that one I I didn’t know what to think I was like is this real Am I Dreaming u 10 grand that’s double my two wins you we just doubled everything like we uh it’s just absolutely amazing and to conquer atomic was is huge you know it’s such a prestigious track and 10 grand to win and the trophy I got it I got it right here I think I slept with it last night just uh it’s a crew chief trophy uh it’s a George Fisher Memorial and so technically that’s my dad’s and the funny thing about that me and my dad have the same name the third so he’s Junior so technically our name’s on that one too so he got his first trophy um just we got so much Hardware here I got don’t worry I got all my checks with me I keep them right around the cars I set all this up we got back Sunday I me my car owner just came in the shop Monday and we sat in two chairs and just looked at it for an hour we just like can we believe this is real um you know we are such a small team still and to be able to you know run on a stage like that is incredible and were able to get my name out there and when you got a chance to capitalize we felt like we needed to and we were so blessed to be able to do it Danny the the sacrifice that you have made the sacrifice that your mom and dad have made you’re in Florida living you’ve ran some some 305 some 360 started quarter midgets and micro Sprints you guys all left your careers you all left everything in Florida to change to chase this dream what has it been what what have the last couple days been like not only for you to be like hey this might just work out all right but then to share those moments with your mom and dad as well I mean not many 22 year- olds get to say they live with their parents fulltime on the road um it’s a it it is a blessing uh we get along so well and uh it feel it’s just so rewarding because you know this is a lot of Blood Sweat and Tears and it was scary what we did at the beginning of this year um you know you’re taking a gamble at at something you know that’s working like you know you can stay home you can have a house you can have a nice vehicle but you know you’re almost like you could be throwing all this way or you could be making something you’ve always wanted and uh it was a gamble but it’s it’s rewarding it feels like we’re doing the right thing and uh you know it would suck to to not you know if we’re not making shows every night and uh you know it gets so hard on everyone it’s a this rate this sport so about so much about confidence uh you know you got to be confident in your car you got to be confident in your team and you got to know you have the best equipment under you to go out there and run with these guys uh yeah my parents my dad’s called me he they they had to go home for some doctor’s appointments and stuff like that uh and they just been calling me he’s like it’s starting to hit me like we did that you know we we did that um it’s just been uh such a blessing my my dad’s been doing really good on the car uh you come through the pit area my mom will be running valves sometimes or changing nozzles uh she’s changing gear in the car I’m M tires dad’s working on the setup it’s a it’s a full family thing and not people not many people realize like just from the you know naked eye that that’s my parents though they think it’s a crew no it’s that is my parents and and we’re not getting paid you know every bit of money that we get just going back into this to try to run you know with the top of the top ofthe line equipment and uh it shows how far we’ve come you know this point last year I was just now getting into 410 racing a dream of winning a 410 race was you know still huge and now look at us it’s just uh all glory to God it’s a you know hard work you gets you you want to be all right so hearing your story of Ohio speed week $20,000 richer um obviously I’m gonna assume that the expectations that you had for this year you’re far exceeding them already Yes by far our goal that beginning this year was just uh we went to a pick and choose schedule run as many national shows as possible and uh keep getting your teeth kicked in and that’s the only way you can learn you are who you run with and uh I’ve been making a steady progress on these National fields and you know we have not gone backwards if anything we’ve gone forwards and uh it showed this week you know we run I would still call that some of the best competition in the in the country you know these drivers have won national events and uh to to do that you know it feels like we’re we’re stepping stepping up our game and now when we go to another National event we’re going to want a little bit more we still haven’t got that top 10 I’ve got 11th but not not that 10th place so if we can get to 10th or better then we’re going to work on getting to fifth or better and then a Podium and then the wins would actually come after that so yeah that’s that’s our just our goals U you know we’re filling the schedule up with just nothing but big events because we keep doing that or keep KCK we get better and better yeah I look at the 35 total starts 17 of them World of Outlaw starts five high limit starts uh we’ve talked a lot about you we’ve talked a lot about your parents um this character Rocky your team owner okay um like apparently he told you at some point that you’re not ready for 410 you didn’t win a 360 so you just proceed to go out and win a 360 race I mean what’s that been like to to for him to develop alongside of you as a team owner with you guys as well yeah three years ago we had an older triple XX and my dad’s engine and uh we just ran 360 stuff uh definitely not the best equipment on the track or anything like that we’re we’re using as many tires as we could and and uh you know we started doing better and better and he’s like well we started talking about a 410 thing like oh we should try to get in one before you know I get too old or you know develop too many bad habits because we’ve been hearing that and he’s like well let’s try to win a 360 race first and I think it was the next weekend I don’t know if it’s the motivation or what but went out and I won his first race so that was his first race ever to win and uh we got a 410 and I went out at Atta and my first laps ever were qualifying and I was doing wheelies almost went off the track and then ended up making the show by the end of the night it tamed it down and then two races later at Wayne County I was able to win the 360 race and a 410 race on the same night and he was like well I don’t know what to do for you yet we’re not ready to do anything yet you know just one engine one car and just super blessed to be able to do that uh if anything it was definitely a lot of luck you know started up front and uh but I was still able to do it and uh local night but that was huge you know that was a big stepping stone and and that blees into last year my last year was my first full year in a 410 and learning the power of the cars and how to tune the engines you know stuff you never do in 360 racing uh how the cars react you know to make moves and stuff like that was all about last year definitely made a lot of mistakes last year but it don’t it takes mistakes to start learning I couldn’t agree more and knowing that you ran I’ll have a speed week me as Pennsylvania posi has to ask are you hitting Pennsylvania speed week then no the plan is not to uh yeah it’s it’s a lot a lot on your equipment uh we’re definitely trying to be as strategic as possible as we try to build for a series next year um you can’t wear out everything so we’re just we’re trying to be as smart as we can about racing um you know our end goal is to to get to a national level next year if possible so we have a we have a plan to try to you know have enough engines have enough cars and we’re trying to like I said be a strategic to to get my name out there in the most strategic way no and you guys certainly are final question for you um funding of this thing and you referenced it you you set up a little t-shirt stand you’re selling some T-shirts now along the way uh you’re tied in with uh a buddy of mine Randall rusher and Shane Stewart as well we all know Shane you know Hall of Famer uh great great race car driver um uh an organization called dirt crowd and and kind of describe how this works because I know there’s people watching Wing Nation listening to Wing Nation say man I’d like to get behind this kid uh tell me about dirt crowd and how this works for you we have this we set up this really cool thing with Randle and Shane where uh you know you can you can pay $100 a month and your name actually gets printed on this race car and it goes on all my wings and it’ll go on every race car race every weekend and uh and then you get exclusive access where that money’s going like I was just able to get new gloves so like I’ll send a picture to my you know my crowd dirt crowd member is like oh I was able to get new gloves from your support it’s uh small things like that so for the gold level you’re able to actually get your name on the car with other dirt crowd members which uh I feel like is a fair price $100 a month everyone’s able to you know be a part of my team and it se you know it’s a it’s out there and then we have a silver level member as I get new merchandise I handpick a piece for you after I know your size and uh surprise you with that once a month and then uh we have a bronze level for people that you know want to pitch in but you know not willing to spend $100 for $20 a month like U I cut up my my Atomic Tire you know that’s all blistered and I I’ll send it to them this is my $10,000 Tire um you know just an envelope and a thank you note and everyone get to see where the money’s going it’s not it’s definitely not black magic uh you know everyone knows what I’m able to get like a new helmet’s going to be needed here soon it’s it’s that type of stuff and uh you know that’s all money that comes out of my pocket you know I have to supply that Stu myself and like I said all the money that this car races for just goes back into it so that’s the direct way to support me and my parents uh I try to help my parents out the best they can you know they have a house still to pay for and stuff I’m 22 years old living on the road I don’t have any any bills right now but I definitely try to help my parents out the best I can uh um and same thing with merchandise I’m able to you know that’s that’s my deal and I’m able to split that with my parents and try to try to help help keep our our little operation going it’s uh it’s way harder than anyone can really imagine you know we’re sleeping at the shop a lot of the times and stuff like that it’s uh we’re more committed than than most people know but it’s uh you know we’re so blessed to have this opportunity to even do it and we’re definitely doing our best to make the most of it it is an amazing story again that’s dirt crowd they can find you there and Randall and Shane do a good job on that and Danny you do a great job uh not only Wheeling a race car but telling your story it’s really been fun to listen to your sh story to share with us the the whole journey and everything uh I I always say you know maybe we’ll talk to you down the road I’m really confident we’ll talk to you down the road as we go forward and thanks for joining us here this time I definitely uh definitely want to give a shout out to Rob Hart he’s uh been a huge uh huge person to to my career helped us at uh uh uh what’s a World Finals in November last year and he just helped my parent my dad uh turn around on our maintenance and our program how what we need to do and he’s helped me a ton driver coaching he’s someone I can always call and uh he’s definitely made our program speed up to lights speed compared to what we were you know a year ago so I just wanted to give a shout out to him and my parents uh you know they’re working so hard to do this so just so blessed to be in this opportunity and just want to shout those guys out yeah Rob Hart one of the really good guys in the sport really truly is yes Danny we’ll talk to you soon awesome thank you there we go Danny Sam’s joining us here on the sage fruit hotline stay with us more Wing nation in just a moment Tony do you even remember how to drive one of these it’s not something you forget you should know that the drive to succeed the need to win the desire to be a champion and we surround oursel with partners that believe the same like Tony Stewart racing Sage F strives to be the best in all they do they work hard on the farm in the packing facilities and with their Retail Partners to provide highquality apples and pairs all year long you can compare apples to apples but nothing compares to a sage fruit apple winning quality in every bite welcome back it is Wing Nation presented by Sage fruit Ashley our sport is in good hands with Cameron Smith and Danny Sams in the wings there is no doubt about it we talk about the young up incomers coming and I don’t know Danny living his dream at 22 years old it just it makes my cheeks hurt I’m smiling so hard yeah he’s phenomenal Cameron my gosh that that kid that kid too is not going to be the final win Telly when he gets done it might not be the final win Telly next week at this time and I think that is so so neat it really truly is so wow I’m just I I’m I’m I’m ready to get out and go after a where’s the nearest sprint car race cuz I’m ready to get to another one just to se guys like that race um it is really cool one of the things we do here on Wing Nation as we highlight birthdays this is the national Sprint car Hall of Fame birthday calendar Clarence mut Anderson later this week Speedy Bill Thompson Bill Wickerson Ashley this one hits home today would have been the birthday of Greg hodnet uh Greg hodnet great racer great friend um man I’ll tell you what there’s one of those I still don’t believe is gone Ashley I’m with you seeing that picture right now kind of brings a teer to my eye to be honest with you Greg was an incredible individual and he was an awesome friend to the show um and anytime you stumbled across him in the pits he always had five minutes to chat with you even if you really didn’t um just a good good dude that’s missed a lot no doubt about it he is forever enshrined in the National Sprint car Hall of Fame I just saw the picture of him and Paul McMahon sitting on the stage with us at Knoxville when Sherry his wife just lowered the boom on Greg oh my gosh I don’t you talk about you know we got done with that interview we got done with that interview with Danny Sams and we’re talking about smiling and laughing I don’t know in my career I’ve ever laughed harder on the air with Sherry and and of all PE if you would have said Greg hodnet will provide the funniest moment in the history of wing Nation I don’t think I think anybody would have bought it and literally there was not a person that could barely stand let alone conduct an interview when that was going on that picture of him and Paul McMahon sitting on the stage there with us at Knoxville uh we missed Greg as I as I know so many do uh the beauty of it is is he is enshrined at the national Sprint car Hall of Fame now we started the show talking about Knoxville and Iowa also enshrined is the legendary flagman Doug Clark and Doug Clark got to wave the sus again this week Ashley he was the honorary starter at the exfinity series race Saturday at Iowa Speedway that’s so cool you know the first thought I saw thought of when when I saw that that was was going to happen I’m like I wonder if they gave him any instruction you know like usually when you do something like that they’re like hey hold on to the flag the wind whips through like I’m curious if they said to him hey oh wait you’re Doug Clark you don’t need any instruction on how to wave a green flag the only problem is they gave him these tiny little normal siiz Flags you know where Doug waves bed sheets you know Doug is used to bed sheets there was no risk in that flag going out of Doug’s hand and if you shaking Doug’s hand you know there’s no risk of a flag coming out of Doug’s hand anyhow but it’s all those years of wai the bed sheet from the stand at Knoxville it was so cool it was so cool to see him Justin everyone enjoying everything at Iowa um again going back to the top of the show the Iowa Knoxville NASCAR sprint car connections were beautiful this weekend they really truly were and it was good good stuff Ashley the hits keep coming as far as Sprint car racing goes my God the World of Outlaw Nos Energy Drink sprint cars they’re in Brandon South Dakota Houston Speedway and Todd quaring is writing some big checks up there Ashley this week holy moly that’s an understatement it’s a a 4day situation and it starts off with 20,000 to win on Wednesday 100,000 to win on Thursday for both the houst at hustles and then the high Bank Nationals on Friday another 20 grand to win and then Saturday 250 big ones Steve my gosh okay so that takes care of people from uh from the Rocky Mountain East okay how about those people the other side of the Rocky Mountains okay we talked about the fastest 5 days in Motorsports all those Nar King of the West teams moving North well if you’re going to go north you might as well go way up North to scagg it where Ashley there’s a whole lot of money in Washington this week as well yes it is the gym Reaper Memorial dirt CB um Thursday and Friday are the prelim nights and then Saturday $62,000 to the winner God it is unreal it is such a good time to be in Sprint car racing that is for sure do want to give a shout out to some friends as well in the midwest Maverick Mayhem week Ira Maverick Mayhem week they’re running four nights Lincoln Park on Thursday Bloomington all these in Indiana Bloomington on Friday Tri State and hobot on Saturday and terot on Sunday 6,000 to win each of those the Maverick Sprint which is a real small Regional tour that’s just started off they’ve partnered with IRA and that’s going to be fun as well well Ashley man I don’t know when I’ve had as much fun talking on Wing Nation it has been a good good show that’s for sure it sure has it’s always fun to talk Sprint car racing but when you get a good group like we did today and all the things that went with it Today’s Show just absolutely phenomenal absolutely phenomenal indeed she is Ashley stry I’m Steve post you can follow us on all the social media platforms and we appreciate you joining us this time on Wing Nation presented by Sage fruit e
