Teen is driven to race

MATT HASSON , Times Correspondent 03/13/2004

MIDDLETOWN --- Bill Thomas loves fast cars, but he’s not a daredevil. He’s an aspiring race car driver and a rising star at Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey and Airport Speedway in Delaware. With help from his parents and sister, Thomas, 18, is pursuing a dream, a passion for driving fast on dirt and competing against more seasoned rivals. Thomas, a resident of Middletown Township, graduated from Penncrest High School in 2003 and has been racing for 10 years. He raced Quarter Midgets between 1994 and 2001, winning several championships and setting many speed records. He moved up to MicroSprint racing in 2002. A MicroSprint is a small racer that competes on short unpaved dirt tracks. MicroSprint racing has bred local stars, such as Prospect Park resident Mares Stellfox, one of the top Limited Sprint drivers at Bridgeport. Around the country, dirt-track racing has hatched many NASCAR and Indy car legends, such as Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Thomas was Rookie of the Year at Airport Speedway in 2002. Last season at Airport, he won the opening-day race, finished second place in points and was voted Most Improved Driver. So far this season, his best finishes have been fourth and fifth at Orange County Raceway in Orlando, Fla., and fifth at East Bay Raceway in Tampa. He was competing in the FMSA Winter Nationals, which coincided with Daytona’s "Speedweeks." His strong finishes fueled his hopes for the new season. "I expect a good season,’’ said Thomas, who is majoring in graphic arts/Web design at Delaware County Community College. "I’ve learned more about the car and I’m getting better at setups. It’s really stout competition.’’ Bridgeport is a 5/8-mile dirt track. MicroSprints race on a smaller segment, a 1/4-mile track, but the cars can hit 110 mph on the straightaways and complete a lap in about 13 seconds at an average speed of 90 to 100 mph. MicroSprints, midgets and full-sized sprint cars compete in short qualifying heats (sprints) and feature races. After a decade of racing, Thomas is used to the speed. "Everything happens in split seconds because of the speeds,’’ he said. "It’s like sticking your head out the car window at 80 mph, but with a helmet." His racer, a 2001 "Hyper’’ model, resembles a full-sized sprint car. A large wing on top channels air to keep the car on the track. The racer’s 600cc Yamaha motorcycle engine can generate up to 130 horsepower at about 15,000 rpm. (NASCAR engines run at 8,000 rpm.) The engine burns methanol, a type of alcohol fuel that burns cleaner and cooler than gasoline. Its carburetors are converted to burn alcohol. Thomas and his father work on the car in the evenings and on weekends. Their top sponsor, Choice Marketing Sports Cards of Aston, handles many of the costs of running the car. Racing tires cost more than $100 each. "We’re hoping for big things,’’ said Bill Thomas, Sr. "We’re finally learning dirt. He’s really getting a good feel for it and we’re hoping for a few wins this year.’" A race win earns about $500, said the elder Thomas. "I love Bill racing,’’ said his mom Debbie. "He’s a very good driver. He doesn’t get intimidated and he holds his own against older drivers. I hope he gets more wins this year.’’ Thomas’ sister Missy, 20, a health-care management major at Delaware County Community College, helps push the car and assembles scrapbooks of Thomas’ racing career. She said she has no desire to drive the car herself. "He’s very talented,’’ she said. "It’s fun, something for the whole family to do." Thomas said he’d welcome a chance to move up to full-sprint cars or, possibly, NASCAR. Success, lucky breaks and costs will be factors, he said. "I’d like to see how far I can go,’’ he said. "The cost determines how far you go.’’ He also voiced hope that the high profile of NASCAR will inspire fans to check out local short tracks, where the competition is very stiff. Local tracks are the "grassroots" of American auto racing. They provide thrilling action and low ticket prices, and are a great bargain for families on a budget. "It’ll get more people interested," Thomas said. "If they get turned on to short track, they’ll really like it." - - n For more information, see www.BillThomasRacing.com. Bridgeport Speedway is just across the Commodore Barry Bridge in New Jersey. It’s scheduled to open April 10 for a full season of Friday and Saturday night races. Airport Speedway, on Route 37 off the New Castle Exit of I-95, is scheduled to open April 17.

©The Daily Times 2004