Today, we bring you a different type of dirt racing for "21 Questions"! A driver who drives both Steelhead and Sportsman Late Models. We thought driving normal cars on dirt was tough... So. What's the difference between sportsman and steelhead?
Sportsman cars are the second fastest division after the Late Models, achieving speeds with lap times around 15 seconds on the quarter mile. This category is favored by those wanting to learn car setup techniques to progress into the Late Model division. A steelhead late model is a race car featuring a steel block and steel head. These vehicles must adhere to particular regulations, including weight restrictions, engine size, and tire compounds.
These cars look absolutely amazing, and we're lucky enough to have one of the best in Tennessee that can do it join us!
Meet JONATHAN DENTON. These are his words.
What inspired you to first become a race driver? I was around my uncle Rob a lot as a toddler at he drag raced in IHRA Top Sportsman. So that was my first experiences around motorsports and it stuck from there. As a little kid I could not soak up enough racing on TV with NASCAR or Bigfoot, or movies like Days of Thunder or Stroker Ace. It was all I wanted to watch. I went to my first dirt track race in 1989 at Crossville and I've wanted to race dirt late models since then...
Who were your role models growing up? My racing role model as a kid was Bill Elliott. When I was little, he was the fastest man in Nascar. I am a Ford guy so that worked out perfectly for me. He was the guy everyone was trying to beat. He was never foul mouthed, was always a gentleman, and was great with his fans. There was never any controversy around him, he was wholesome and a good ambassador for the sport.
What do you enjoy doing in your downtime away from the track? My wife and kids are my world, so my downtime is most always spent with them. My wife and I play lots of softball. We live on a farm so there is always something to do around here. We enjoy old tractors, guns, our Jeeps, and Mustangs. We love to go camping.
What do you enjoy the most about racing? I enjoy the "challenge" of racing. There is always someone with more money, so the challenge is to work harder than they do. There is always someone with better equipment, the challenge is to push the limits of yours. There is also the challenge that is inside you. When you have that moment of fear or doubt, you find a way in that moment to push through it. There is way more to the "challenge" of racing than meets the eye. It brings out the best in me, it always has. It also brings me to a special and very specific level of worship with Christ. While I am out there ripping around the racetrack, you'd never know that I am usually praising God or just giving Him thanks for being able in that moment to be living out a childhood dream.
How did you get started racing? My first endeavor in racing was in dirt karts. My dad had started racing super stock at the Tennessee Motor Speedway and I was in overdrive. He came home with me a kart one day. We had it built and painted up for me. I never really got to go racing like I wanted to but the fire didn't burn out. I switched to racing atvs when I was 19. I pushed that into high gear when I was 22. I started racing flat track, arenacross, motocross, cross country, and anything else I could get in. That is how I got started.
What was your first race car, and how did it feel to drive it? My first race car was bought in 2017. It took me 2 years to build it back to racing condition. I had driven 2 dirt late models and a mod lite that belonged to close friends a couple years prior to getting my own. I finally got my own car to the track in 2019 and it was such a fulfillment for me.
The first year was nothing but engine failures, however, it was still such a special moment that first night out. I had all my family there and it was a full circle moment. The motor only lasted 12 laps before blowing a head gasket but it was special. I was able to get another motor the next year but it blew up the first night in catastrophic fashion. I acquired a 602 crate after that and was finally able to finish some races in that car... it was just getting good in 2021 when I was crashed while leading at Clarksville Speedway. It broke the chassis and was the end of that car. It sits in my barn to this day.
Racing is both mentally and physically draining. What are some things you do to prepare for a race? I stay in good physical condition, that has always been a part of my life. I do add to my diet leading up to race day. I have done that since I raced quads. I make sure I am hydrated. My wife is always good about packing fruits and snacks as well. They are not just for the kids! You put good in, you get good out. I start to mentally prepare during the week just by focusing on making adjustments and getting my mind right. If you do not have a focus on your objective then it is a waste of time to race dirt late models.
My race day preparation is mainly music. I listen to a mix of rock and bluegrass throughout the day and trip to the track. The bluegrass keeps me in a light spirit and that helps me stay focused. When I raced mx or ax I would listen to heavy metal and get amped up because of the need to go way above normal human comfort levels. It is not natural to jump those huge jumps and do those things, so I needed the music to help fuel my adrenaline. Music is huge for me!
How do you handle the pressure during a race? I have learned over the years that it is not over until it is over. There were several times on 4 wheelers that there may have been a spin out or something early on, but I didn't quit and it led to a last lap pass or such. In dirt late models it's the same. You have to see it through. I don't have the bad temper that I had as a young man. I also do better about keeping my cool in the heat of the moment.
Racing is such a passionate sport in good and bad ways alike. One thing that helps manage pressure in the middle of the battle is just constant prayer/conversation with God. When someone crashes, I immediately ask God for them to be ok. When I make a move that jumps me ahead, I usually will holler out "Thank you Lord!". When I get passed, I ask God to guide my hands and to show me the way. Pressure can mold us into a rock of strength if we keep it under control.
What goes through your mind when you're on the starting grid? I am always in prayer on the grid. It is ongoing. I ask for the protection of every person involved in the races, oldest to youngest, fastest to slowest. I ask God to guide my hands and to show me the way. I am also usually paying attention to the track and possibly how it is changing or behaving at that time. When I raced atvs, It was all about the green light or the gate drop, so I would be hyper focused on being the first one off that line.
How important is the relationship with your pit crew and engineers? Well for me, I am limited on crew. Through the week, I am working on my car by myself to prepare. I have a few close friends I can call for advice and help. The responsibility for getting the car prepared and serviced falls on me. On race day, my family are my helping hands. They help load up and help at the track. I have a good relationship with my shock guy, and have 2 really good friends that I can call for setup help. I have a good relationship with my chassis builder. They are always willing to help. They are only a call or email away.
What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far? My most memorable moment came at Mountain View Raceway on August 22, 2020. I had a new motor in my #413 car and it had pushed a gasket in qualifying and I was going to have to miss the feature race. I had told my wife and my dad both that morning that today was my day. I had not felt that confident since I had last been on a 4 wheeler. So I was pretty deflated that my night had came to an end.
When I figured out what had happened to the motor, my dad walked off. I noticed him walking back a few minutes later without his fire suit. He had went to the tower and told them I would be driving his #412 in the feature. I was not happy about his decision and lamented about the bad luck I had that night and did not want to carry that over into his car. He reminded me of my prediction earlier and said I needed to go and run the car and show the world what I was capable of.
I started in the rear and worked my way to the front passing cars and also taking advantage of some cautions. I took the lead with 5 to go and won. That was the first race I was ever able to finish (after 2 years of engine failures) and I had won it from the back. I will never forget August 22, 2020.
Do you have a favorite track or racing circuit? My favorite track is Crossville Raceway. It was the first dirt race I ever went to and the first time I drove a late model was there. It is just special to me.
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your racing career? Dirt late models are the hardest cars to drive in motorsports. I have been told that and I agree with that. These cars serve humble soup every single week. There are so many adjustments on them. They are extremely complicated and dynamic. To be able to go around the racetrack is one thing, to go fast and be competitive is another.
Who or what continues to inspire you in your career? On the spoiler of my racecar it says "Running Down a Dream". Driving a dirt late model is all I have ever wanted to do since I was a small child. The hunger for success pushes me through each challenge. I want my kids to not have to look to another person for a hero. I also believe that my racing career can and will be a witness for Christ.
How do you see your career evolving in the next few years? I would like to think that I will be able to travel around a little more and compete for wins in places I've never been. I have also entertained a transition to asphalt if my dirt career ever becomes stagnant.
Are there any specific goals or milestones you are aiming for in your career? I want to win a race at Crossville and at Golden Mountain. Those are my local tracks and I would love to have those trophies in my case. I would also love to win a points championship in a dirt late model like I have done on 4 wheelers.
Are there any other forms of motorsport you would like to try? Like I have said, I have considered a transition to asphalt racing in the future. I would also love the opportunity to drive a non wing midget in dirt.
How do you see the future of motorsports evolving? I think that the rising cost of each type of racing is forcing some people to rethink their whole operation. Some will leave the sport and some will find a way to scale back and keep racing. I think that we are on a critical point in racing history that we have to continue to fight for our sport and not let it be canceled by those who oppose it. I feel there is also such a push to force EV technology that some of the powers that be will begin to alienate fans of motorsports. That is a battle I see becoming more frequent in the future.
How important is fan support to you? I signed my first autograph after finishing 3rd in an Arenacross race. The kid and his brother came up to me and shyly asked if I would sign their shirts. I was disappointed that I had not won, but in that moment learned that the fan's view is always different. They were so happy that I finished 3rd. They didn't care that I had cased a double and lost the lead. They were happy that I fought back 3 places to finish 3rd. Seeing my kids enjoy the races is therapeutic for me. The people though that don't get our experience see it differently. They spend their hard earned cash to sit and watch the races. Hearing them cheer, seeing your decal on their truck window, or getting congratulations on social media lets you know that there is always someone watching you. Give them a reason to like you, give them a reason to come back next week.
What has been the most memorable fan interaction you've had? The night I won at Mountain View in 2020 there were tons of people that rushed over to get their pictures made with me in victory lane. After my family photos were done, they filed in. I had never met any of them. They were all so excited because I had won from the back. It was a moment I will never forget.
What advice would you give to aspiring race car drivers? Number one, give your life to Christ. Number two, understand that there may be steps to the journey and process but you can not quit. If it was easy everyone would do it. Number three, always race those around you with respect and be willing to help a fellow racer.
Follow Jonathan on Facebook!
Racing Idiot Nation is owned and operated by Sports Idiot Nation, Nashville, Tennessee
Commenti