Modified Racecar Drivers

I remember my first trip to the track well. It was a warm Saturday evening in the early fall of 2009 the first day I set off to visit my first dirt track. I had my wife and two children with me. The family was off to Macon county speedway to watch my brother-in-law (Mike) race a car. When we arrived in the parking lot my hearing was bombarded with the roar of the racecars on the small quarter mile track running practice laps or “hot laps.” It sounded like a constant roar of thunder. My wife who has been to several dirt track races over the years seemed to be observing my excitement from a distance not wanting to rain on my parade of the first time experience. As we entered the gates we walked around the corner of the stands and up the wooden walk way. As I approached the fence of turn 3 several Modified racecars went by flinging pea sized chunks of mud into my hair and face. The breeze of the cars passing brought a new smell to my nose. I could smell the mud but there was something else. There was the exhaust fumes of the high-octane fuel. It has a sweet smell to it and it was absolutely invigorating. As I got even closer to the track my chest started vibrating. It felt like I had one of those back massagers on my chest when the cars went by. They were so powerful. They went by and it was like a blur of cars then as they turned away further out I could focus on them individually. Totally excited to the point I cannot describe I began to wonder about the drivers of these cars. What does it take to be a driver of this fascinating sport of Modified Racecars? They have to be physically fit, and quick with reactions. They have to be knowledgeable about the cars from a mechanics point of view, and have to have a bit of money to be able to afford buying the parts for the car plus have the time to spend on the car. With a better understanding of all the things a driver has to do, we can truly appreciate the sport.



Working on a car is a bit like being a doctor. The drivers of the Modified Racecars are generally their own mechanics. They have to first be able to diagnose what the problem is with the car. Once they figure out what is wrong with the car they have to be able to locate the part that needs to be replaced. Once located they have to be able find the replacement part. Recently in the pits a driver approached us asking for a K Bar. I had no idea what it was but my brother-in-law (Mike) went into his trailer and swiftly emerged with a part in hand that looked like a 10” letter K that fit into the steering system. Many of the drivers find their parts on the Internet and have them shipped through a package handler. There are several websites that offer parts, some of which are speedwaymotors.com, reliableweldingandspeed.com, and pitstopusa.com. Some locally can get what they need from local shops such as Mullins Automotive. Mike said he would check online first to see if it is cheaper than Mullins to replace what he sold to the other driver. After getting the part they have to have the tools and equipment to be able to replace it. It usually takes years to build up such an inventory of tools. Much the same as a doctor would find a problem with a person and fix the problem a driver needs to have the correct operating equipment to make the car run and operate smoothly.

When out on the track the driver needs to be quick with their reactions. Timing of when to shift the car is important on starts and going into turns so you keep up with or surpass other cars on the track. Handling the car with steering is important as well. When a driver goes into a turn he needs to be able to turn the car just right so they don’t spin the car out and possibly wreck. The angle of the wheels on these cars turns in an odd direction. They will somewhat parallel each other when the steering wheel is turned. This involves both turning and the amounts of gas the driver gives the engine. With other drivers around they need to be quick with their reactions so they don’t hit other cars around them or to be able to move quickly out of the way if another driver gets their car too close. As accidents occur on the track, often the driver needs to be quick with the gas, break, and clutch pedal. If an accident occurs they need to be able to move their car out of the way or slow down to avoid a pile up of cars.

Drivers need to be physically fit. Getting in and out of a Modified Racecar takes a bit of physical prowess. There is a small gap on the driver’s side door and passenger side door where the window of a normal car would be. The door doesn’t open so the driver has to slide in and out of the window, not an easy feat for a large person. In case of an accident the driver needs to know where their fire suppressant is located. Fire extinguishers are required for Modified Racecars. Many of the drivers also have an onboard halon system in place that chokes out the oxygen preventing fires from spreading. It takes practice and a well-honed mind to be able to locate and operate this safety feature since the time that would be needed to trigger this feature would be short. Also they need to be able to locate it without being able to see it. When in these cars the driver does not have much room to move around. They need to be able to do it without seeing it because if there were a fire there would be smoke, and with smoke the driver’s vision would be limited. Mike Ward a (Modified Racecar Driver) told me recently “I sat in the car and practiced how to remove the pen and pull the fire suppressant without looking at it ‘cause as soon as I see a flame I’m setting that thing off.” He also told me, “I figured if there is a fire my heart is gonna be pounding from the race and I probably won’t be thinking too clearly.” They also need to be physically fit to be able to get out of the car. Often times during accidents on the track the car ends up on its side, if on the driver’s side they would need to be able to climb up and out the passenger side. In turn, if the car ends up on the passenger side they would need to be able to climb up and out the drivers side, either way it is no easy feat to climb out of a car on it’s side.

As stated before, there is much required in operating a Modified Racecar. From a financial point of view this could be quite daunting. The cost is staggering when you consider that this is merely a hobby for most drivers on the circuit. Before you even consider purchasing a Modified Racecar you must have a way to transport it to the track, as these cars are not street legal. A full size truck is needed with a heavy suspension to haul a car trailer. Most drivers on the circuit want a covered car trailer so they can safely store their tools needed to work on the car at the track. Purchasing a Modified Racecar is an important choice as well. I asked Mike Ward who recently got into racing Modified Racecars what the cheapest he has seen a car for, he replied “I saw one for four grand but it was ten years old and a real piece of shit.” He told me “the top of the line roller with a quick change is going to run about Fifteen thousand”. This is the frame and bodywork of the car. It is made so the rear end gears can be changed out according to what track the driver is going to. Different lengths of track require different rear ends to be able to run at optimum speeds. The engine is important as well. As a whole, the more an engine costs the faster it will run. Tires are important to the operation and most drivers go through 2 sets per year. Once the truck, trailer, and car are purchased the driver needs to be outfitted. There is fire retardant gear that a driver needs to wear. Gloves, helmet, jumpsuit, and shoes all specifically made for driving a Racecar add up to a hefty total. When interviewing Steve Goulden, (a veteran Modified Racecar driver) he was talking to me about his son (Matt Goulden) racing. Steve said, “I told Matt he had to finish College before I’d let him set foot in a car.” Steve was expressing the importance of having a job that paid enough money for his son to be able to afford to race. By the time you get all these things assuming you get the good stuff you are looking at a total of around $100,000.

So, the driver has the car, the trailer, the truck, all the equipment necessary to race, what’s next? Most drivers based on the proximity to the track for the weekend need to leave hours before the actual race. Travel time pulling a trailer is considerably longer than simply driving a car. They get to the track and check in, register for the races, and pay. They unload the car and prepare it for the track. Before the races begin there are practice laps to get the feel for the car and help tamp the track down. By the time the race actually begins drivers go through what I would consider to be an already long day. Though there is much involved, each driver I have encountered readily admits it is all worth it for the time they get to spend in the car. The adrenaline rush is so immense it is unfathomable. The dedication to the sport of racing Modified Racecars by the driver is so intense it is what fuels an exciting trip to the Dirt Track.


Works cited

"Mike Ward on Modified Racing Costs." Personal interview. 13 Mar. 2010.
"Steve Goulden on Dirt Track Racing." Personal interview. 13 Mar. 2010.
Mike Ward. "Modified Cars Follow up Interview." Personal interview. 30 Mar. 2010.