Some questions that I often get asked... I figured I'd answer them all here and you can get a head start!
What type of racing do you do? I race asphalt circle track. Think 'Amature Nascar'...
How long have you been racing? I started in 2002 when I was just 18 years old.
Where did you start racing? My first ever race was at the infamous High Banks of I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Missouri.
What got you interested in racing? I grew up around my dad racing dirt cars at Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg, Missouri. When I was a kid, I would 'help' him with the racecar, and go to every single Saturday night show and crew for his car. Had a blast!
Do you watch Nascar? I try to... This can get to be a lengthy answer. I've grown apart from watching Nascar in the last few years. They've made rule changes and car changes that I just don't agree with. It has made the races more mundane to watch. It is not what it used to be. I find myself watching late 80's up to late 90's Nascar when I can. You could actually tell the car makes apart and they were racing from they're heart, not they're "Teams' Checkbook". They raced because they loved it. And I'm not saying the drivers don't today. They just don't get to show it as much on the track because the rules won't allow certain "Aggresiveness".
Who is your favorite driver? That award has to goto Mike Wallace. This story is also very long. But to shorten it up... I watched him win at Indianapolis Raceway Park in the Busch Series at my first ever Nascar event at the old age of 10. Back then, we were actually allowed to enter the pits after the races. We went up and saw Mike Wallace. His car was being torn down behind him by the officials, and he was signing autographs and taking pictures. I got a picture with him and had it framed in the house. About 5 years later, the Craftsman Truck Series was still small and racing at 'Real' race tracks. I-70 Speedway was on the schedule. We went to the track and watched him race there as well. We brought the picture of him and I to the track in hopes he would autograph it. We DID see him before the race started at the fences. I stuck that picture through the fence and he gave a few quick looks and recognized where it was taken. I've just taken such a liking to the fact that he can remember that and recelect on how that must feel to me. He was a great person to talk to and get a picture taken with, and he is a very talented driver that always trys and always gets back in the race car no matter if he's gonna win or not. I took that attitude with me when I started racing a few years later at that famed I-70 Speedway and have been a huge fan of him ever since.
Why do you race asphalt and not dirt? My first race was on asphalt. I grew up around dirt racing with my dad, but never got into a dirt car. They've become more expensive than asphalt cars over the years. I like the atmosphere of asphalt racing. The people, the cars, the smells... I have never tried to run a dirt car but would love to! I'm not real sure if I would like it or not. Maybe one day I will find out!
What makes your Mustang a "race car" and not the same as the Mustang I drive to work? The 'Mustang' you see is only what you see. It is only skin deep. The outside only mimicks what a Mustang looks like. The front a rear bumpers are molded plastic, with no cut outs for head lights or tail lights. The lights you see on the car are only stickers to make it look more recognizable. If you were to look under the hood or get on hands and knees and look under the car, you would no longer see any Mustang you would recognize. It is highly modified to suit the racing type conditions. We remove all the interior, and remove all the windows. Replace the front and rear windows with Lexan Plastic. Also modify much of the suspension. We also add an 8 point roll cage to the frame. There are many modifications made to make this a race car that we would have to leave in another discussion.
How many people are on your team? No one on the team does this for money. In fact, no one gets paid. They all do it for the love of the cars and the sport. Sometimes the guys can't make it because they have other obligations such as work to actually make money. Usually we have 2 or 3 guys show up with us (outside the Littrell Family). The main guys of my team (and couldn't be done without them) are: Lee Rapp Si Upton Kevin Jeffries Most of the family attends the events, but not always to crew for the team. My wife, Kindra is there every race day to cheer!
Why the Number 82? When I was a boy, I played "Pee-Wee" football. I was wide receiver for many undefeated years with the Independence Tigers. I wore the number 82 on my jersey.
Why do you drive a Ford Mustang? That's a hard question to answer. Mustang is the primary choice of car for a Mini Stock (not so much anymore). So we decided to build what we knew best. A rear wheel drive, raw horsepower, go fast machine.
Have you ever been in a bad crash? I've been in only one serious crash. In my second year of racing, my car took a nasty turn to the outside wall in turn two. Knocked me unconsious and took an ambulance ride to the infield. I was alright, other than having a major headache and a sore neck and back for two weeks! Then I was back in a new car and racing again! Can't hold me down! |
