Less than a month later, Danny Simkins died. Not long afterward both Santa Maria Speedway and Bakersfield Speedway retired his number 68 in the Late Model division. Among those Danny left behind was his wife and biggest supporter Sandie and his two sons, Mark and Billy. Never having raced while his dad was alive, Billy decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and take up the sport in 1995. “I really didn’t know that much about cars,” Billy Simkins said.
Photo by Tom Macht
In May, Billy Simkins hit the exit of Bakersfield Speedway, destroying the right side of his racecar. Three weeks later, with a rebuilt car, he won his first feature win at Bakersfield in dominant fashion.
“It’s the most amazing story I’ve ever heard. It sounds like a movie. You had to see it to believe it. It’s unbelievable.” Billy Simkins speaking about the final night of his father’s racing career.
“I really didn’t. I kind of felt like there was a void because a lot of the guys I was racing with, their dads were setting their cars up and helping them out and I didn’t have any of that.” Instead Billy had to learn the ropes on his own and with help from his grandfather. “There was a lot of people that told me you won’t be able to do it because I didn’t know anything,” Billy Simkins said. When I first Continued on page 125
“Where the Great Outdoors Meets the Great Indoors”
OUTDOOR SUPER SALE
ATTRACTIONS: Kids Trout Pond • Berkley Kids Fishing Derby & Awards • Bako Sand Drags • Junior Rodeo, Bull Riding & Team Roping • 16th Annual Super Cruise Car Show • Coors Light Sportsman’s Theat re • Field Dog Training Seminars • Agility & Flyball Dogs • Fly Casting & Tying Demonstrations • Youth Ar chery • Live Music • Kids Land: Bounce Houses, Rock Walls, Laser Tag & More! • 100’s Of Exhibitors, Super Sa le On Outdoor Products, Outdoor Destinations, Recreation Vehicles, Boats, Atv’s And Much More!
Show Dates: February 24th thru 26th 2012,
Show Times: Friday & Saturday 10am - 7pm • Sunday 10am - 5pm Contact Info: Central Valley Sportsmen’s Show, office 661-393-0793 - 800-725-0793 mike@calshows.com • donna@calshows.com • www.calshows.com
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