It’s a
Dirt track Thing By: Brooklyn Green
S
ome people believe that there is not much that goes along with racing a race car. Some will say all you must do is push the gas and turn left. Well, us racers know that is the farthest thing from the truth. Each car, each track, each race day requires something completely unique. There is not one single race that will mimic the previous. I promise you, any racer will agree. Gary Guinn has made his way up the ranks of dirt track racing. Competing in Stock Cars, Modifieds, and now Sprint Cars, Guinn has spent a lot of time in the clay. Guinn’s family has been racing since the 60’s. He grew up helping his dad and fellow racers change out motors and get cars race ready. Doing so, Guinn discovered his love for dirt track racing. He knew someway, somehow, he was going to get behind the wheel of a racecar. Guinn began his driving career in 2003 with a Firebird Stock car. He raced this car at Duke City Speedway, Sandia Asphalt, and Hollywood Hills. In 2009, he raced a Monte Carlo at Uranium Capital Speedway in Grants, New Mexico. From 2011 to 2014, he drove a modified at Sandia and Uranium Capital Speedway. In 2017, Guinn participated in some Micro Sprint and Cruiser action. In 2018, Guinn began his wild ride with Sprint Cars. “For so long I’ve raced stock cars and Modifieds and stuff and you have a heavy car with a little bit of tire and a lot of weight. You go into the corner and the car just wants to push on you. So, you have to let off going into the straightaway and kind of get the car to turn before you get back into the throttle. In Sprint cars, you have to reprogram your brain to stay on the throttle into the corner and it’s not natural. It’s not a natural feeling for me. It’s a complete reset of my brain on how to drive a racecar” said Guinn. Guinn’s first Sprint Car season has been filled with ups and downs, but his family has been by his side through it all. “You can’t do it by yourself. I’ve tried, and you just can’t do it” said Guinn. “My wife can come out and change the oil or change a tire. Plus, just getting in the car is a nightmare if you’re trying to do it by yourself. It means a lot to have somebody there and I am very thankful that I have been lucky enough that my wife has always supported me.” said Guinn. Not only is Gary’s wife Jessica involved in racing, their little girl Alabama is already asking for a race car. She wants to drive a sprint car just like her dad. Obviously, it runs in the family! Follow Gary Guinn and his racing journey on Instagram at gary.guinn.50 or on Facebook at Gary Guinn.
22 NMMotorSportsReport.com