Photo courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ's team injects a little humor each week


TJ Hartman Racing - Update: Memento's and a Second Chance!

Puyallup, WA - November 22, 2009...

At the end of every season TJ has put together a short video to capture the entire year through his looking glass. Even with an abbreviated season, there was still plenty to log in the memory banks. This 2009 TJ Hartman Racing project was made possible with the great work of the people who spend their time looking through a view finder. They are of as much importance to TJ's dreams as the ignition switch on his dash board is.

TJ takes a moment to reflect: "Even though my season was cut short, I wasn't going to let it ruin what it is I want to do. My thoughts about racing aren't any different, and that's what I wanted to project with this video."

The video runs through TJ's start in his own car back in April, then through the Summer with the Silva Motorsports team, and culminating with the youngsters vision of his future. TJ continues: "I want to thank Fletch, Nicki, and Roger for all of the photos, and Nathan for the contributing video. They get all our memories to look at over and over again. I also can't thank Shane and Paul enough for giving me a great year, and I want to congratulate them on wrapping up the ASCS National Championship this weekend in Tucson. They're the best, and it was a privilege to spend time with them this Summer."


Photo Courtesy of Roger Kolb - Stewart & Silva at the 2009 ASCS Banquet in Tucson

The 2009 TJ Hartman Racing video can be viewed on the TJ's web site at:

http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/videos.html

TJ Hartman Racing thanks all of our friends for their continued support and wishes everyone our best as the Holiday Season comes upon us. We have very much to be thankful for.

Next scheduled stop - Working on the Second Chance!


TJ Hartman Racing

Photo courtesy of Fletcher Motorsports

TJ Hartman Racing - Update: Coming Back For More!

Puyallup, WA - November 15, 2009...

A season ending crash back in June didn't dissuade TJ from making sure he fulfilled his obligations. The crash, which damaged the teams only ASCS360 engine, sidelined the Emerald Ridge High School student from the drivers seat, but that didn't mean he got to sit back and watch. TJ's desire to race kept him involved throughout the Summer working for Paul Silva and Shane Stewart. He was also able to make sure his own sponsors were receiving the publicity they deserved as well, despite not having been in his own race car for most of the season.

TJ talks about his abbreviated season: "It wasn't going to do any good to sit back and say 'what if', so I decided to just make the best of the situation. First I want to say thank you to all of my sponsors. This week I finished up my contacts with my sponsors from the 2009 season, and they're coming back for 2010! That is just great news and it's nice to hear them say how committed they are to my racing program. I'm hoping that next year I can get them the exposure on the race track that they deserve."

The support to TJ's race program went beyond expectations for the Puyallup teenager. "Something that really stands out to me is when I visited with each of my sponsors, the first thing they asked me was how I was feeling." TJ states. "That means more than anything to me. All of the support I've gotten from them and the fans since the wreck has been great. The traffic through my web site didn't slow down one bit, even though it's tough to come up with things to talk about when you're not racing."

TJ found plenty to do with the rest of his Summer. In addition to planning for his final year in High School, he gained a ton of experience with the help of Shane(Stewart) and Paul(Silva). TJ explains: "It couldn't have worked out any better for me. I was planning on getting hooked up with a team for part of the year next season anyway, and this actually worked out perfect. Shane and Paul and all of their supporters treated me just like a part of their team. It was cool making new friends, and learning from them. I don't think you could ask for a better team to gain some experience from. Plus it was fun being around them."


Photo Courtesy of Roger Kolb - Silva Motorsports Team prepares at Knoxville

The team of Silva and Stewart is preparing for the final weekend of ASCS National Series competition, where they currently lead the points chase. If there is one disappointment for TJ, it is that he can't be with the team for the final. "They had me all set up to fly down to Tuscon next week to be with them." TJ explains. "But I've got a couple of tests in my College classes that I can't miss, so I'm gonna have to text them and tell Stewart to 'stand up for himself', and for Paul I'll just say 'good luck Babe'."

2010 is right around the corner, and the team will have everything in place shortly, while TJ decides which direction he wants to go. "There are some people who have been working on some different stuff for me." says an enthusiastic TJ. "Right now we're not sure what direction to go, but it was a nice surprise to find out people were thinking about me while I was out of the car. I'll just have to figure out what the best direction for my team is. First and foremost we'll make sure to have all of my stuff back together, and then see where we can go from there. I want to focus on building some additional long term support for my race team, and having my 2009 sponsors on board again in 2010 is a good step."

One thing is for sure - TJ didn't miss a beat this year. His smile and enthusiasm kept everyone coming back for more. TJ Hartman Racing thanks all of our friends for their continued support.

Next scheduled stop - Back to the Shop!

TJ Hartman Racing

Photo courtesy of Fletcher Motorsports

TJ Hartman Racing - Update: Checking In!

Puyallup, WA - October 19, 2009...

Just a quick note to update all of TJ's fans - TJ has been making some changes to his web site, and subsequently is starting to overload the current server. He is in the process of changing that over, and his web site will be down for a few days. Everyone will be notified when it is back up and running.

There has not been a lot of news to report pertaining to racing. That doesn't mean he hasn't been busy. In TJ's words: "I've been pretty busy with school and finding that I really enjoy the college courses. I don't feel like such a kid anymore when I'm in those classes. I want to upgrade my web site so I'm working on that quite a bit too. I've been touching bases with my 2009 sponsors and that's looking pretty good. Kelly (Wesmar Racing) called the other day and gave us the news on our engine, so he's getting that taken care of. I'll talk more about all of this and some other stuff I've been working on once I get my web site back up and running. I want to thank everyone for continuing to check in with us. I know we're not out there racing every week, but the traffic through my web site has been the same so I appreciate that."

TJ Hartman Racing thanks all of our friends for their continued support.

Next scheduled stop - The World Wide Web and TJHartmanRacing.com get a freshen up!


TJ Hartman Racing
www.TJHartmanRacing.com

2009 Sponsors -

A1A BuyNSell

Beckler's Mobile Welding Service - www.becklermobilewelding.com

Rockslinger, Inc. - www.goslingit.com

Advanced Powder Coating - www.gopowder.com

Hooker Harness - www.HookerHarness.com

Parts Plus of Summit - www.PartsPlus.com

Performance Coatings - www.Performancecoatings.com

Rod End Supply - www.Rodendsupply.com

Simpson Race Products - www.Simpsonraceproducts.com

Wesmar Racing Engines - www.WesmarRacing.com

Hi-Tech Collision - www.Hi-TechCollision.com

www.TJHartmanRacing.com

3/1/09


Photo Courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ helping flag at novice training

TJ Hartman Racing - UPDATE - TJ goes back to where it all started!

Puyallup, WA - March 1, 2009...

TJ signed up for duty to help train new drivers at the same track where it all started for him in 1998. Eleven years ago, the then 6 year old enrolled in drivers training classes at the Little Wheels Quarter Midget Association in Graham, WA. The 1/20th mile paved oval has been a fixture at the Pierce County Fairgrounds Frontier Park for more than 30 years. The club began construction of the track at its current location in the Winter of 1974, and held the first official race there on May 4, 1975.

The Little Wheels racing organization for kids was officially formed in 1969, and has been training winning drivers ever since. TJ trained and raced his first year there, before making the local dirt club chapter his official home club. "The first time I raced dirt I just really liked it. You got to slide the car around and that was fun!" TJ says with a smile. "But we stayed members at Little Wheels too and I raced there off and on until 2005. Our quarter midget region was made up of five paved tracks and only one dirt track, so you had to know how to run pavement if you wanted to compete."


TJ preparing for action with the Little Wheels Novice Class of 1998

Though he hasn't ran quarter midgets since winning the final two of his four QMA National Championships in 2006, TJ hasn't been far from the tiny race cars. He explains what led him back to Little Wheels: "I'm just a Junior in High School, but before I graduate I have to perform 20 hours of community service for my Senior Culminating Project. I already did the job shadow part, and there are several things I need to put together as a portfolio, including the community service. In my Senior year I present it in front of the class and show them what my plans are for the future. It's something I need to do in order to graduate, and I figured what better way to volunteer and do my community service project than by doing what I did for nine years - racing quarter midgets."


TJ learning the pattern in drivers training

Quarter Midgets of America is an all-volunteer organization, and TJ learned early, the value of helping and the rewards it can bring. The teenager continues: "My family is still members of the club at the Grays Harbor Raceway, but I thought it would be kind of neat to help train kids where I started racing. I sent an email to their trainer(Marc Deaver) explaining what I needed to do for school, and he responded right away and said he knew about the project for High School kids, and he said he could always use the help. I thought it would be good to do my community service project in the community where I go to school. The Little Wheels track is just a few miles from my house and school."

Marc Deaver has served the Little Wheels club for several years and has been racing there with his two boys. It wasn't hard for him to understand the importance of the project - he is also an 8th Grade science teacher at Cascade Middle School in Auburn, WA. Marc comments: "His experience, energy, and enthusiasm are a valuable asset to our training program. A class of drivers, ranging in age from 4 to 13, has the opportunity to learn from TJ's experience as a former quarter midget driver turned sprint car racer. TJ has been devoting his Saturdays to fulfill High School graduation requirements and, more importantly, to give back to a younger generation of drivers. I greatly appreciate TJ's commitment to helping new drivers work their way toward becoming veteran racers."


TJ and Marc helping one of the young drivers learn to read the flags and know when to speed up or slow down

TJ concludes the update: "I'm having a lot of fun. It' is a great feeling to have the kids look up and you can see their eyes and they respond to what you tell them. My dad was a drivers trainer, and I remember him telling us about that feeling. Now I know what he was talking about." As distant as the little cars and his time in them seems, TJ quickly realized just how much a part of his life quarter midget racing was. "I was kind of surprised to see cars on the track that I use to race against, and one car I even drove for Dave Peppel at Oakwood Arena because his son David didn't really like dirt at the time! It's cool to go back and see those cars and know their history. Marc and everyone there have been really nice and welcoming. Everything seems so little. The kids are so small, but they figure out what everything is really fast. I really don't remember learning that stuff." He adds with a laugh: "It's hard to believe I had to learn what each pedal was for. It seems like yesterday that I was there training to be a race car driver!"

Next scheduled stop - Training the future competition!

TJ Hartman Racing

2/23/09


Photo Courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ and his crew listening to the fresh Wesmar power plant.

TJ Hartman Racing - UPDATE - TJ Pulls His Team Out of Hibernation !

Puyallup, WA - February 22, 2009...

TJ and his team took advantage of some decent weather in February, and installed his newly freshened Wesmar engine in the non-wing car to fire it off and make sure everything is set to go for the 2009 racing season - now less than two months away. It is important for TJ to get everyone on his crew together before the season starts and share ideas, plans, and goals for the upcoming season.

The Winter has been long for the Puyallup teenager. Anxious to get back in the seat and do what he loves the most, racing a 1500 pound sprint car, TJ knows the work begins long before he ever hits the track. "We got the engine installed and fired. We like to check everything over for leaks and check the (ignition)timing, and stuff like that. It sounded great - Kelly and his guys did another first class job making this thing just like new again. Hearing the engine run makes me really excited to get on the track again!"




Photo Courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ rounding the first corner of 2009 - into the driveway of his shop!

Aside from hearing the engine start for the first time in 2009, TJ met with his excited crew. He narrates the plans: "I feel like I'm ready to travel a little bit, and see some different tracks. At the end of last season we were planning on running the ASCS Northwest tour in '09. I know I need to race at a level where my team can compete and take advantage of the most track time for us to learn. After seeing the schedules come out, we decided to take a different approach then what we've done in the past."

In each of his 11 years of racing, TJ has set specific goals and laid out a specific plan for the season - occasionally more than a year in advance. The calculating youngster continues: "We're basically set to run about 22-25 nights with our current program. It's pretty much a family funded program right now, so we always make sure we're going to get the most out of the time we can run. After last season, I'm confident about running the sprint car pretty much anywhere, but I also want to run a lot of laps. I know that the more laps I turn, the more I'll be able to learn. Tommie(Estes - ASCS National Director) pretty much told us that too when we were in Orlando, so we're going to focus on races where we know I can spend the most time in the seat in the 25 or so times I'll be running my own car this year."

The quest for experience behind the wheel takes an untraveled road. TJ explains: "For 2009, we're going to make our (schedule)decisions on short notice. I want to run different tracks to gain more experience, so we're not going to set a specific schedule for the year. We'll basically decide where we're going a week or two in advance, and base the decision on how we all feel we're progressing. The one thing that won't change is we still plan on racing almost every weekend. But this will give me a chance to take advantage of the entire season, without feeling like we're committed to a track, a series, or a goal other than just getting experience. I think I'll be able to have other opportunities this way too, but it's definitely going to be different than we've done in the past. We've always made a plan and stuck with it." He adds with a laugh: "I guess this is the same. We have a plan, it's just different!"

TJ concludes the update: "We've got a couple more things we want to do in the shop, but other than that, we could load the car in the trailer tomorrow and be ready. My crew is behind me 100%, and that gives me a lot of confidence. I'm really excited to get going. April seems like a year away!"

Next scheduled stop - Waiting for April and hoping for sunshine!

TJ Hartman Racing