TJ Hartman Racing News
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php
TJ Hartman Racing News March 14th, 2010
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry100314-135236
Photo courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ is ready
TJ Hartman Racing - Update: Spring Ahead!
Puyallup, WA - March 14, 2010...
It has been nearly a year since TJ has motioned a push truck and flipped the switch to fire his sprint car. Granted, the push truck was a Polaris Quad courtesy of his neighbor, and the engine roaring to life was merely in the driveway to check for fluid leaks. But the sound of his Wesmar engine's healthy tone was a welcome noise for TJ, his team, and even his neighbors.
The ability to fire off the engine before the team makes its way to the first race of the year allows for everything to be checked over. There is more than just fittings to be checked. TJ explains: "Wesmar always puts together a great engine for us, so there's never a doubt it's going to run. But we like to make sure we have everything tightened up on our end. And it gives me a chance to get in the car and make sure everything fits and I'm comfortable. Brian(Butlerbuilt) and his guys built a perfect fitting seat for me and it felt great to sit in the car again, even if it was just to start the car."
Photo courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ ready to get 2010 started
Now that the car is finished and ready to go, the team is focusing on a few other details. TJ continues: "We've always been pretty organized in the shop, but we're always looking for better ways to do things. We kind of have to find some simpler ways to do things now, and just being more organized in the shop and in the trailer will help with that. I learned a lot from Paul(Silva) last year, and he still answers questions for me. I don't think there's anyone more organized than he is. It's cool to stay in touch with him and the guys, and I hope I get a chance to hook up with them for a few races again this year. It's always fun with those guys."
Keeping it fun is a great way to be, but there is a serious side as well. TJ knows there is still more work to do. He finishes the update: "Now that the car is ready, we're busy putting together a few spare parts. I can't thank the people who have helped us enough. Scott at Hooker Harness and all of my sponsors really. I wouldn't have what I do without them, and I wouldn't have any other manufacturer's parts on my car. I believe in their products and service, and it feels great when they believe in me. I can't wait to get back to the track!"
TJ can taste the methanol and dirt, and opening day is still a month or more away. The road back to the track has been long, but he has shown patience and maturity beyond his years. Between calls to vendors, sponsors, and working in the shop, he is still going full bore with his courses at Pierce College. Having the people he has behind him has made the tasks at hand easy to overcome, and the entire TJ Hartman Racing team thanks all of you for your support.
Next scheduled stop - Finding an opening day for racing amidst the storm clouds of the Northwest!
www.TJHartmanRacing.com]]>TJ Hartman Racing News February 15th, 2010
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry100215-131141
Photo courtesy of The Nicki Factor - Ready to run
TJ Hartman Racing - Update: Together Again!
Puyallup, WA - February 14, 2010...
Utilizing some spare parts and a used chassis, TJ has the Wesmar engine installed in his mount and is all but ready to go. The process also allowed TJ to take inventory of his operation, and figure out what he is missing to get back out racing.
The amount of equipment lost in last seasons crash became apparent when the time came to put together this years ride. TJ explains: "We had the spare frame and body panels already, but the little things like bolts, hoses, and fittings, is stuff you forget about until they're gone. And because we may be switching this car back and forth between wing and non-wing, we wanted to do a couple of things to make it simpler. We decided to stud the motorplate and make a scatter shield to fit the Buckley Yoke. It never bothered me to run it before without the shield, but now that I look at it, you can never be too safe."
Photo courtesy of The Nicki Factor - The modified Maxim scatter shield to work with the Buckley yoke
Despite rumors that the team acquired a brand new Maxim Chassis for the 2010 season, the freight delivery trucks rolling in the driveway have only brought a few smaller packages. "I'm not sure how that rumor got started!" TJ states with a laugh. "I would love to have a new or even a newer/used Maxim, but it's not in our budget. This frame is an old 2001 that we bought used three years ago. I ran it down at Hanford in 2007 and then we parked it to run our winged car. When we were putting everything together, we had both cars painted up to match, so this one basically looks brand new. My dad taught me to be fanatical about cleaning, so even though everything is older, it looks really good. I think it will work well for what we're doing."
With the engine installed and only a couple items remaining on the check list well before the season starts in the Northwest, TJ can remain focused on the immediate tasks at hand - namely school. He continues: "I am all done with High School now and College courses are going well. I really like the freedom I have now, and at the same time it's a lot more responsibility making sure I don't blow off my classes to do something else. It felt great to be working on the race car again, and now we're just waiting to see when and where we can run this year. Brian(Butler) called the other day and they shipped my new seat, and I still have to get my safety gear ordered up and replace my good shocks that were lost. We'll need to build up our spare parts again, but it feels good to be getting closer to being out there again."
TJ has been working on a few other items to increase the exposure for his race team. He finishes the update: "My friend Skip started a Facebook page for TJ Hartman Racing, and now (sister) Nicki is going to be doing quick notes every few days about what is going on with the team. I'm also working on a new look for my web site, but that's taking a little longer than I would like. I think the finished product will look nice though. We're still going to send out the email updates like we have always done after the races. Basically we just want to give everyone the opportunity to stay up on the latest news even if it's just to see a few new pictures."
To see TJ's Facebook page just go to your Facebook page and type in TJ Hartman Racing and become a fan. Feel free to leave your comments and words of encouragement for TJ and his team.
When TJ's season was cut short in 2009, nobody could make a prediction when he would get back out on the track. Thanks to his patience, and support from those who stuck with the lanky youngster, he is one step closer to getting back to his passion.
Next scheduled stop - Waiting for the 2010 racing season to get underway in the Northwest!
TJ Hartman Racing]]>TJ Hartman Racing News January 18th, 2010
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry100118-131002
Photo courtesy of The Nicki Factor - Wesmar Racing Engines & TJ Hartman Racing getting ready for action!
TJ Hartman Racing - Update: The New Year!
Puyallup, WA - January 18, 2010...
Santa and the New Year brought TJ his prized possession, as the Wesmar powerplant is back home to the teams Puyallup, Washington base. Repairs to the engine from the June 6th crash has the engine looking and sounding potent, just as before the crash.
TJ has more than just his health to be thankful for. "First I have to thank Bob and Kelly at Wesmar, and Greg at Kinsler for getting our engine back together." TJ states. "They did a great job just like they always do, and it feels good to have our engine back home. Just seeing the engine again gives me confidence. We have it in the spare car, and I can't wait to step on the throttle!"
Engines aren't the only thing needed to get back racing however. TJ continues: "I grew a little more this year so I had to call Jeannie at Butlerbuilt and order a new seat. We laughed because my butt still fits in the old seat, but I'm just getting taller. Everybody teases me about how skinny I am, but I just tell them that's our light weight program! Seriously though, even though my safety gear was destroyed in the crash, and I've outgrown the old seat, it's nice to know that companies like Butlerbuilt, Simpson, and Hooker Harness are there for me. It's good to know I can trust those companies to protect me on the track and I won't trust anyone else to take care of me."
The Wesmar engine is installed in TJ's spare car, and some time remains before the 2010 racing season begins in the Northwest. TJ finishes the update: "We're kind of waiting to decide which direction to go. This car was really setup to run non-wing, so we'll have to change a couple of things if I decide to run with the wing. We still have a few spare parts leftover after the crash, but I'm still missing some key components like my good shocks, and some wheels. We have a little time, but most of it is just deciding which direction to go from here. I'll be done with High School in a couple of weeks, and decided last quarter to take a full load at Pierce College for my Running Start program this quarter, so that is taking up a lot of my time right now."
TJ adds: "But I can't wait to strap in and fire off my Wesmar! It seems like forever since I've raced."
School, education, and racing - for this 18 year old, staying focused looks easy.
www.TJHartmanRacing.com]]>TJ Hartman Racing News December 23, 2009
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry091223-132732
Photo courtesy of The Nicki Factor -
TJ Hartman Racing - Update: Seasons Greetings!
Puyallup, WA - December 23, 2009...
As 2009 draws to a close, TJ and his crew want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. We sincerely appreciate your support this past year and look forward to 2010 with you at our side.
Next scheduled stop - Waiting on Santa!
TJ Hartman Racing ]]>TJ Hartman Racing News Update November 22, 2009
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry091122-095622
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:
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]]>TJ Hartman Racing News November 15, 2009
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry091115-212519
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 ]]>TJ Hartman Racing News October 19, 2009
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry091019-225435
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!
www.TJHartmanRacing.com]]>TJ Hartman Racing News March 1, 2009
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry090301-224602
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 ]]>TJ Hartman Racing News February 23, 2009
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry090223-224235
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 ]]>TJ Hartman Racing News January 18, 2009
http://www.tjhartmanracing.com/news/index.php?entry=entry090118-223821
Photo Courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ's Wesmar power plant back from being freshened
TJ Hartman Racing - UPDATE - TJ is anxious to get 2009 rolling!
Puyallup, WA - January 18, 2009...
With Winter firmly planted in the Northwest, TJ has kept himself from getting cabin fever by feverishly working on office and shop duties for his race team. Sponsor contacts, web site upgrades, spare parts being ordered, and anxiously awaiting for race tracks and series to release their schedules, has kept the Puyallup High School Junior busy.
There is plenty of things to keep TJ occupied off of the track, yet he is all but ready to go in 2009. TJ describes what he has been up to: "Well, with all the snow we had when we got back from Florida(where he attended the PRI show), I had about three weeks off from school. That gave me a chance to talk with some of my sponsors from 2008, and get a list together of spare parts and things. We're way ahead of last year. The motor is done and ready to go back in the car, and I've been getting quite a bit of spare parts put on the shelves. I've been taking a web design and graphics class in school, so I'm learning a lot about how to improve my web site too."
Photo Courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ bundled up in the snow!
One of the priorities in the off season includes keeping in touch with sponsors, and securing support for the next season. TJ describes his process: "I got to talk with a couple of my product sponsors at PRI, and they let me know they were very happy with me and were on board for 2009. Martia at Rod End Supply is always so excited to talk with me, and that makes it fun to talk with her in person. Simpson has upped the level of their commitment to me, and that's pretty cool. I got to talk with Scott from Hooker Harness to, and he is coming back again, and that made me pretty happy."
The current state of the economy has many companies scrambling to stay afloat, and supporting a local race team is a big commitment at this time. TJ understands and continues: "I'm really fortunate that I have my sponsors coming back in 2009. When I talked with them, they didn't even hesitate. I've known Michael (Beckler's Mobile Welding) and Marshall (A1A BuyNSell) for a few years now, so they were pretty easy to talk with. It gave me more confidence to go back to the people I met last year. Performance Coatings, Rockslinger, and Parts Plus are all coming back. Pat from Advanced Powder Coating has been one of my biggest supporters. He got to come and watch me race last year, and it got him really excited, and he's got some of our parts there right now getting them ready to go."
TJ also had to make some tough decisions about his direction, and he made sure to approach it head on. "One of my biggest supporters since I raced quarter midgets has been Greg and Tina from Beach Hut Vacations. In every video of the crowd you can see them cheering when I go by. They took over the ASCS Northwest deal for 2009, and we had to make a choice about how to approach that. Fred (Brownfield) always told us to be careful about racing for the people who are in charge. It puts everyone in a bad situation if a tough decision needs to be made. I talked with Greg, and he agreed that it would be best if Beach Hut wasn't on our car, but he said he was still going to cheer for me! That felt pretty good, and I can't wait to see Tina and him at the track."
Lacey Auto Licensing is also experiencing the effects of an ailing economy, and at least for the moment, will be foregoing sponsorship for 2009. TJ Hartman Racing would like to extend their gratitude to owner Dennis Schlenz for his help the past two years. "He helped me get started in sprint cars," TJ states, "and I'm very thankful for that."
TJ concludes the update: "Kelly and the guys at Wesmar put together another great engine for us, and I want to thank them for all they do. I'm pretty excited to get racing, and I have another sponsor I'll be announcing shortly. Everyone on my crew is coming back in 2009 too, and that will be fun. I think we want to go through one of our rear ends, but other than that, the cars are pretty much ready to go. I'll be putting up a schedule pretty soon. I'd like to travel a little bit, but we'll have to see how that goes. Right now, we're thinking about running 25 shows." He adds with a smile: "I'd race every night if I could!"
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Photo courtesy of The Nicki Factor - TJ's team injects a little humor each week;)
Photo courtesy of Fletcher Motorsports ;)
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