Former Pro-racer Jimmy Spencer meets fans at Dunn Hill 2
MONROETON - The fans were lined up for over an hour at Dunn Hill 2 to meet Jimmy Spencer. They came not only because he is a former NASCAR driver, but also because he's one of their own.
"Its awesome to always come back" the Berwick native said, "I was born and raised here. I love Pennsylvania. I had to move south to go racing but I come up here as much as I can and visit family and friends. I miss it; when I come up here to see them its always special."
Spencer enjoys coming to these smaller venues to keep in touch with the grass roots of racing.
"This is what its about" he said about dirt track racing, "this is why I started racing."
It's tracks like these where future Sprint Cup winners start.
"This is the line" Spencer explained, "This is where kids start racing."
He also believes that his cousin, and Dunn Hill 2 promoter, Mark Spencer has been doing well.
"I think Mark has done a great job" Spencer said, "As far as trying to be as fair as he can. Its $1,000 to win, that's a pretty good deal to the winner."
For the racers, this is a crucial juncture in the development of their abilities.
"You hone your skills here" Spencer explained, "you climb the ladder. That's how you get a ride, you notice the guys moving up the ladder all the time."
His biggest advice to all the young racers out there is to not ever stop.
"I don't think they should ever give up," Spencer said. "I was talking to a lady tonight about a kid that won the street stock championship. He's looking for another ride, but he needs to keep racing."
Experience is the key ingredient for becoming a great driver.
"Every time you race you get experience," Spencer said. "Whether it's a go kart, or a modified or street, you learn how to race. That's the most important think you have to do, you have to learn how to race."
He believes that one of the best places to learn how to race is at a track like Dunn Hill 2.
"A track like here would hone your skills," Spencer said. "Stuff happens really, really quick, its fast."
In fact, its at dirt tracks where Spencer got his start.
"My first every race was on a dirt track" he said, "It hones skill, it gets you to learn when a car runs free and stuff like that. That's the big thing, to learn car control."
However, the mental aspect of racing is as important as the physical.
"There's times you think everything's failing," he explained. "You can't turn around, you get disgusted. You just wake up the next morning and say 'I can do this.'"
The 52-year old would know.
"I've been there," Spencer said. "Its easy to quit. My motto is never, every quit. Keep going until you can't do it no more."
Mark Spencer was excited that he could get his cousin to stop by.
"He's got a busy schedule" Mark explained, "He'll be at Pocono on Sunday, Watkins Glen next week. I'm hoping it will help increase the flow of the people that come through."
Mark believes that having Jimmy there gives the drivers added incentive to perform well.
"I think it gives them a lot of hope," Mark said. "Something to look forward to in the future. Hopefully they can cut a career like he did, especially the young drivers. Jimmy started out on dirt, then went to asphalt and the Winston Cup from there. If you're good, a lot of sponsors see you, a lot important people that have some money to back you, put you in a car, meet the right people. From there its up to you to perform."
Mark believes that having his brother visit will help the racetrack get bigger and better.
"He's trying to help me out because were family," Mark explained. "We're trying to get the racetrack up and going, making a better venue. We have more people, more racers here."
Jimmy Spencer is also doing it because he believes in small track racing being able to produce quality drivers.
"They can certainly come from right here in Dunn Hill."
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