FLOYD, VA :: Ricky Gillespie isn’t one of the more well known drivers in the Late Model Stock Car ranks but this weekend he’s hoping to leave an impression on the fans at Martinsville Speedway.
Gillespie has won at every level of racing he has competed in including Late Models and he’s won as recent as last fall at Franklin County Speedway. He’s bounced around and run a couple different tracks this season but he’s not been in position to be as competitive as he’d like.
“We haven’t got to run much this year, I was healing up from an injury early in the year and switching the car over to Ford,” said Gillespie. “We’ve run a handful of races since then and we really haven’t ran like I wanted but I’m hoping to change that at Martinsville.”
Gillespie’s chances of changing his fortune increased greatly when he enlisted the help of veteran Late Model Stock Car race winner and champion, Mike Darne. Darne has been helping Gillespie get his car right and after finding some speed at the test, he believes he’ll have a good shot to make the field.
“Mike Darne is really smart and he’s really helped us with this car a lot. I backed my other car in the wall at Caraway and he helped us get this car and put my front clip on it. I don’t think we’d be anywhere near where we need to be without his help. We turned some good times toward the end of the test two weeks ago and he’s still trying to get the car better.”
While Darne hasn’t won at Martinsville, he came close last year as he was in second position before the final restart and finished fifth in a frantic finish. Gillespie is like so many others who are just hoping to make the race for the first time.
“It’s just a dream come true for me to be able to go to Martinsville Speedway and turn laps on that track,” commented Gillespie. “That’s a special place and this is a special race. There will be more than 75 drivers there just trying to make the field. I want to be one of those guys who takes the green flag for the feature race.”
Making it to the green flag on Sunday will be one thing but getting to the track is another and Gillespie knows if it wasn’t for the dedication and sacrifice of his father Bobby he wouldn’t be able to even try.
“My dad makes all this happen. He works all week driving all a truck and I get to play with race cars and work on cars. He’s not raced much this year while I’ve been racing so I’d like to make the field to make him proud.”
Gillespie also knows he couldn’t race without his sponsors; Virginia Building Services of Roanoke and Gene’s Auto Shop.
