There’s much to be said about gifted race talent throughout the Mid Atlantic where humble beginnings and the tireless hours of hard work begins to pay off. For some, results can come quick and for others it may take some time.
Managing a race career, going to school and trying to work a job to provide income creates many challenges for many of our local racers in the community. Its been no different for Yorktown Virginia native Spencer Saunders who in his short racing career already has a 2013 Langley Speedway Legends track title to his name but also won the Virginia State Legends title in the same year. Since then as one would imagine, dreams of going faster, moving up and into the entry level leagues of stock car racing.
An obvious choice for Saunders would be the NWAAS Late Model division who has extensive background in working with the likes of Matt Waltz. From spotter duties to assistance in race day set ups, Saunders familiarity with Late Models is nothing new to him but with the every changing engineering aspects and geometry provides plenty of challenge.
To help in those challenges, Spencer Saunders is currently majoring in mechanical engineering at Thomas Nelson Community College. Having recent employment of about three years doesn’t hurt none either with Precision Performance Motorsports out of Yorktown Virginia owned by Rick Gdovic. That organization fields IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, K&N East Division cars and just recently announced its intentions to field cars in the Xfinity race series at Bristol Motor Speedway.
While Saunders resume is impressive to this point, a racer he is at heart and getting behind the wheel of a Late Model remains his goal in reaching the next level of his career. Though last year the opportunity to race in the Late Model division fell short thanks to some afternoon rain storms, since then the next opportunity never materialized for the state Legends champion until now. Finally for Spencer Saunders, the long wait and the hard work, paying his dues is beginning to pay off. In a deal with car owner and Late Model racer himself Jeremy Grogg, Saunders will get the opportunity he’s been waiting for and that’s to race in the NWAAS Late Model division.
We spoke with Spencer Saunders about racing Late Models and why this was going to be a great opportunity for him.
“Oh man I just love the sport of Late Model racing as a whole its just come such a long ways since I first got involved years ago with it,” says Saunders.
“I’ve been trying so hard to get an opportunity for years now and finally something came together with Jeremy Grogg. I think its going to work out really well as we got Matt Waltz on board to help set up the car and then there’s my car owner who just might do some driving as well. I’m just excited that for the most part I’ll get to be behind the wheel in his Kee’s Vacation machine and real excited about a good opportunity in top notch equipment.”
Next we talked about being somewhat of an unknown, the goals of his race team and how can Saunders make the biggest impact in establishing himself in the NWAAS Late Model Division.
“I think our biggest goals for the year is just to go out, log laps and have fun, learning as much as we can,” shares the 2013 Virginia Legends Champ. “Obviously were racing so we want to run well and win races but were not going to set the bar to high for having a fairly new program. Ya know, me and Grogg talked about it, were not going to get stressed out, were going to have a good time and see where everything goes,” expresses Saunders. “I’m expecting to have some good runs this year hopefully as we have Matt Waltz setting up the car and not a dime will be spared on race expenses. Its all up to the driver now, the driver has no excuses.”
We then discussed racing outside of Saunders home track of Langley Speedway and whether or not there is added pressure to perform.
”I don’t think so, if anything it actually takes away the pressure to perform,” says Saunders. “Obviously, when we make the trip to South Boston Speedway in May, we want to run good, run well and we would love for everyone to say, hey were they come from. Actually I feel more pressure to race in front of my hometown crowd then I do when I’m out of town. There you have all your family and friends but it would be nice if we could race Langley this year. We might be able to do a full season should the track open this year for us.”
Lastly, Spencer Saunders about the people and the sponsors that help made this opportunity a possibility into a reality.
“Jeremy Grogg, my car owner is the big key to all of this and to this program.” He’s got Kee’s Vacations (Grogg is the CEO and VP of Operations at Kee’s Vacations) who has a number of houses and condos down in the Outer Banks, North Carolina as vacation rentals available year round. In fact I was his first guest at Kee’s Vacations back in 2007. We have Smoke BBQ Restaurant and Grille out of Newport News, Virginia as well. Longtime sponsor of mine Kenny Taylor of Crushcon Aggregates in Hampton Virginia is onboard with us. Gotta thank my mom and dad for pushing me hard to be at my best at what I do. They taught me to never give up on anything no matter what and that anything is possible, anything can happen. I just gotta thank them for instilling that into me at a young age when I easily could have said I give up on racing Late Models.”
For every racer who dares to dream big, the reality is that some will get their chance, possibly their one and only shot at racing in NASCAR’s leagues of stock car racing. For some, that opportunity may never come but for Spencer Saunders his hard work and never giving up approach looks to make every opportunity count in establishing and making a name for himself in the NWAAS Late Model Division. Recognizing the challenges that are in front of him and his race team, Saunders says its now all in his hands to get it done.
A challenge that the 2013 Legends Virginia State Champion has embraced and dared to take on as he seeks to earn the respect of his fellow competitors. Look for Saunders to make his Late Model debut at South Boston Speedway in May and will also make trips out to Shenandoah Speedway in the 2016 race season.
