Driver- #12 Un-Sponsored.com Sportsman Class- October 2025

The first month of the off-season at Hawkeye Downs Speedway is always a strange adjustment. After spending every weekend at the track, the quiet garage feels almost too still—especially without a heated shop to work in as the temperatures drop. That makes every spare hour matter, because the sooner I can dive into the off-season checklist, the better. This year, my focus is on getting a head start before the real winter cold sets in, tackling the most important projects while I still can.

The plan begins with pulling the engine and sending it off to the builder for a light refresh. That’s always step one, because without a strong motor, everything else is meaningless. While the engine is gone, I’ll be going over every inch of the car in a detailed nut-and-bolt inspection, hunting for any hidden damage from the long summer of racing. After that, the real grind begins: a full deep clean and degreasing of the chassis, something that not only makes the car look sharp but also helps spot small issues before they turn into big problems. The hauler and trailer are also on the list—they’ve earned their own thorough cleaning and inventory check after hauling the car around all season.

Once the physical work is done, it’ll be time to sit down with a calculator and face the financial side of racing. Without sponsors, the budget for next year will come directly out of my own pocket, which means plenty of late nights delivering pizzas to make ends meet. Racing isn’t cheap, but the passion that drives it makes every long shift worth it. If I can knock out the off-season prep now and stay disciplined with the budget, I’ll roll back into Hawkeye Downs next spring ready to race, fueled by hard work both at the shop and behind the wheel of the delivery car.