Expert: Dan Liddy - 7/15/2010

Question
How's it going sir... my name is nathan I live out on the west coast where auto racing isn't to popular which is very disapointing..I am 24 years old n I have had fast cars all my life and I know I can driveand want to take it to the next level n start auto racing, of course this take a lot of time and money.. I have time but don't have a ton of money but I know I can succeed if I was givin the chance to show someone my skills, my question is. How can I start racing so I can work my way up into nascar or some kind of track racing. I really want to get my own car and go from there just the problem is, is that I have no clue where to start n have little support. Thank you for reading this

Answer
First things first. Go to a local race track, buy a pit pass and meet some of the active racers.
There's a lot more motor racing on the West Coast than there is in the East. California is the birthplace of hot rodding and speed trials.

As for NASCAR you are about 10 years too old already. for example, Jeff Gordon's dad started him racing go karts when he was 6 or 7 and by the time he was 13 he was driving 700 horsepower Sprint Cars. Same with Jimmy Johnson.  It takes that kind of commitment these days, and it takes years of YOUNG experience to be good enough. Your chances at a professional career are very slim.

If you want to go stock car racing, you will have to pay your way, just as everyone else. As I said, go to the local stock car track , buy the pit pass and start asking questions. I'ts different everywhere. After you've spent a few weekends learning about cars, tire costs, fuel costs, and such, you can decide of it's affordable for you at all. For most people it it is beyond their budget, only you can make that decision.

I wish you all the luck, I just wish the news was a little better.

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida