Steven Whiteley basks in elements of his sport that many people find obnoxious.
“It’s very loud, like a busy freeway, except that you multiply the amplitude of the noise,” he said of drag racing. “It smells like burnt rubber from the tires, the race fuels, you smell the lubricant and the WD-40. It’s always hot. Those are good things. I like them.”
Whiteley, 18, said he has been watching his father, Jim Whiteley, race cars since he was a “little guy” and has tried to follow in his dad’s footsteps since becoming a junior drag racer at age 8.
The recent graduate of Central High in Grand Junction will be racing alongside his dad at the Thunder on the Mountain event at Bandimere Speedway today, Saturday and Sunday. Whiteley’s stepmother, Annie, will also be racing this weekend. Family time for the Whiteleys is working on their cars, spending a day in the heat at the races and talking shop.
“When I’m actually racing, it’s just me out there,” Steven Whiteley said. “But when I’m at the races or working on the car, it’s a big bonding experience. It’s our family sport.”
Steven Whiteley will race today and Saturday in the top sportsman division with a 1969 Chevy Camaro. His father will race to qualify for Sunday’s final elimination in the top fuel alcohol division, where speeds can reach 250 mph.
Jim Whiteley is the track record-holder at Bandimere, according to track spokesman Jeff Sipes.
Though Jim Whiteley, 48, has been racing since his teenage years, he has been in only one major crash. That race was in Pomona, Calif., four years ago. His car started shaking so hard after taking off he couldn’t see. It bounced off both track walls before flipping across the finish line on fire.
“I was fortunate I didn’t get hurt, but my pride did a little,” Jim Whiteley said, laughing.
He had another car built, so the wreck didn’t stop him. He has been at his day job since the 1980s, working in the natural gas business at J&A Services in Grand Junction. The economic downturn the past two years has forced him to re-evaluate his focus on racing, though he said the family has been able to push through and keep driving. Soon, they will add tuition to the list of expenses as Steven Whiteley looks ahead to mechanical school.
For this weekend, the family is aiming for a midseason win from Dad. He’s third in points in his division (415), and his last win came at spring nationals in early May. Since then, he has competed in three races, all with top-five finishes.
To become a national champion, it will take all of his family’s support. Jim Whiteley said his keys to success are calling the right shots on the track, keeping errors to a minimum and making sure everyone on the team is invested in the win.
“The team has to be all into it,” he said. “Everything has to fall into place. That’s a tough, tough deal.”
Sarah Kuta: 303-954-1033 or skuta@denverpost.com
If you go . . .
What: Thunder on the Mountain
Where: Bandimere Speedway, Morrison
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Final elimination Sunday at noon.
Cost: Varies, from $10 to $25 for a single day
For more information: or call 303- 697-6001
Spotlight: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Could this be the one?
Junior has five top-10 finishes in his last 10 races at Michigan International Speedway, according to stats, including his last win in June 2008, a fuel-mileage special. Earnhardt’s winless streak stands at 107 races. His win at MIS was his lone victory in 122 starts for Hendrick Motorsports; he had 17 victories in 291 starts for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Junior is on a run of three straight top-10 finishes, including a second at Kansas Speedway, to move up one spot to third in the Sprint Cup standings.
On the move: Jeff Gordon
What’s a Chase without Jeffy?
Jeff Gordon got a boost in his bid to make the Chase for the Cup with a win last week at Pocono that advanced him two places in the standings to No. 11, one spot (six points) from automatically qualifying for the Chase. The victory also moved Gordon into a tie for third place with Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip on the Sprint Cup victory list with 84. Gordon reached 84 victories in 631 starts. Waltrip needed 558 and Allison 706. Gordon has five Pocono wins, tying Bill Elliott for the record on the 2.5-mile triangle.
Races to watch
Front Range motorsports venues:
Bandimere Speedway (quarter-mile drag strip, Morrison), 303-697-6001 or
Colorado National Speedway ( 3/8-mile paved oval, Dacono), 303-665-4173 or
I-76 Speedway ( 1/4-mile dirt track, Fort Morgan), 970-867-2101 or
Thunder Valley (motocross park, Lakewood), 303-697-1003 or
Watkins Motocross (motocross park, Watkins), 303-341-6309 or
This week’s races
NASCAR Sour Cream Dips 400
Site: Brooklyn, Mich.
TV: TNT, 11 a.m. Sunday
Track: Michigan International Speedway (oval, 2.0 miles)
NATIONWIDE Alliance Truck Parts 250
Site: Brooklyn, Mich.
TV: KMGH-7, 1:30 p.m., Sat.
Track: Michigan Int. Speedway (oval, 2.0 miles)
INDYCAR The Milwaukee 225
Site: West Allis, Wis.
TV: KMGH-7, 1:30 p.m., Sunday
Track: The Milwaukee Mile (oval, 1.0 miles)
NHRA
Thunder Valley Nationals
Site: Bristol, Tenn.
TV: ESPN2, 2:30 p.m. Sunday
