CLAY COUNTY SPEEDWAY
SEPTEMBER 12, 2009
Derek Patton is 29 years old and lives in Olney, Illinois with his wife Angie and child Cameron...
He runs the #37wannabe modified with a custom Henson chassi and a Right Foote Engine...
The reason behind his number...... because of Everett Bradham...
He considers Clay County Speedway as his hometrack and also his favorite to run.........
Derek started racing at age 20 in the street stock division.... he said he got his start because of the Anderson's.... said Jerry had a car and was going to sell it.... he gave it to Derek so he could race....said it took him a while but against Jerry's protests he did pay him back for the car...... he said if it had not been for Jerry, Rodney and Larry he would not be racing....
What got him interested in racing he says was watching Everett Bradham and Eddie Shamhart as a kid....
The driver that Derek most admires is EDDIE SHAMHART...
He deems Jerry Anderson as his toughest competitor in the street stock division...
He will let me know later about the modified division...
To be a good driver Derek said the more experience the better.... no substitution for experience...
His goal in racing is to have fun and to be known as a clean driver.....
When asked if there was anything in racing he felt needed changing.....he told me that he strongly feels that when a track makes rules they need to stick to them... don't go changing them in the middle of the season... ....
A racing highlight for Derek was winning the track championship in 2004 in the street stock division at Clay County Speedway...
Derek likes racing on a tacky track.... but not rough.... and he likes to race the high groove.....
His Crew Chief is Dave Kerr.....
He would like to give a special thanks to the Andersons (Jerry, Rodney and Larry); to Eddie Shamhart and to his sponsors: Ritters Farm Supplies;Herdes and Riggs Show Horses; Rightfoote Engines; Marilyn's Liquor Cabinet; Dehlinger Trucking and Woods Auto Body...
Derek thankyou for the interview... It was great getting to finally meet you...goodluck with the rest of this year and hope you have a great 2010 season...
cj
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