Sam Sterchi is 21 years old and lives in Olney, Illinois...
Sam started his racing career at the age of seven in go-carts and then went into racing Motor Cross..
He has raced all over southern Illinois, Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana...
****Sam told me that the first helmet he used for racing was given to him by Levi Jones****
He finished the season at Tri-State Fair Nationals motocross series with a WIN at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds clenching the Championship title in the series..
He will be racing in the Mid-American Arena Cross series in S. Ill and W. Ky throughout the winter season.
I asked Sam how he got involved with racing and he told me as a kid he always went to the races with Johnny Deimal and Ben Wyatt at Haubstadt..... He said he just loved watching ....
His good buddy Darrell McDowell who races a modified talked Sam into getting a car and trying his luck at racing street stock this year at Flora........ He raced there five times this year taking a sixth the first night he raced....
Sam's car is a 79 Monte Carlo and he runs it with a 383 Chevy Engine...
His car number is the number he used when he first started racing go-carts... He picked that number because of his favorite driver "Rusty Wallace"..
Sam does claim Clay County as his home track and also his favorite to run...
When I asked Sam what he thought it took to be a good driver..... he said, "well..everyone says Patience which is true.... but I feel you need to use your head out on the track...show respect out there to your fellow drivers.."........****good answer Sam!!****
Drivers that he most admires is Kevin Briscoe and Devin McKinney
When I asked what driver had been his toughest competitor he told me they were all tough... but right now with it being his rookie year he feels he is his toughest competitor... he said that right now he spins out in every race... he has to learn paitence.....
**** Sam...when I interviewed Chad Kinder...he told me the same thing.... that his first year he wrecked every race for about nine months....that he had to learn not to try and win it in the first lap****
Sam told me that when he races motor cross you line up on the start line and when you start off you give it all you have to get out in front...... in his street stock he has to learn NOT to do that..... He said in motor cross you go into the corner as hard as you can.... in street stock you have to go easy..........says it is hard to adjust from one to the other..... it will take him some time to get use to it.................*** and as good as you are in motor cross...you will do just fine in your street stock Sam***
HIs goal in racing is just to have fun !!!!!
I asked Sam if there was anything in racing he felt needed to be changed.... he said , "well, it is pricey..but you can't put a price on FUN...."
The highlight that stands out for Sam was in Motor Cross... he said it was at the Flora fair ground this year ..He said he had a terrible start..was in last place but by the end of the race with about a lap to go he passed his good friend to take the lead and win.... Was a very exciting race....
When asking Sam whether he preferred the high groove or the low groove....he told me he loves watching cars that race the high groove but right now he was not ready to try it.... On which he preferred..dry slick or tacky..... right now he says he races better on a tacky track....he told me that Denny Schwartz told him it is better to race on a dry slick track though cause you go slower and tear up less on your car...
His crew consisits of his dad Dave Sterchi, his good friend Darrell McDowell and his friend Johnny Deimel..
He wants to give a big thanks to his family ..dad Dave, mom Deb, and sister Hillary for all their support...he said he wanted to thank his girlfriend Laura Zwelling for being understanding and supportive...
to Johnny Diemel and Darrell McDowell for helping him in the pit area...... he said he also wants to say thanks to all the drivers who have came over and helped him out during the races...Tim Reinhart, Gabe Menser, and Devin McKinney...
Also wanted to just say thanks to all the racers for putting on a good show every weekend...
And he even thanked me for having the website.....
Sam it was a real treat to meet you... I really enjoyed talking with you.... you have such a super upbeat personality... you are going to be a great teacher.......
And ah NO..... Sam asked me if I had ever drove a race car before..... or if I ever wanted to..... he had showed me the tape of the flip that Josh's wife Tonya had in the Powder Puff Race at Flora.... that looked wicked !!!! He was trying to convince me that I needed to try it ..... said next year I could drive in the Powder Puff race.........
..... I would never take that opportunity away from Laura.... 
...then he said I could take it out for hot laps........... I thought you liked me Sam !!!!! lol......He then told me he was changing his goal in racing....it was to get me in a race car.............
Ah....Kenny Carmichael was trying to set me up to ride in a sprint.....
THANKS BUT NO THANKS............ I love watching.... and maybe if I was about twenty years younger I would certainly have given it a shot......... I like watching.....
Again Sam..... so glad I got to meet you.... looking forward to seeing you race next season.... keep me informed on how you do this winter in motor cross....
cj
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I promise I will get Sam at the track next year by his car.....