https://www.facebook.com/share/17nyvahMmb/

The Driver Files, PO BOX 478, Hazard, KY (2026)

07/23/2026

THE DRIVER FILES

Driver Name: Kenlynn Frost

Age: 15 Years Old

Car Number: 23K

Hometown: Barbourville, Kentucky

Division/Class: JR FWD

Years Racing: First Season

Favorite Track: Thunder Mountain Speedway

Favorite Racing Memory:
Simply showing up,,, learning something new every race,,, & seeing all the people who come out to support her,,,

Crew Members:
Brandon Frost (Dad),,,
Victoria Gray (Mom),,,
Linda Frost (Stepmom),,,
Johnny Gray (Stepdad),,,
Seth Smith,,,

Sponsors:
NXTGEN Utility Solutions,,,
ZAH Tree Service,,,
Redneck Kustoms,,,
Crawford's Hot Rod Shop,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

There is something special about a first season,,,

Before the trophies,,, before the championships,,, before anyone knows where the journey will eventually lead,,,

There is simply a driver learning how to become a racer,,,

At only 15 years old,,, Kenlynn Frost is living that chapter right now,,,

She isn't measuring this season by how many times she stands in Victory Lane,,,

She's measuring it by something much more important,,,

What she learned since the last time she climbed into the 23K,,,

One corner a little better,,,

One mistake she understands now that she didn't understand before,,,

One more race where she climbs out of the car knowing she gave everything she had,,,

That's why her favorite racing memory isn't one particular night,,,

It's all of them,,,

It's pulling through the gates at Thunder Mountain Speedway & seeing familiar faces who came to support her,,,

It's realizing people are cheering for her before she's ever won a championship or collected a shelf full of trophies,,,

At fifteen,,, that means more than people probably realize,,,

Because starting something new takes courage,,,

Starting it in front of grandstands full of people takes even more,,,

Every mistake can be seen,,,

Every bad lap can feel enormous,,,

But so can every little improvement,,,

Kenlynn keeps coming back because she wants to learn,,,

She wants to push herself,,,

She wants to find out just how good she can become if she's willing to put in the work,,,

Beside her are Brandon,,, Victoria,,, Linda,,, Johnny,,, & Seth,,,

A family & crew giving her something far more valuable than horsepower,,,

The freedom to learn without being afraid to fail,,,

Her sponsors have also chosen to believe in the 23K at the very beginning of its story,,,

Before anyone knows how many wins may eventually come,,,

That's something Kenlynn won't forget,,,

Someday,,, she may look back at this first season & laugh at some of the mistakes,,,

She may remember how nervous she was before certain races,,,

She may even look at old pictures of the 23K & wonder where all those years went,,,

But she'll never get this season back,,,

The season when everything was new,,,

The season when every completed race felt like progress,,,

The season when a 15-year-old girl from Barbourville decided she was brave enough to find out where racing could take her,,,

So don't rush this chapter, Kenlynn,,,

Enjoy every lap of it,,,

Because you only get to be a rookie once,,,

& sometimes the beginning becomes the part of the story you treasure most,,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

07/11/2026

THE DRIVER FILES #81

Driver Name: Colin Shipley

Car Number: 46

Hometown: McClure, Ohio

Division/Class: Super Late Model

Years Racing: 13 Years

Favorite Track: Farmer City Raceway

Favorite Racing Memory:
His first feature victory,,,

Crew Members:
Cody,,,
Big Jason,,,
Little Jason,,,
Gramps,,,

Sponsors:
World Class Collision,,,
Domination Race Cars,,,
Dominator Race Products,,,
Velocita,,,
WERHS,,,
Integra,,,
Dipman Motorsports,,,
Allstar Performance,,,
Jason Algeo,,,
Micro Armor,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

Some families hand down old pocket watches,,,

Some pass down a family farm,,,

The Shipley family passed down something you can't hold in your hands,,,

A way of life,,,

Before Colin Shipley ever understood what a checkered flag meant,,, he already knew the smell of race fuel,,,

The sound of impact guns echoing through the shop,,,

The feeling of falling asleep on a trailer tire while the grown-ups finished working on the race car,,,

Racing wasn't introduced to him one day,,,

It was already waiting for him the day he was born,,,

His grandpa carried the tradition,,,

His dad carried it after him,,,

Today,,, Colin proudly carries that same family name through the pit gate every weekend,,,

Now the story has grown even larger,,,

His stepdad,,, Rusty Schlenk,,, races beside him,,,

His brother Carter is chasing the same dream,,,

The family tree didn't just grow branches,,,

It grew race cars,,,

Some people spend their lives searching for where they belong,,,

Colin never had to search,,,

He found home every time a race trailer door opened,,,

His first feature win will always hold a special place in his heart,,,

Not because it made headlines,,,

But because somewhere in that Victory Lane photo stood generations of sacrifice that helped make that moment possible,,,

Every late night in the shop,,,

Every dollar stretched a little farther than it should have been,,,

Every ride home after a disappointing finish,,,

It all led to that one unforgettable night,,,

Behind the 46 stand Cody,,, Big Jason,,, Little Jason,,, & Gramps,,,

They're more than a crew,,,

They're caretakers of a family tradition that's been handed down one generation at a time,,,

Like every grassroots team,,, funding & finding enough help around the shop can be a constant battle,,,

But Colin has learned that determination often outlasts dollars,,,

The biggest dreams rarely belong to the people with the biggest budgets,,,

They belong to the people who simply refuse to quit believing,,,

His goal is to win a major regional race & one day compete throughout the Summer Nationals Tour,,,

Not to become famous,,,

But to see just how far a family dream can travel when it's built on hard work instead of shortcuts,,,

Years from now,,, another little boy will probably stand beside the 46 with wide eyes,,, watching Colin the same way Colin once watched the men before him,,,

He may never remember every race,,, every finish,,, or every trophy,,,

But he'll remember the way Colin carried himself,,,

The respect he showed his competitors,,,

The pride he had in wearing the Shipley name on the side of his race car,,,

Because race cars eventually wear out,,,

Engines eventually fall silent,,,

But a family legacy only survives when someone is willing to keep the engine running for the next generation,,,

Colin Shipley isn't just driving the 46,,,

He's carrying a family story that began long before he ever climbed behind the wheel,,,

& with every lap,,, he's making sure that story continues,,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

07/10/2026

THE DRIVER FILES #80

Driver Name: Kaden Keaton Rodney Keaton

Age: 16

Car Number: 91

Hometown: Somerset, Kentucky

Division/Class: Crown Vic

Years Racing: 2 Years

Favorite Tracks:
Lake Cumberland Speedway,,,
The Rock,,,

Favorite Racing Memory:
Winning the Mechanics Race at Rockcastle Speedway driving his dad's Crown Vic,,,

Crew Members:
Rodney Keaton,,,
Madelynn Keaton,,,

Sponsors:
Prosperity Real Estate,,,
Danny Weddle,,,
Alton Blakley,,,
Joseph Flynn,,,
Rocklife Offroad,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

Some kids spend their childhood playing video games,,,

Some spend it riding bicycles around the neighborhood,,,

Kaden Keaton spent his childhood with grease on his hands,,,

Before he was old enough to understand horsepower or suspension geometry,,, he was already following adults through the garage,,, handing them tools & asking questions,,,

He wasn't told to love racing,,,

He simply grew up surrounded by people who did,,,

By the time most kids were learning how to mow the yard,,, Kaden was learning how machines worked,,,

How engines breathed,,,

How patience could turn a pile of parts into something extraordinary,,,

At just 10 years old,,, he started building his own truck with money he earned himself,,,

Not because someone expected him to,,,

But because creating something with his own hands gave him a sense of pride few people his age ever experience,,,

That same work ethic eventually carried him to the racetrack,,,

Today,,, at only 16 years old,,, he's already proving that success isn't measured by age,,,

It's measured by effort,,,

One of his favorite memories came at Rockcastle Speedway,,, when he climbed into his dad's Crown Vic & drove it to victory in the Mechanics Race,,,

For some,,, it was another race on the schedule,,,

For Kaden,,, it was a chance to honor the man who helped shape his passion from the very beginning,,,

Behind the 91 are Rodney Keaton & Madelynn Keaton,,, the people who continue believing in his future & standing beside him every step of the way,,,

He's also thankful for every sponsor who has invested in a young driver with a bright future & an even brighter work ethic,,,

But Kaden's story reaches beyond the racetrack,,,

While many teenagers are still deciding what they want to do with their lives,,, he's already chasing excellence in the engine shop,,,

Learning from some of the very best at Cornett Racing Engines,,,

Every day is another lesson,,,

Another opportunity to sharpen his craft,,,

Another step toward becoming not only a better racer,,, but a better builder as well,,,

Because Kaden understands something that can't be taught overnight,,,

A fast race car isn't created when the green flag waves,,,

It's created through countless unseen hours of hard work,,, dedication,,, & refusing to settle for "good enough.",,,

His journey is still in its early chapters,,,

There will be victories to celebrate,,,

Lessons to learn,,,

Challenges to overcome,,,

But one thing is already clear,,,

The same young boy who couldn't wait to turn a wrench is growing into a young man determined to build a future with those very same hands,,,

Some people inherit a passion,,,

Others choose one,,,

Kaden has done both,,,

& wherever this road leads,,, he'll carry with him the values that started in a garage long before he ever climbed behind the wheel of the 91,,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

07/09/2026

THE DRIVER FILES #79

Driver Name: DustyNancy Branscum

Car Number: 21

Hometown: Somerset, Kentucky

Division/Class: Open Wheel Modified

Years Racing: 13 Years

Favorite Tracks:
Ponderosa Speedway,,,
Lake Cumberland Speedway,,,
Thunder Mountain Speedway,,,

Favorite Racing Memory:
The first time he ever climbed behind the wheel of a race car,,,

Crew Members:
Jackson,,,
Donovan,,,
Marc,,,
Nancy,,,

Sponsors:
Corders Engine Works,,,
Branscum Diesel Services,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

Sometimes the most important seat in racing isn't the driver's seat,,,

It's the one sitting on a five-gallon bucket in the pits,,, watching,,, learning,,, & dreaming that maybe one day your turn will come,,,

That's where Dusty Branscum's story began,,,

Long before anyone knew the 21,,, he was simply a young man helping his dad & car owner Ronnie Riddle,,,

Cleaning parts,,,

Holding flashlights,,,

Doing whatever needed to be done without asking for recognition,,,

He wasn't there because he had to be,,,

He was there because he loved every second of it,,,

Then one day,,, someone asked a simple question,,,

"Do you want to drive?",,,

A question that changed the course of his life forever,,,

The first time Dusty climbed into a race car wasn't just another day at the racetrack,,,

It was the moment a dream stepped out of the shadows & became reality,,,

Thirteen years later,,, that same feeling still lives inside him every time he pulls his helmet on,,,

People often think racing is fueled by money,,,

Dusty knows better,,,

He knows the real fuel is belief,,,

The people who stand beside you when the trailer is empty,,,

When the motor lets go,,,

When the results don't match the effort,,,

He'll be the first to tell you there have been plenty of challenges along the way,,,

But somehow,,, every difficult season has also brought someone willing to remind him not to quit,,,

Not because they had deep pockets,,,

But because they had deep faith in him,,,

Sometimes one encouraging voice is worth more than a thousand dollars,,,

Behind the 21 are Jackson,,, Donovan,,, Marc,,, & Nancy,,, the people who continue walking this road with him through every high & every low,,,

They're the quiet strength behind the race team,,, proving that success is never built by one person alone,,,

Dusty says racing is more than a sport,,,

It's who he is,,,

Those aren't just words,,,

Because when something becomes part of who you are,,, you don't leave it at the racetrack when the night is over,,,

You carry it into your work,,,

Your friendships,,,

Your family,,,

The way you face life's hardest days,,,

His greatest goal has never simply been to collect trophies,,,

It's been to accomplish the things he once believed were impossible,,,

To honor the people who gave him his first opportunity,,,

To keep making memories that time can never erase,,,

One day,,, the race car will eventually be parked for the final time,,,

The engines will grow quiet,,,

The dirt will wash away,,,

But somewhere,,, there will always be another young person sitting on a bucket in the pits,,, watching someone like Dusty,,, wondering if their chance will ever come,,,

If his story teaches them anything,,, let it be this,,,

You don't have to start behind the steering wheel to become a racer,,,

Sometimes the greatest journeys begin by simply being willing to help,,, to learn,,, & to wait patiently until someone believes in you enough to say,,,

"It's your turn.",,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

07/09/2026

THE DRIVER FILES #78

Driver Name: Tommy Gorman Jr.

Car Number: 26

Hometown: Waverly, Ohio

Division/Class: 4 Cylinder Stock

Years Racing: 6 Years

Favorite Track: 35 Raceway Park

Favorite Racing Memory:
Winning his very first feature in a photo finish with Mat Brown,,,

Crew Members:
Kayla Gorman (Wife),,,
Skyla Gorman,,,
Hunter Gorman,,,

Sponsors:
Diner 23,,,
Spook Racing,,,
Old Canal Barbershop,,,
Redbomb Graphics,,,
Gray Racing Team,,,
Clays Performance Construction,,,
D&D Enterprises,,,
Graphic Creation,,,
Money Shot,,,
B&M Carriers,,,
Thomas Gas Service,,,
Rush Cartel,,,

Special Thanks:
Mat Brown,,,
James Deal,,,
Charles Dozier,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

Life has a funny way of changing your direction when you least expect it,,,

For years,,, Tommy Gorman Jr. thought he'd always be known as a Derby driver,,,

For 12 years,,, the crashes,,, the noise,,, & the excitement of demolition derbies were simply part of who he was,,,

If someone had told him back then that one phone call would completely change his future,,, he probably would've laughed,,,

But that's exactly what happened,,,

During the winter of 2021,,, Tommy discovered RC car racing,,,

It wasn't just about the cars,,,

It was about the friendships,,,

That's where he met Teddy Lowery,,,

A friendship that would quietly change everything,,,

When summer arrived,,, Teddy made a simple phone call & asked Tommy if he'd like to try dirt track racing,,,

Tommy's answer was simple...

"Sure... but I'm still going to derby.",,,

Then he climbed into a race car,,,

Everything changed the moment the green flag waved,,,

The sport captured his heart in a way he never expected,,,

The demolition derby helmet was eventually set aside,,, & a new chapter began behind the wheel of the 26,,,

One memory will forever stand above the rest,,,

His first victory,,,

A breathtaking photo finish with Mat Brown that proved dreams sometimes arrive by only a few inches,,,

That checkered flag wasn't just another win,,,

It was confirmation that he'd found where he truly belonged,,,

Behind every lap are the people who matter most,,,

His wife,,, Kayla,,, & their children,,, Skyla & Hunter,,,

They're the reason every long night in the garage is worth it,,,

The reason every setback is easier to overcome,,,

The reason every victory means so much more than a trophy ever could,,,

Tommy is also grateful for every sponsor & every person who believed in him along the way,,, helping turn a new dream into reality,,,

He'll never forget the people who opened doors for him,,, especially Teddy Lowery,,, Mat Brown,,, James Deal,,, & Charles Dozier,,,

Sometimes all it takes is one person believing in you before you believe in yourself,,,

Tommy's story reminds us that it's never too late to discover something that changes your life,,,

Sometimes your greatest passion isn't the one you've always known,,,

It's the one waiting around the next corner,,,

The one you never saw coming,,,

Today,,, Tommy isn't just chasing checkered flags,,,

He's building memories with his family,,, honoring the friendships that helped him get here,,, & proving that the best chapters of life sometimes begin with a simple phone call & a willingness to try something new,,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

📸 Redbomb Graphics

07/08/2026

THE DRIVER FILES #77

Driver Name: Hall

Car Number: 320

Hometown: Stanton, Kentucky

Division/Class: Crown Vic

Years Racing: Less Than One Year

Favorite Tracks:
191 Speedway,,,
The Rock,,,

Favorite Racing Memory:
Spending time at the racetrack with family & friends,,,

Crew Members:
Karson Hall,,,
Trish Sowder,,,
Josh Sowder,,,
Crystal Cochran,,,
Kennedi King,,,

Sponsors:
APM Paving,,,
Midnight Oil Company,,,
Red River Paylake,,,
The Hillbilly Smoke Show,,,
Hatton Mowing & Lawn Care,,,
Bruen's Restaurant,,,
Eastern KY Highland,,,
The Plow King,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

Some dreams don't begin with years of planning,,,

Sometimes they begin with one conversation,,,

For Steven Hall,,, that conversation came because Campbell Oliver couldn't stop talking about racing,,,

The more Steven listened,,, the more curious he became,,,

Before long,,, curiosity turned into opportunity,,,

& opportunity turned into a race car wearing the number 320,,,

He didn't get into racing to chase fame,,,

He didn't get into it to become the next big name,,,

He got into it for one simple reason,,,

To have fun,,,

Sometimes that's the purest reason of all,,,

In a world where everyone seems to be chasing something bigger,,, Steven found happiness in the little things,,,

The laughter in the pits,,,

The friendships built before the green flag ever waves,,,

The stories shared while leaning against a trailer after the races are over,,,

Ask him about his favorite racing memory,,, & he won't tell you about a trophy or a finish position,,,

He'll tell you about spending time with the people who matter most,,,

Because those are the moments that stay with you long after the dirt has been washed off the race car,,,

Standing beside the 320 are Karson Hall,,, Trish & Josh Sowder,,, Crystal Cochran,,, & Kennedi King,,, the people who help make every race night possible & remind Steven that no one chases a dream alone,,,

He's also grateful for every sponsor who believed in a first-year driver & chose to be part of his journey,,,

Every decal on the car represents someone who saw potential before the story had even been written,,,

This is only the beginning,,,

There will be lessons to learn,,,

Challenges to overcome,,,

Victories to celebrate someday,,,

But no matter where this journey leads,,, Steven hopes to never lose sight of why he started in the first place,,,

To enjoy every lap,,,

To make memories with family & friends,,,

& to appreciate every Saturday night spent under the lights,,,

Because years from now,,, the trophies won't tell the whole story,,,

The people beside you will,,,

& that's the legacy worth chasing,,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

📸 unknown

07/08/2026

THE DRIVER FILES #76

Driver Name: Taylor Lyons

Car Number: 93T

Hometown: Zanesville, Ohio

Division/Class: Econo

Years Racing: 2 Years

Favorite Track: Midway Speedway

Favorite Racing Memory:
Spending every weekend at the racetrack with his uncle,,, a man whose memory now rides with him every lap since his passing,,,

Crew Members:
Zeke,,,
Levi,,,
Seth,,,

Sponsors:
Graybill Lumber,,,
Dennis & Sons Towing,,,
The Breakfast Depot,,,
Jimmy's Custom Creations LLC,,,
Happy Labs Custom Creation & Engraving,,,
Vampire Tear Offs,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

Some people inherit money,,,

Some inherit land,,,

Taylor Lyons inherited something far more valuable,,,

A family tradition that couldn't be bought,,,

Before he ever became the driver of the 93T,,, he was the little boy following his dad,,, his uncle,,, & his brothers through the pits,,,

Watching them live a life that seemed larger than anything he had ever imagined,,,

Those weekends weren't just about race cars,,,

They were about family,,,

About laughter echoing through the pits,,,

About learning that the people beside you matter more than where you finish,,,

Today,,, one of those voices is missing,,,

His uncle is no longer walking through the pit area or standing by the trailer,,,

But anyone who has ever lost someone they love understands something Taylor knows all too well,,,

Love doesn't disappear when a person is gone,,,

It simply finds a new way to stay with you,,,

Every time the 93T rolls onto the racetrack,,, those weekends they shared together are still there,,,

Not in photographs,,,

Not in trophies,,,

But in his heart,,,

Taylor races because of the example his dad set before him,,,

He hopes to carry on that legacy & become the kind of racer his family would be proud of,,,

Not just because of wins,,,

But because of the way he represents the name they passed down to him,,,

Away from the racetrack,,, Taylor already has the greatest prize life could ever give him,,,

His wife & their five children,,,

They are the reason he keeps pushing forward every single day,,,

His wife has stood beside him from his very first race car to the one he drives today,,,

She's celebrated the good nights,,, endured the frustrating ones,,, & supported a dream that often asks more from a family than people realize,,,

Taylor says he doesn't know where his racing journey would be without her,,,

Sometimes the strongest person on a race team isn't wearing a helmet at all,,,

Standing beside him are Zeke,,, Levi,,, & Seth,,, friends who share the same passion & understand what this sport truly means,,,

Together,,, they're more than a crew,,,

They're proof that family isn't always defined by blood,,,

Sometimes it's built through late nights in the garage & long weekends at the racetrack,,,

Taylor knows he still has goals to chase,,,

More races to run,,,

More memories to make,,,

But if you asked him what matters most,,, it wouldn't be a trophy sitting on a shelf,,,

It would be hearing his kids laugh in the pits,,,

Looking over to see his wife smiling beside the trailer,,,

Remembering the uncle who helped shape the man he became,,,

& honoring the legacy his dad started years ago,,,

Because someday,,, when his own children look back on these weekends together,,, they probably won't remember every finishing position,,,

But they'll remember a father who loved them fiercely,,, worked hard for his dreams,,, & showed them that the greatest victories in life are the people waiting for you when the race is over,,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

📸 unknown

07/08/2026

THE DRIVER FILES #75

Driver Name: Bailey Miller

Car Number: 22B

Hometown: Jeffersonville, Ohio

Division/Class: Ohio Valley SCDRA

Years Racing: 4 Years

Favorite Track: Midway Speedway

Favorite Racing Memory:
Racing side by side with his father,,,

Crew Members:
Dad,,,
Mom,,,
Grandpa,,,
Brandan,,,
Charity,,,
Anna,,,

Sponsors:
Wise Racing,,,
Cargill,,,
Barkers,,,
Misfit Tires,,,
Binder Roofing,,,
J & Sons Water Repair,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

There are some families who spend weekends at the lake,,,

Some gather around a campfire,,,

For the Miller family,,, home has always been wherever the race car is parked,,,

Bailey didn't grow up dreaming about racing from a distance,,,

He grew up living it,,,

One day,,, his dad asked him to climb into a race car during a test & tune,,,

There wasn't a grand speech,,,

There wasn't months of planning,,,

Just one simple opportunity that quietly changed the course of his life forever,,,

From that day on,,, racing stopped being something Bailey watched,,,

It became part of who he was,,,

He says it's more than a sport,,,

It's a lifestyle,,,

A lifestyle built on late nights when everyone else is asleep,,,

Greasy hands that never seem to come clean,,,

Family dinners interrupted by trips to the garage,,,

Sacrifices that few people outside the racing world ever see,,,

People often celebrate the checkered flag,,,

But they rarely see the countless hours it took just to make it to the green one,,,

Bailey knows those hours well,,,

He knows what it's like to have something break at the worst possible moment,,,

To load the car back on the trailer wondering what went wrong,,,

To feel the disappointment of a race ending before it ever really began,,,

But the Miller family has never measured success by how many times they've been knocked down,,,

They measure it by how many times they've gotten back up,,,

Every broken part becomes another lesson,,,

Every setback becomes another reason to work harder,,,

Because giving up has never been part of who they are,,,

Standing beside the 22B are the people who make every lap possible,,, Dad,,, Mom,,, Grandpa,,, Brandan,,, Charity,,, & Anna,,,

They're not just crew members,,,

They're the heartbeat of the team,,,

The first to celebrate when things go right,,,

The first to grab a wrench when they don't,,,

Bailey is also grateful for every sponsor who has chosen to believe in a family chasing a dream together,,,

One of Bailey's favorite memories isn't standing alone in Victory Lane,,,

It's racing against his own father,,,

For a few laps,,, there were no generations between them,,,

Just two racers sharing a passion that words could never fully describe,,,

Years from now,,, Bailey may not remember every finish or every trophy,,,

But he'll remember those laps beside his dad,,,

The laughter in the garage,,,

The long drives home after the races,,,

The moments that reminded him why they started in the first place,,,

Because someday,,, another young racer may climb into the 22B for the first time,,,

Just like Bailey once climbed into his dad's race car at a simple test & tune,,,

And another family's story will begin,,,

That's how racing survives,,,

Not through engines or trophies,,,

But through the hearts of families willing to pass a dream from one generation to the next,,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

📸 Midway Speedway
📸 R&H photography
📸 Racing Chaos Photography

07/08/2026

THE DRIVER FILES #74

Driver Name: John Bailey

Division/Class: Sport Modified

Race Car: 2006 Throwing Dirt Chassis
Engine: GM 602 Sealed Crate

Crew:

Car Owner: Jess Gibson,,,
Crew Chief: John Bailey,,,
Crew: Shawn Gray,,, Justin Cobb,,,

Family:
Wife — Tori Stutler,,,
Children — Avery,,, John Jr,,, & Jade,,,

Sponsors:
The League Room,,,
Clines Custom Creations,,,
Gibsons Tree Service,,,
Eagles Nest Drone Service,,,
Flannigans Place,,,
CEI Consulting,,,
Backwoods Poker,,,
Tyler Carpenter Racing,,,
Joy Construction,,,

Every Hero Has A Story

Not every racer spends their life behind the steering wheel,,,

Some spend years standing beside someone else's race car,,, making sure another dream stays alive,,,

That's where a big part of John Bailey's story was written,,,

After racing Front Wheel Drives as a teenager & spending a season in a Pure Stock,,, life pulled him in a different direction,,,

Instead of chasing his own checkered flags,,, he helped Tyler Carpenter build a Late Model program from the ground up,,,

He turned wrenches,,,

Loaded trailers,,,

Celebrated someone else's victories as if they were his own,,,

Because John understood something a lot of people never do,,,

You don't have to be the one holding the trophy to be part of the dream,,,

Years passed,,,

He built a business,,,

He became a husband,,,

Then a father,,,

He started coaching youth football because he wanted young kids to believe in themselves the same way others once believed in him,,,

His life became about building things,,,

Building homes through his property management business,,,

Building confidence in young athletes on the football field,,,

Building a family with Tori & their three beautiful children,,, Avery,,, John Jr,,, & Jade,,,

The race car quietly waited in the background,,,

Then one ordinary day became extraordinary,,,

Tyler handed him another opportunity to drive,,,

Not because John asked for it,,,

But because years of loyalty,,, hard work,,, & friendship had earned it,,,

Soon after,,, another blessing arrived from someone even closer to his heart,,,

His dad,,, Jess Gibson,,, had been building a Sport Modified for himself,,,

But when John's stepmom,,, Rosetta,,, began facing serious health problems,,, everything changed,,,

Without hesitation,,, a father looked at his son & simply said,,,

"Take it & go race.",,,

Some people inherit money,,,

Some inherit land,,,

John inherited belief,,,

A father willing to put his own dream aside so his son's could keep moving forward,,,

That kind of love can't be measured in dollars,,,

The first season wasn't glamorous,,,

No sponsors,,,

Running near the back of the field,,,

Trying to figure everything out one lap at a time,,,

But every weekend,,, they came back,,,

Every adjustment Tyler Carpenter made to the car,,, every late night in the garage,,, every lesson learned slowly turned into progress,,,

Now the Top 10 is becoming familiar ground,,,

Sponsors have begun believing in the team,,,

Not because they've already reached the top,,,

But because people recognize determination when they see it,,,

Near the end of our conversation,,, John said something that stopped me in my tracks,,,

"I may be a nobody,,, but I wanna be remembered as somebody.",,,

John,,, you already are,,,

Not because of where you finish on Saturday night,,,

But because your children are watching a father who refuses to quit,,,

Because young football players are learning from a coach who teaches them that hard work still matters,,,

Because your dad saw something in you worth sacrificing for,,,

Because you spent years helping another racer chase his dream before life finally gave you another chance to chase your own,,,

One day,,, the race cars will be sold,,,

The engines will fall silent,,,

The trophies will find a shelf somewhere,,,

But Avery,,, John Jr,,, & Jade will never forget watching their dad fight for something he loved without ever forgetting the people he loved even more,,,

If they grow up carrying that same heart into this world,,,

Then John Bailey's greatest victory will have nothing to do with a checkered flag,,,

It will be the legacy he leaves behind in the people who proudly call him Dad,,,

Every Driver Is A Hero,,,
Every Hero Has A Story,,,

- Jon Holliday

📸 Nates racing photos

The Driver Files

07/23/2026

07/11/2026

07/10/2026

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request