<img src="http://stlouisracing.com/pixs03/weaver.jpg" border="1">
Kevin Weaver, 40, drives the #B12 Dirt Late Model in the UMP Series. Kevin is the owner of Weaver Racing Supplies. He has a wife of 13 years, Lenora and a daughter, Paige, 11. Kevin resides in Gibson City, IL.
When Kevin was growing up, his parents always took him to the local tracks at Farmer City Raceway on Friday, Fairbury American Legion Speedway on Saturday, and Vermilion County Speedway near Danville, IL on Sunday. He always watched and liked, at that time, a driver by the name of Joe Williams.
As many drivers have done, Kevin began his racing career piloting go-karts at the age of 14. He stayed on the Kart circuit in local venues for two successful years. The following year, he worked various odd and part-time jobs in order to raise money to purchase a Street Stock to run at local dirt tracks. He only stayed in the Street Stock class for a little less than a season as his aspirations to move up into the Hobby Stock class inspired him to jump into that arena.
<img src="http://stlouisracing.com/pixs03/weaver1.jpg" border="1">
The Hobby Stock class was a "step below" his ultimate goal which was the Late Models. Yet, the lack of money and sponsors kept him in that level of racing for four years. With each year, in that class, his level of competition improved immensely and the results were highly successful. In 1985, Joe Williams was getting a new Rayburn chassis. “He was driving for my uncle and a local farmer, who jointly owned the car and engines he was using. That same year, they came to me and asked me to take run their backup car. I drove for about ten races that year.”
It was enough to "open some eyes" as the following year, with the help of some newly acquired sponsors and help from many friends, they put Kevin (who picked up the nickname "The Flatland Flash") into a dirt late model for good.
From 1986 to 1998, he owned and operated his own very successful team. Running predominately at tracks in the Midwest the first 8 years and then "branching out" in 1994 to travel to larger paying shows with some of the nation's best competitors. He continued with his own team racing at many tracks throughout the eastern United States until 1998, when he was able to secure a "driver only" position with Eaglin Motorsports out of Indiana. He drove for that team for two years, and then in 2000 & 2001, he drove for Turner Racing of Illinois. This past season Kevin again organized, managed, and drove for his own racing team.
Kevin chose the #B12 because Joe Williams’ was number 112. He just naturally started to use the number 12 when he was driving Karts, Street Stocks, and Hobby Stocks. Then, when he started driving for his uncle and engine builder, Butch Hixson and local farmer Benny Nettleton, he wanted to honor them for giving him a chance in his first Late Model, so, he put a "B" in front of the 12 to represent Butch and Benny. And, he has kept it all these years.
Kevin’s future plans are to continue to compete in Dirt Late Models and some Modified events at larger paying shows throughout the Midwest and eastern United States. Kevin says his favorite driver is the late, great Dale Earnhardt. Kevin’s career highlight was taking his first track championships at the local tracks he grew up with early in his Dirt Late Model career. Then, making his first World 100 starting field in 1992 and winning the UMP National Championship that same year. Other highlights include, in 1996, finishing 2nd in the USA Nationals event at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin and finishing 2nd in the 1998 World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Ohio. His scariest moment? Well, he actually has two. “Back a few years, in the UMP Summer Nationals event at LaSalle Speedway in Illinois, I was running the Dash and coming out of turn two as I was right along-side the outside of another car. The car on the inside suddenly shot up into the side of my car, spinning my car, and sending me straight into the end of the pit exit wall. Fortunately, the promoters had put water barrels there just a week before. I crashed very hard into the barrels at my cockpit door. In the end, I was soaking wet from all the water in the barrels and the car was totaled. The impact had bent the entire frame of the car around the cockpit. Needless to say, I may not be here today if it weren't for those water barrels. The other happened this past summer, again in the UMP Summer Nationals show at Vermilion County Speedway near Danville, IL. It was in the feature event, and admittedly, the car wasn't working the best. I had started up front and had fallen back a couple cars early on. Another car was attempting to make a pass on my inside, and I was holding my line to the outside. As we came side-by-side out of turn four and down the front straight-away, the driver of that car literally turned his car into the left-front wheel on my car. This was captured on video. Evidently, it was an apparent retribution for an earlier race incident that same night in which that driver felt my pass on him (no contact) was not right. Anyway, the hard contact sent my car vaulting into the front stretch wall. The car glanced hard off it's front end as it was in the air and then spun around a couple feet off the ground like a top, slamming the rear-end hard into the wall. Meanwhile, parts and sheet metal were flying everywhere as the crowd sat in disbelief on the other side of the wall. The incident totally destroyed a brand new car that I had won in at the previous night's Summer Nationals event at Clarksville Speedway in Tennessee. Fortunately, I was not hurt, just a little "tee-ed off", to say the least.”
Kevin would like to add a special thanks to all of his sponsors: Nu-Way Transportation Services, Inc., Bloomington, IL,
Rayburn Race Cars, Whiteland, IN, Hixson Racing Engines, Gibson City, IL, P.T.S. Racing Engines, Minden, LA, Bilstein Racing Shocks, San Diego, CA, Luigi’s Restaurant, Arcadia, LA, Jowers Motorsports, Arcadia, LA, Precision Plastic Products, Gibson City, IL, Jr. Motorsports, Inc., Galesburg, IL, Lynn Chevrolet, Pontiac, IL, Hyperco Springs, FT. Wayne, IN, Dynatech Headers, Boonville, IN, Fisher Lumber, Fisher, IL, Columbus Bowl, Columbus, IN, B&K Sportswear, Milan, IL, Bert Transmissions, Canada, BRT Racing Products, Reddick, IL, TNT Graphics, Peoria, IL, Schaeffer Mfg. Co., ST. Louis, MO, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Springfield, IL, McNutt Consulting Services, Gibson City, IL, Marx Carburetors, Lexington, IL, and T.C. Racing Souvenirs, Streator, IL.
Bonus Questions:
What is your favorite movie? No time for movies, it seems.... but I do like Bruce Willis and Harrison Ford movies though.
Who is the best driver you have raced against? Billy Moyer or Scott Bloomquist
Any nick names? If so, how did you get it? The "Flatland Flash". One of my main sponsors, who also helped out as a team member, started to call me that back around 1987, and it stuck. I guess it was appropriate when you consider the "flat" farm land around central Illinois where I'm from.
Some statistics from Kevin’s career:
Has won feature events at 38 different tracks in 10 separate states
Has raced at 94 speedways in 20 different states
2001 UMP “Hoosier Series” Champion
2001 UMP “All-Star Series” Champion
2000 UMP “Summer Nationals” Series Champion
1992 UMP (United Midwest Promoters) National Champion
Finished 2nd to Billy Moyer, in the 1998 "World 100" (the most prestigious dirt late model race of the year) at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio (247 cars from 27 states, tried to make the 24 car starting field…… In 1999, Kevin was running second, about to take over the lead halfway through this event, when he developed a flat tire and had to pit).
Has made the starting field for the annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway, 7 out of the last 9 years (also finished 5th in 1994)
Has made the starting field for the annual $100,000 to win "Dream Race" at Eldora Speedway, 4 out of the last 7 years
Won the annual "UMP Nationals" race at Eldora Speedway in 1997
Finished 2nd to Jimmy Mars, in the annual, $40,000 to win "USA Nationals" Hav-A-Tampa sanctioned race at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin
Has made the starting field for the annual "USA Nationals" race at Cedar Lake Speedway for 9 of the last 10 years
Finished 2nd to Scott Bloomquist in the 1994, $25,000 to win "Silver Cup" race at Brownstown Speedway in Indiana
Won the 1991, 1992, & 2002 "Decatur Herald & Review 100" at Macon Speedway in Illinois (the first driver to ever win the annual event, back to back, and only the second to win it 3 times)
Won the 1991 & 1992 "Governor's Cup" race at Bluegrass Speedway in Iowa
Won the 1991 "Pevely Nationals" races at I-55 Speedway in Missouri (finished 2nd to Billy Moyer in 1994)
Kevin has also won eight track championships and set 13 track qualifying records
Dave Crocker
Shockwave Racing Ink
The Muddslinger Report
731-660-5752
Kevin Weaver, 40, drives the #B12 Dirt Late Model in the UMP Series. Kevin is the owner of Weaver Racing Supplies. He has a wife of 13 years, Lenora and a daughter, Paige, 11. Kevin resides in Gibson City, IL.
When Kevin was growing up, his parents always took him to the local tracks at Farmer City Raceway on Friday, Fairbury American Legion Speedway on Saturday, and Vermilion County Speedway near Danville, IL on Sunday. He always watched and liked, at that time, a driver by the name of Joe Williams.
As many drivers have done, Kevin began his racing career piloting go-karts at the age of 14. He stayed on the Kart circuit in local venues for two successful years. The following year, he worked various odd and part-time jobs in order to raise money to purchase a Street Stock to run at local dirt tracks. He only stayed in the Street Stock class for a little less than a season as his aspirations to move up into the Hobby Stock class inspired him to jump into that arena.
<img src="http://stlouisracing.com/pixs03/weaver1.jpg" border="1">
The Hobby Stock class was a "step below" his ultimate goal which was the Late Models. Yet, the lack of money and sponsors kept him in that level of racing for four years. With each year, in that class, his level of competition improved immensely and the results were highly successful. In 1985, Joe Williams was getting a new Rayburn chassis. “He was driving for my uncle and a local farmer, who jointly owned the car and engines he was using. That same year, they came to me and asked me to take run their backup car. I drove for about ten races that year.”
It was enough to "open some eyes" as the following year, with the help of some newly acquired sponsors and help from many friends, they put Kevin (who picked up the nickname "The Flatland Flash") into a dirt late model for good.
From 1986 to 1998, he owned and operated his own very successful team. Running predominately at tracks in the Midwest the first 8 years and then "branching out" in 1994 to travel to larger paying shows with some of the nation's best competitors. He continued with his own team racing at many tracks throughout the eastern United States until 1998, when he was able to secure a "driver only" position with Eaglin Motorsports out of Indiana. He drove for that team for two years, and then in 2000 & 2001, he drove for Turner Racing of Illinois. This past season Kevin again organized, managed, and drove for his own racing team.
Kevin chose the #B12 because Joe Williams’ was number 112. He just naturally started to use the number 12 when he was driving Karts, Street Stocks, and Hobby Stocks. Then, when he started driving for his uncle and engine builder, Butch Hixson and local farmer Benny Nettleton, he wanted to honor them for giving him a chance in his first Late Model, so, he put a "B" in front of the 12 to represent Butch and Benny. And, he has kept it all these years.
Kevin’s future plans are to continue to compete in Dirt Late Models and some Modified events at larger paying shows throughout the Midwest and eastern United States. Kevin says his favorite driver is the late, great Dale Earnhardt. Kevin’s career highlight was taking his first track championships at the local tracks he grew up with early in his Dirt Late Model career. Then, making his first World 100 starting field in 1992 and winning the UMP National Championship that same year. Other highlights include, in 1996, finishing 2nd in the USA Nationals event at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin and finishing 2nd in the 1998 World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Ohio. His scariest moment? Well, he actually has two. “Back a few years, in the UMP Summer Nationals event at LaSalle Speedway in Illinois, I was running the Dash and coming out of turn two as I was right along-side the outside of another car. The car on the inside suddenly shot up into the side of my car, spinning my car, and sending me straight into the end of the pit exit wall. Fortunately, the promoters had put water barrels there just a week before. I crashed very hard into the barrels at my cockpit door. In the end, I was soaking wet from all the water in the barrels and the car was totaled. The impact had bent the entire frame of the car around the cockpit. Needless to say, I may not be here today if it weren't for those water barrels. The other happened this past summer, again in the UMP Summer Nationals show at Vermilion County Speedway near Danville, IL. It was in the feature event, and admittedly, the car wasn't working the best. I had started up front and had fallen back a couple cars early on. Another car was attempting to make a pass on my inside, and I was holding my line to the outside. As we came side-by-side out of turn four and down the front straight-away, the driver of that car literally turned his car into the left-front wheel on my car. This was captured on video. Evidently, it was an apparent retribution for an earlier race incident that same night in which that driver felt my pass on him (no contact) was not right. Anyway, the hard contact sent my car vaulting into the front stretch wall. The car glanced hard off it's front end as it was in the air and then spun around a couple feet off the ground like a top, slamming the rear-end hard into the wall. Meanwhile, parts and sheet metal were flying everywhere as the crowd sat in disbelief on the other side of the wall. The incident totally destroyed a brand new car that I had won in at the previous night's Summer Nationals event at Clarksville Speedway in Tennessee. Fortunately, I was not hurt, just a little "tee-ed off", to say the least.”
Kevin would like to add a special thanks to all of his sponsors: Nu-Way Transportation Services, Inc., Bloomington, IL,
Rayburn Race Cars, Whiteland, IN, Hixson Racing Engines, Gibson City, IL, P.T.S. Racing Engines, Minden, LA, Bilstein Racing Shocks, San Diego, CA, Luigi’s Restaurant, Arcadia, LA, Jowers Motorsports, Arcadia, LA, Precision Plastic Products, Gibson City, IL, Jr. Motorsports, Inc., Galesburg, IL, Lynn Chevrolet, Pontiac, IL, Hyperco Springs, FT. Wayne, IN, Dynatech Headers, Boonville, IN, Fisher Lumber, Fisher, IL, Columbus Bowl, Columbus, IN, B&K Sportswear, Milan, IL, Bert Transmissions, Canada, BRT Racing Products, Reddick, IL, TNT Graphics, Peoria, IL, Schaeffer Mfg. Co., ST. Louis, MO, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Springfield, IL, McNutt Consulting Services, Gibson City, IL, Marx Carburetors, Lexington, IL, and T.C. Racing Souvenirs, Streator, IL.
Bonus Questions:
What is your favorite movie? No time for movies, it seems.... but I do like Bruce Willis and Harrison Ford movies though.
Who is the best driver you have raced against? Billy Moyer or Scott Bloomquist
Any nick names? If so, how did you get it? The "Flatland Flash". One of my main sponsors, who also helped out as a team member, started to call me that back around 1987, and it stuck. I guess it was appropriate when you consider the "flat" farm land around central Illinois where I'm from.
Some statistics from Kevin’s career:
Has won feature events at 38 different tracks in 10 separate states
Has raced at 94 speedways in 20 different states
2001 UMP “Hoosier Series” Champion
2001 UMP “All-Star Series” Champion
2000 UMP “Summer Nationals” Series Champion
1992 UMP (United Midwest Promoters) National Champion
Finished 2nd to Billy Moyer, in the 1998 "World 100" (the most prestigious dirt late model race of the year) at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio (247 cars from 27 states, tried to make the 24 car starting field…… In 1999, Kevin was running second, about to take over the lead halfway through this event, when he developed a flat tire and had to pit).
Has made the starting field for the annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway, 7 out of the last 9 years (also finished 5th in 1994)
Has made the starting field for the annual $100,000 to win "Dream Race" at Eldora Speedway, 4 out of the last 7 years
Won the annual "UMP Nationals" race at Eldora Speedway in 1997
Finished 2nd to Jimmy Mars, in the annual, $40,000 to win "USA Nationals" Hav-A-Tampa sanctioned race at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin
Has made the starting field for the annual "USA Nationals" race at Cedar Lake Speedway for 9 of the last 10 years
Finished 2nd to Scott Bloomquist in the 1994, $25,000 to win "Silver Cup" race at Brownstown Speedway in Indiana
Won the 1991, 1992, & 2002 "Decatur Herald & Review 100" at Macon Speedway in Illinois (the first driver to ever win the annual event, back to back, and only the second to win it 3 times)
Won the 1991 & 1992 "Governor's Cup" race at Bluegrass Speedway in Iowa
Won the 1991 "Pevely Nationals" races at I-55 Speedway in Missouri (finished 2nd to Billy Moyer in 1994)
Kevin has also won eight track championships and set 13 track qualifying records
Dave Crocker
Shockwave Racing Ink
The Muddslinger Report
731-660-5752
