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Courtesy of National Speed Sport News writer – Adam Fenwick
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Young Race-Car Driver Hoffman Shows Confidence, Not Arrogance
Being a professional race car driver has its own set of unique requirements, much like any job. One of those requirements is the occasional promotional stop as part of a sponsorship program.
Typically a driver will stop at a given location along with a show car, take a few pictures, sign a few autographs, maybe conduct an interview or two and be on his way.
It was at one of these promotional stops last Saturday that we had the pleasure of meeting a young modified driver named Nick Hoffman.
It was just happenstance that this reporter stumbled across Hoffman’s promotional visit at Webster Radiator & A/C in Concord, NC. On our way home from running a few errands, we noticed a dirt modified sitting in the parking lot at Webster’s. After collecting a camera we returned to Webster’s to get the scoop on why a dirt-modified was sitting in its parking lot.
Upon arriving at Webster’s, Hoffman, a scrappy youngster with a confidence rivaling any young race-car driver, quickly introduced himself to us.
As it turns out, Hoffman has spent practically his entire life around racing. His father: Darrell Hoffman, raced modifieds for 20 years in the Midwest before trading in his driving gloves for wrenches at Pro Motor Engines, where he has won the MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown for the last three years.
The younger Hoffman, who was stopping at Webster’s for a sponsor-related visit, got his start racing quarter midgets at age 4. He steadily moved up the racing ranks, graduating to bandoleros and Legends cars while learning his way around a race car:
In 2008 he began his dirt modified career, making 20 starts around the country while collecting four victories. In 2009, he did a bit better, earning eight victories in 22 starts, including wins at Ray Evernham’s East Lincoln Speedway in Stanley, N.C., Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C. and Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga.
It was nice to meet a young driver who was just happy to talk to someone interested in racing. We talked for five to 10 minutes about a number of racing-related topics, including his family’s relationship with NASCAR star Carl Edwards.
Hoffman said his family has known Edwards for years, long before he became the NASCAR star that he is today. In fact, Hoffman said that when Edwards moved to North Carolina he lived with the Hoffman family for a time before landing on his feet (In more ways than one) at Roush Fenway Racing.
These days Edwards is helping support Hoffman’s racing ambitions, including sponsoring his No.2 modified. Hoffman also receives backing from Wave Energy Drink, a company that has been making inroads in NASCAR with Tommy Baldwin Racing.
Hoffman has also picked up one of Edward’s unique traits, the popular celebratory backflip.
Hoffman performed that backflip for those in attendance Saturday, landing a backflip that would have drawn a perfect 10 from Edward’s himself.
This year Hoffman will follow the American Modified Racing Ass’n around the Mid-Atlantic states while running at other select events as his schedule permits.
Hoffman also noted that he may have an opportunity to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut later this year at Indiana’s O’Reilly Raceway Park.
It was at this point someone tapped the young racer on the shoulder and told him it was time to go. The day was still young and Hoffman had to load up the car and head to Carolina Speedway for a test session to prepare for a race next weekend.
We quickly shook his hand and wished him luck as he scurried to his car: He had places to go and things to do.
A race car driver’s work is never done.
FEATURED IN NATIONAL SPEED SPORT NEWS
Young Race-Car Driver Hoffman Shows Confidence, Not Arrogance
Being a professional race car driver has its own set of unique requirements, much like any job. One of those requirements is the occasional promotional stop as part of a sponsorship program.
Typically a driver will stop at a given location along with a show car, take a few pictures, sign a few autographs, maybe conduct an interview or two and be on his way.
It was at one of these promotional stops last Saturday that we had the pleasure of meeting a young modified driver named Nick Hoffman.
It was just happenstance that this reporter stumbled across Hoffman’s promotional visit at Webster Radiator & A/C in Concord, NC. On our way home from running a few errands, we noticed a dirt modified sitting in the parking lot at Webster’s. After collecting a camera we returned to Webster’s to get the scoop on why a dirt-modified was sitting in its parking lot.
Upon arriving at Webster’s, Hoffman, a scrappy youngster with a confidence rivaling any young race-car driver, quickly introduced himself to us.
As it turns out, Hoffman has spent practically his entire life around racing. His father: Darrell Hoffman, raced modifieds for 20 years in the Midwest before trading in his driving gloves for wrenches at Pro Motor Engines, where he has won the MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown for the last three years.
The younger Hoffman, who was stopping at Webster’s for a sponsor-related visit, got his start racing quarter midgets at age 4. He steadily moved up the racing ranks, graduating to bandoleros and Legends cars while learning his way around a race car:
In 2008 he began his dirt modified career, making 20 starts around the country while collecting four victories. In 2009, he did a bit better, earning eight victories in 22 starts, including wins at Ray Evernham’s East Lincoln Speedway in Stanley, N.C., Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C. and Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga.
It was nice to meet a young driver who was just happy to talk to someone interested in racing. We talked for five to 10 minutes about a number of racing-related topics, including his family’s relationship with NASCAR star Carl Edwards.
Hoffman said his family has known Edwards for years, long before he became the NASCAR star that he is today. In fact, Hoffman said that when Edwards moved to North Carolina he lived with the Hoffman family for a time before landing on his feet (In more ways than one) at Roush Fenway Racing.
These days Edwards is helping support Hoffman’s racing ambitions, including sponsoring his No.2 modified. Hoffman also receives backing from Wave Energy Drink, a company that has been making inroads in NASCAR with Tommy Baldwin Racing.
Hoffman has also picked up one of Edward’s unique traits, the popular celebratory backflip.
Hoffman performed that backflip for those in attendance Saturday, landing a backflip that would have drawn a perfect 10 from Edward’s himself.
This year Hoffman will follow the American Modified Racing Ass’n around the Mid-Atlantic states while running at other select events as his schedule permits.
Hoffman also noted that he may have an opportunity to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut later this year at Indiana’s O’Reilly Raceway Park.
It was at this point someone tapped the young racer on the shoulder and told him it was time to go. The day was still young and Hoffman had to load up the car and head to Carolina Speedway for a test session to prepare for a race next weekend.
We quickly shook his hand and wished him luck as he scurried to his car: He had places to go and things to do.
A race car driver’s work is never done.
