Like Father, Like Son
BUFFALO TWP — George Hobaugh is a chip off the 'ole block.
Sort of.
Hobaugh, 35, of Karns City is only in his second full season of racing a 410 Sprint car at Lernerville Speedway. His father, George Hobaugh Sr., raced in the Sprint division for nearly 15 years and won approximately 15 features beforte retiring 10 years ago.
“You don't grow up around racing without wanting to do it,” Hobaugh, 67, said. “George originally wanted to do motcross and I wouldn't let him.
“I told him that sport wouldn't be about you. You get knocked from your bike and someone else can run over you. I talked him into micro-sprints. At least there, he'd have a roll cage.”
The younger Hobaugh has been racing ever since he debuted in micro-sprints in 2000. He won 76 features before moving into a 305 Sprint car in 2014 through the middle of 2016. He drove for car owner Joe Lockhart and was ultra-successful, winning a dozen features.
He won track championships at Deerfield, Knox and Thunder Mountain while running in those divisions.
“We won a lot of races,” the younger Hobaugh said. “I won a lot in micro-sprints, too. We were pretty dominant there.”
His father agreed.
“We'd get to the track and we knew we were the car to beat,” he said. “Other drivers had to figure out a way to beat George. He was that good.”
Now he's trying to be good in a 410 Sprint, with sporadic help, if any, in the pits on Friday nights at Lernerville.
“It's tough trying to do so much yourself,” the younger Hobaugh said. “I get some help in the garage during the week and that's when you really need it. That's where the bulk of the work gets done.
“You show up here, you're pretty much ready to go.”
Hobaugh knows what it's like to help out on a race car in the garage. He helped his dad out that way in his younger years.
“I didn't have much of a childhood,” he said, laughing. “I came home from school, joined dad in the garage and stayed there until midnight most nights.
“I never went to any parties or anything. Of course, I didn't get in any trouble, either.
His father comes to the track each weekend, but has learned to speak only when spoken to.
“I'd watch George's car on the track during the heats. He'd come back in and I'd tell him what I saw,” Hobaugh's father said.
“We'd end up in an argument after every heat race. That's just how it went. George has his own ideas and wants to do it his way, and that's fine. When he asks what I think or saw, I tell him. Sometomes he listens, sometimes he doesn't.”
One thing he does want to do: Win.
While Sprint race teams on either side of him up and down pit row at Lernerville have plenty of crew members, Hobaugh plods along with a shoe-string budget.
But he's been competitive.
“I've finished second in races and we're up there in points .... but I don't pat myself on the back. Instead, I'm hard on myself,” Hobaugh said.
“I like the 410's because it's a challenge to win here. I like being challenged. That's why I race. My only goal is to win.”
He's come close.
Hobaugh finished second at Tri-City Raceway on Sunday. He placed second in a September race at Lernerville last season. He finished runner-up at Mercer in back-to-back weeks.He has 175 points at Lernerville, trailing only A.J. Flick and Jack Sodeman Jr. Flick has a 24-point lead on him.“He'll get it,” Hobaugh's father said. “George is a good driver. My Modified is still in the trailer. It was there five years and George wanted to take it out and race it. He's too good to stick him in a car that couldn't be competitive.“A 305 engine has 450 horsepower. A 410 has 800 to 900 horsepower. That's quite a jump. You have to learn to handle the throttle pedal and that comes with experience.“I'm sure George will keep on racing ... until the money runs out, anyway,” he added.Lernerville SpeedwayPoints Standings(top 10 through June 15)SprintsA.J. Flick 199, Jack Sodeman Jr. 187, George Hobaugh 175, Brandon Matus 171, Brent Matus 168, Sye Lynch 129, Scott Barris 114, Dan Shetler 113, Clay Riney 107, Michael Bauer 98Late ModelsMichael Norris 232, Ken Schaltenbrand 168, Gary Lyle 152, Mike Pegher Jr. 144, Tommy Beck 137, Mike Miller 118, Weston Phillis 106, Joshua Powell 105, Clayton Kennedy 103, Colton Flinner 99ModifiedsRex King Jr. 225, Dave Murdick 191, Brian Swartzlander 182, Garrett Krummert 161, John Mollick 151, Rick Regalski 150, Rex King Sr. 143, Jim Weller Jr. 135, Jeremiah Shingledecker 123, Steve Feder 114Pro StocksTyler Dietz 220, Corey McPherson 219, Noah Brunell 207, Joey Zambotti 178, Ryan Moyer 173, Bob Egley 156, John Hartman 142, Brett McDonald 140, Mark Sanders 133, Joe Kelley 130
