Would you believe that a 21-year old man worked at McDonald’s for one year and now he has his own franchise?

Derek Wissinger of Cabot is a rookie driver in Lernerville’s Dirtcar Sportsman division. Last season, he was a member of his uncle Brett McDonald’s pit crew.

He enjoyed working on the car so much that he decided to purchase his own race car and drive in 2012. The two cars pit side-by-side at the track.

Wissinger said, “It is a lot harder and different than it looks.”

The learning curve is great as a novice chauffeur. Wissinger works for Jack Keihl, whose business is putting up barriers, markers, and signs for highway construction areas.

Wissinger is concentrating on making the No. 22D racer go faster, keeping it from spinning and finishing the race.

He smiled and said, “I’m hooked on racing.”

Meanwhile Brett McDonald hopes the “dark cloud” that has followed him this year soon lifts. The Dirtcar Sportsman No. 25 has had a series of misfortunes that has plagued the team. He is 11th in the point standings.

FASTRAK dominant

Max Blair continues to dominate the FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series, winning seven of the 15 races entered. He is the current point leader.

Where is Kinser?

Mark Kinser was one of the most popular sprint car drivers in the history of the sports. He won 153 features, three Knoxville Nationals, and two World of Outlaws Championships in 1996 and 1999.

His career ended suddenly in 2006 and his whereabouts have been on the minds of sprint-car fans across the country. Kinser recently spoke with SPEED SPORT Magazine’s Bob Gates in an exclusive interview to answer questions about what happened to him and what he is currently doing.

“I’m here, doing whatever the hell I want,” quipped Kinser, from his Oolitic, Ind., home.

“I’m very fortunate,” he continued, turning serious about his life in the small town where he grew up. “Racing, financially, was good to me. I’m probably only one of a handful who can truly say that they made a good enough living that they don’t have to work after racing. “

He made a critical decision not to race any more and Kinser understood he had to make a clean break from the sport that had consumed his life.

So, when he got out of his race car for the last time, he stepped away completely.

“I have no regrets,” Kinser said. “Oh, I miss it every day. I miss the competition. I miss the drop of the green flag and the rush that goes with it. But, I don’t go to the races at all. Haven’t been since I stopped racing.

“My son is 15 and he’s not interested in racing. And, I thank God for that. So, I have no reason to go. Besides, I’m afraid if I went back, I might want to get back into it.”

Blaney misses out

Dale Blaney did not race in the Don Martin Memorial WoO Sprint show, but was in the pits. Much to his dismay, the hauler broke down on the way to the race.

The race will be shown on Speed, Aug. 11 at 1 p.m.

Dale’s nephew, Ryan Blaney, the 18 year-old son of NASCAR’s Dave Blaney, has just joined the Penske Racing organization and will compete in the No. 22 Dodge in selected Nationwide Series races.

He will make his debut Aug. 4 at Iowa Speedway.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to drive for Penske Racing for the rest of this season,” Blaney said.

Congratulations to Jack Sodeman Jr and Cat on the arrival of their baby girl, Samantha Ann. The new race fan weighed in at seven pounds , three ounces, 20 inches long.

Next up for Tony

After winning the second leg of the recent Lernerville WoO Sprint show, Tony Stewart was asked the following question: ‘You have raced in a variety of cars, what would be the next type that you would like to try?’

Stewart replied, “Fuel Cars.”

Upcoming

Lernerville will host the Joe Pitkavish Memorial Modified race and Sprint driver Brian Steinman’s benefit auction. Pennsylvania Motor Speedway features the Steel Block Bandits vs. PPMS Pro Lates $1.200 to win, plus regular racing, Saturday.

Mercer highlights its Saturday Night Live program with a Meet Your Heroes Night!

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle