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Chris Simpson races to quick start in new car
By Joshua Joiner
DirtonDirt.com staff writer
Chris Simpson (left) talks with Brian Birkhofer last season at Cedar Lake Speedway. (DirtonDirt.com)
Chris Simpson had a hunch that a switch to MB Customs race cars over the offseason would lead to improved results for his Kevin and Cindy Trca-owned race team. But he never thought that improvement would come as quickly as it has.
The 29-year-old Oxford, Iowa, driver has already nearly matched his win total from last season with two victories in 11 starts in his new Brian Birkhofer- and Jimmy Mars-designed chassis.
“I knew we would be pretty good in these cars, but I didn’t know it would exactly happen right away,” said Simpson, a standout regional racer who scored three victories on the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series in 2012. “I’ve been in a lot of good race cars, but none of them have really fit my driving style like this one. I’m feeling comfortable in the car right off the bat, so we’re excited as can be right now.”
Simpson’s success in his new car came almost immediately. Starting his season with a trip west for Tucson (Ariz.) International Raceway’s Winter Extreme, Simpson topped Mars of Menomonie, Wis., in winning the second round of the January miniseries. He later followed that with a runner-up finish to Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway’s 10,000-to-win Thaw Brawl in March and added to his impressive start to the season with his second victory and a third-place finish during the Spring Meltdown doubleheader this past weekend at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.
Simpson will look to keep that momentum rolling when he enters a pair of $20,000-to-win events this weekend during the National Dirt Racing League’s series-opening doubleheader at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway Friday and Federated I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., Saturday.
“We’ve never started a year off quite like this,” Simpson said. “In years past, I probably wouldn’t be as apt to going to races like these, not because we’ve struggled, but just because we haven’t been nearly as good as we are now. I think it shows we’re running pretty good when we’re right there with guys like Brian and Jimmy.”
It’s fitting that Simpson raced so closely with his car builders in his solid outings at Tucson and La Salle. He’s worked closely with the two veteran drivers to adapt to their chassis. And he’s especially worked closely with Birkhofer, who helped him in the pit area in his first two outings in Tucson.
“Honestly, I think what really helped me out to start as good as we have was him coming out to Arizona with me,” said Simpson, who also notched another top-five and top-10 finish in making five of six races during Tucson’s miniseries. “He wasn’t racing and worrying about his own car. He was just watching me and trying to help me run better. Having someone like him out there helping me out, I think that’s where we got such a good start to the season.
“A lot of people underestimate Brian because he’s such a good race car driver. I didn’t know if he had a really good car or if he’s just that good of a driver. He’s definitely a good driver, but I know now he has a really good car. He works on these things so much. He’s never satisfied with it even if it’s winning.”
Birkhofer, a two-time World 100, Dirt Track World Championship and Knoxville Late Model Nationals winner, a has tried to impart his never-satisfied attitude on his new protege. But still, Simpson is happy with his car.
“I called him the other night at (I-80 Speedway) and told him we won our heat race and finished third in the dash,” Simpson said. “I said ‘I know we’re good enough to win it right now.’ He said ‘Come on now, don’t get arrogant on me.’ I wasn’t arrogant, just confident in the car. I know we’ve got a really good piece.”
Buoyed by his early-season success, Simpson is looking forward to expanding his schedule this year. After three consecutive top-three points finishes with the Corn Belt Clash Series, Simpson won’t follow the regional tour again this year and instead plans to enter more major events.
Along with this weekend’s NDRL events, Simpson plans to hit more national touring events when series like the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and World of Outlaws Late Models Series venture into his home region. He’s especially looking forward to returning to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, this season. One of his MB Customs cars was driven by Birkhofer in winning last year’s World 100 at Eldora.
“I’d be a fool not to go back to Eldora with that thing,” said Simpson, who started the season with a brand new MB Customs car while using Birkhofer’s former personal car as his backup. “Overall, I just want to get out and go to the bigger races with some stiffer competition with the soft tires and try and make myself better.”
Simpson will be up against plenty of stiff competition at this weekend’s NDRL events with the lucrative John Kennedy-founded series is expected to attract top talent for its inaugural races.
He’ll also face a disadvantage based on his experience at the two racetracks. He’s never been to I-55 and his only previous visit to Paducah produced one of his most disappointing performances of 2012. Even with those odds against him, Simpson is confident he’ll be competitive at both events.
“I ran at Paducah last year, but I’ll be honest, I was terrible,” said Simpson, who failed to qualify for Paducah’s 2012 Lucas Oil Series main event. “It was a very bad experience. We were a little disgusted with ourselves after that, but we’re excited to go back. I think we’ve got a much better piece and we’re really running a lot better heading down there this time.
“We’re excited for the whole weekend. I don’t think there’s any reason that we can’t go out there and run close to the top five. We’ve got the equipment to do it, so I guess the rest is up to us making the right decisions with the car and making sure I do my job on the track.”
