Getting Up To Speed With…Tanner Baldwin
By Ben Deatherage
Today we get to talk to a bright young man that has cut his teeth at the Sunset Speedway Park for the last few years. Tanner Baldwin, of Hockinson, Washington, had a successful 2012 campaign winning a few races in the Street Stock division. In 2013 the sophomore at Hockinson High will jump up to the IMCA Modified ranks.
Driver: Tanner Baldwin
Home Track: Sunset Speedway Park
Hometown: Hockinson, Washington
Occupation: Student (Hockinson High School)
Age: 15
Years Racing: 3
Classification: IMCA Modified
Car Number: 15
Chassis: Larry Shaw Race Cars
Sponsors: Harry’s Locksmith, T-Mac Performance, Discount Race Car Parts, Marty’s Transmissions, All In One Mobility
Special Thanks: Robin Baldwin (Mom), Ross Baldwin (Dad), Ron Jermann, and Chris Hallberg
BD: 2012 was a great year for you by winning three races in the Street Stocks. How would you rate your season?
TB: From a performance aspect is was great. We had some mechanical problems through the year. If we hadn’t had those I think we would have done very well in the points. But it was a good year.
BD: With the type of competition that exists in Street Stocks there is no win that is given away?
TB: Yes especially at Sunset. It’s difficult because you have seven or eight cars that can win any given night.
BD: In 2013 do you plan on staying in the Street Stock ranks at Sunset Speedway Park?
TB: No, I’ve gotten myself an IMCA Modified and we plan on running that. I’ll be racing quite a bit at Sunset but we do plan on travelling around to some different tracks on off weekends.
BD: Your nickname is “The Tiger”. Is there a story behind that?
TB: Well not really. It seemed to fit because my car was orange and there was a paw print on the side of the door the announcer just went with it. I put the paw print on there because it looked cool with my paint scheme.
BD: Have you made any goals for yourself as a driver in the future?
TB: Of course as a driver you want to get to NASCAR but that’s a pretty tall order. But when I started racing I actually wanted to end up in a Modified so it’s pretty cool that I’ve finally got one.
BD: As a young man who is still in high school is it pretty hard to balance your school time and time spent on the car in the middle of the week when school is in session?
TB: For sure. There is a ton of work to be done on the car before Saturdays. But for me homework comes first. In fact by priorities are academics, racing, and girls in that order.
Sunset Speedway Park will be in action this Saturday night, May 4th, for race number three of 2013. Classes scheduled to compete include the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series, Northwest Extreme Sprints, Northwest Extreme Modifieds, 4-Bees, and Womens. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.