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CJ Swank
WILEY FORD, W.V. (June 11) - In the early 2008 season, a small West Virginia based 358 Limited Late Model team was in search for a driver to pilot their secondary car. After running though a list of possible candidates, they settled on a 34 year-old driver who had never strapped into a Late Model during his entire seventeen-year career on dirt ovals.
Why? They'll tell you that it's a mixture of dedication and passion that can make any team successful.
Sponaugle Racing is a family-run organization situated near the West Virginia/Maryland border in Wiley Ford, WV. Team front man Matt Sponaugle, has been competing in Limited Late Models and Super Lates since 2001. With many successes throughout the Tri-State region, Sponaugle's newest challenge in 2008 is becoming a car owner; as he watches the #8J take to the track alongside his #8 Rocket Chassis powerplant every week.
Sixty-five miles north, outside of Johnstown, PA, resides Sponaugle Racing's rookie pilot Jamey Swank. In seventeen years, Swank has amassed over 50 wins in the ranks of Semi-Late and Street Stocks; but has never had the opportunity to pilot any kind of dirt Late Model. That is, until the 2008 season.
With seven races under his belt, Swank has gained valuable knowledge behind the wheel of the #8J Rocket Chassis. Swank has only placed outside the Top 8 two times and is consistently battling against some of the toughest Limited Late Model pilots in the region. Sponaugle has continued his known success on the track as well; picking up an early season feature victory at Allegany County Speedway and seven Top 10 finishes.
Even with the high fuel prices, the team has been determined to try their hand at various racetracks throughout the region. In the early season, Sponaugle Racing has competed at their home track, Allegany County Speedway in Cumberland, MD; Hesston Speedway in Hesston, PA; Bedford Speedway in Bedford, PA; Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD and Winchester Speedway in Winchester, VA.
With the racing schedule nearing halfway, the team is continually searching for different venues to compete. Both drivers are insistent that traveling throughout the region is the only way to build a better and stronger team, as they look at their regional competition within the division as some of the best wheelmen in the Northeast United States.
Two drivers; two cars; two different states. What brings this insane situation together? The dedicated crew, the determined drivers and great fans who have supported Sponaugle Racing's newest venture in 2008.
At the beginning of the season, neither driver had spoken more than two words to each other, as they usually competed at venues that were states apart. A few months into the season, you can find them conversing on the phone two or three times a week. When an extra hand is needed, Swank will jump in his car and drive to the shop in West Virginia to work on either car -- no questions asked. Sponaugle takes time out of his own night of racing to help set-up the #8J, to be a coach to Swank and to drive his team to success.
Most may not understand how a team divided by such a long distance can come together each race night and work as a solid unit. For Sponaugle and Swank, the communication and camaraderie have become second nature and the well-oiled steel powered machines are running strong.
Sponaugle Racing would like to thank all of their sponsors and supporters for the #8 and #8J: Global Trucking Outfitters/Line-X, The Bowler Family Fun Center, B&D Salvage, D&D Pit N' Go, RE/MAX Team REALTORS (Johnstown, PA), Happy Trails Campground (Raystown, PA), RaceTalkRadio.Com, Fastenal, SSP, Lias Tire/American Racer, TC Race Cars, Cresap Automotive Machine, Rocket Chassis, Shearer Custom Speed
You can find more information on the team at: www.mattsponaugle.com and www.swank30racing.com
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