By DAVID MILLER
Special to The Dispatch
Spencer Hughes is about to reach the top of the ladder.
It’s been a quick and successful climb for Hughes, who at 16 years old has a NeSmith National Street Stocks points championship and numerous track points titles to his credit. And, just halfway through his first year racing NeSmith Late Models, Hughes has won eight races and hasn’t finished outside the top 3.
“I can’t ask for much more for who we race against around here,” said Hughes, who currently drives the K11 car for Randy Thompson. “We’ve been fortunate.”
Both Hughes and Thompson agree: why wait for the next step and when you’re ready now?
Hughes will make his debut in a Super Late Model race in the coming weeks and will follow the Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series through the rest of the year.
“I’ve always wanted to run a Super Late Model – that’s a dream of every dirt driver,” Hughes said. “We have full intentions of venturing out and racing. We’ll follow the state races the rest of this year, and who knows where we’ll end up.”
Hughes said he and Thompson discussed racing Super Late Models as soon as possible when they first met to discuss partnering for the 2017 season. Hughes will soon join the likes of Johnny Stokes, Bub McCool and David Breazeale as Mississippi drivers who’ve raced Super Late Models for Thompson.
“Randy Thompson does not like Crate racing, but that’s kind of where I needed to be, so he said as soon as he felt like we were ready, we’re going into Super Late Model racing,” Hughes said. “We’ve actually had the car for a little bit now, just trying to get it together.”
Thompson has put the Crate car up for sale but will race Saturday in the Highway 45 Crate Late Model Throwdown, a $1,000-to-win feature at Magnolia Motor Speedway. Hughes has won three times at Magnolia – his favorite track – this year.
Hughes won the Battle of the States in both Street Stocks and Crates and also won the Highway 45 Challenge at Whynot. He started first at Whynot Motorsports Park in the Southern Crate Late Model Nationals and finished third.
“I’m excited to race Super Late Models, but I really enjoy running the Crate car,” Hughes said. “I’m just trying to get there, between working at Boland (Performance) and working on the crate car, I try to get to Randy’s (in Meridian) to work on the Super Late Model as much as I can.”
Hughes said he and Thompson could have put the Super Late Model car on the track by now, but they’re taking the same patient and precise approach in that car as they have with the Crate car. Hughes said Thompson is meticulous and detailed in his weekly maintenance.
“Ninety percent of races are won in the shop,” Hughes said. “We haven’t had a week where we felt like the car wasn’t ready.”
Hughes said he and his family have never had a “big picture” plan for his racing future, even when it became apparent that he would dominate each time he got behind the wheel. Driving for Thompson has helped Hughes prepare for future expectations beyond those of himself and his family.
“I had a lot of people tell me when they found out I’d be driving for him that sometimes you got to have thicker skin,” Hughes said. “But really, you just need to listen, soak it up and learn. We’ve worked well together … maybe because I’m young and not stuck in my ways, and I’m here to learn to get better. He’s worked with me a lot, understands I haven’t driven a late model until this year.
“I can’t thank Randy enough for giving me this opportunity, and the good Lord for it all working out. Randy keeps us in good equipment each week. My mom and dad, my sister and my girlfriend stand behind me each week, and Michael Litchfield and Dylan and Michael Huddler help me out each week. I have a lot of support.”
NOTE: Columbus Speedway will host weekly points races tonight beginning at 8 p.m.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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