Weekly Notebook presented by FK Rod Ends
Notes: On ‘fringe,’ West Virginian Hill is fast
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt senior writer
Daniel Hill (Zach Yost photos)
Daniel Hill says he’s self-aware of his place in the Dirt Late Model pecking order. The 37-year-old financial analyst from Morgantown, W.Va., comes by his love for racing honestly as a third-generation racer who, while making a living and raising a family, makes time for a relatively modest number of annual appearances each season in his Groves Racing Service No. 1 car.
“It's hard to write a good story about a guy who races 15 times, but we've got a really cool family gig,” Hill said, leveling with a reporter who’s peppering him with questions in a telephone interview. “Truthfully we're super lucky to get as many top-fives in the events that we enter.”
With “tons of family history with my name” at West Virginia dirt tracks, and driving a car owned by former standout Dave Groves, Hill doesn’t have to be reminded to check his ego at the driver’s side door.
“It's crazy because I'm probably like the fourth best driver on my race team and then in my family, I'm probably like the fifth-best driver because my grandfather Earl Hill, my dad Bobby. And then my sister married Shawn Jett, who's won races in the area, and then my wife's sister married Derek Doll, who was a great race car driver in our area.”
But don’t let Hill sell himself short. The grandson of legendary Tyler County Speedway racer Earl Hill — his memorial race is among the best known in the region — and son of Tyler County Bullring of Honor inductee Bobby Hill, is an accomplished racer in his own right, even if he’s about as far from being a full-time professional racer as you can get.
"I tell people I'm a race car driver because at least I can tell one or two good stories,” jokes Hill, who studied accounting at West Virginia University. “Nobody wants to know about budgeting for the Department of Energy.”
Following the tire tracks of his grandfather and father was a natural, but Hill paced himself before climbing into the driver’s seat. While he wasn’t alive during Earl Hill’s heyday, he had plenty of racing information to soak up from watching his father Bobby’s successful career of winning many of the major events at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va., including the Earl Hill Memorial.
“It was better for me that I didn't have a desire to race young as a teenager because I was taking it in,” Hill said. “I was learning how to work on the car and understand what he was doing as opposed to just critiquing his driving, although he might say otherwise.”
What impressed young Daniel was his father’s ability to race smart and make the most of his investment.
“He probably didn't have any business winning with the equipment he had, but he took great care of it. I learned a lot watching him. And learned how not to tear stuff up because you got to go to work on Monday morning at 7 a.m. And the less you have to do on the race car, the better week that you had,” Hill said. “I learned a lot about maintenance in the race shop. I learned a lot about making things last, making parts work that were maybe nearing the end of their life, just taking care of what you had because it costs a lot to get the next A-frame, the next spindle.”
Bobby’s career came to an end as Daniel’s began. The lower-budget and developing Crate Late Model division made sense for Daniel, who after a half-dozen years in the division had his best season by capturing 10 victories and winning the $10,000 Fastrak Racing Series weekly championship in 2015. Two years later the family’s Late Model connections ended for a spell with Daniel making a successful run in modifieds, winning Tyler County’s Mega 100 and capturing an AMRA weekly championship among other successes.
But the Hill name has always been connected to Late Models, so when Groves called five years ago to suggest a return to the division, Hill didn’t think twice. A Limited Late Model operation upgraded to a Super Late Model program and it’s been a good partnership with Hill’s father among crew members.
“Since then, I've been driving for Dave and it's been great. We might be more friends than anything right now than car owner,” Hill said. “We might talk on the phone twice a week and the first time we don't even talk about racing cause we're talking about our grandkids and kids and what our plans are for the week.
"What I'll say about how I race, Dave hired me because I don't tear up a bunch of stuff — knock on wood — and I would say the racing history books, they'll never mention my name or never see me because I was always the guy that was just there. And if there was 10 good cars, I was the 11th best car. If there was the two good cars, I was third.”
No matter what he says, Hill isn’t a field filler. He's grabbed Late Model victories at Tyler County and five other tracks in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania in the Groves car, including a recent Super Late Model triumph at Elkins Speedway.
"Truthfully, when I started driving for him, it's the best race car I've ever had, the best engine I've ever had. So it's been a great opportunity for me,” Hill said. “We're really fortunate that when we do race, we are still fast and so we just keep going back.”
Infrequent starts would be a challenge for many teams in an era where the technical side of racing is a moving target, but the shared racing knowledge among the Groves and Hill clans, along with vital team resources, keep them up to date.
Groves leans on Rocket Chassis co-founder Steve Baker, a former schoolmate, and Rocket employee Paul Wilmoth Jr. was one of Hill’s favorite drivers and is quick to share knowledge. Mason Zeigler crew chief Bryan Liverman is married to Groves’s daughter Jordan, so that team is another source of technical know-how. And Groves doesn’t skimp on providing a quality race car and components.
"Dave has given us all the best equipment that we could ask for,” Hill said. “I have all the shocks I need. If there's something new that he wants to try, we have it. I've never had the equipment or the tools that I have now to kind of make it go.”
The team’s rig doesn’t allow bringing a spring smasher along for on-the-fly setups, but the team’s notebook has “got a measurement for every 1/16 of an inch here and 1/16 inch there,” Hill said. And they study photographs and videos, too.
“It sounds ridiculous, but a lot of times, we'll look at pictures and we'll be like, ‘Our car doesn't have that dynamic posture. What do we need to do to make it get through the corner like that?’ Because we have more data and resources than we've ever had. It also gets us in trouble because we think we can do things that we don't necessarily need to do.”
After Groves and the team put their heads together to choose a setup, it’s in the hands of Hill, whose racing style is reliable if unspectacular.
"I would consider myself an old-school type of racer. I like to keep the car straight and under me, and I think part of that is a product of growing up driving Crate cars. I just kind of had to drive it straight to make it fast,” he said. “Dave trusts me to drive and he wants me to drive hard, but also, he knows I'm not going to knock the deck out unless it's a necessity.”
In a perfect world — one without rainouts, for instance — the team might be able increase its number of starts and branch out beyond the tracks where it’s had success. But with Groves’s granddaughter on a traveling softball team and Hill’s preschool children beginning activities, far-flung trips aren’t on the radar. Nor is loading up to tackle random national touring events where finishing among the top 10 is the best-case scenario.
More reasonably, Hill will continue to battle the region’s top competition, trying to steal a victory or two from Kyle Hardy of Stephens City, Va., and Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, Va., who nab their share of regional special events.
"I think I kind of described it earlier, it's like I'm just on the fringe, and Dave has given me everything I need to do to win more races,” Hill said. "I think most any driver you interview, whether it's the guy like me who races 15 times a year or if it's (Jonathan) Davenport, they will all say that it's harder to win now than it's ever been.
“Right now we're a second- to fifth-place car and we're really close to jumping the gap to winning some of these races that are $4,000- and $5,000-to-win. We're right there, and it takes a little bit of luck, too.”
Weekly highlights
• Winning twice July 11 at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway, Matt Dooley of Fayetteville, Ga., captured features in the Limited Late Model and 604 Crate Late Model divisions.
• Ron Klein of Sherrill, Iowa, won July 12’s Late Model feature at Dubuque (Iowa) Speedway to snap TJ Fortmann’s three-race winning streak. Fortmann finished seventh.
• Rallying from his 12th starting spot, Austen Becerra won July 12’s IMCA Late Model feature at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway.
• Cole Searing of Huron, S.D., won July 11’s Andy Daly Memorial at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, S.D., outrunning 11th-row starter Mike Greseth.
First things first
Recent first-time occurrences at the dirt track:
• Second-year 602 Crate Late Model racer Keaton Baker of Russellville, Ala., notched his first feature victory July 10 at Highway 72 Speedway in Corinth, Miss.
• The second driver of a Roger Wing-owned car to score a first Super Late Model win in 2026, Kody Johnson of Vestaburg, Mich., on July 11 won from the fifth starting spot at Crystal (Mich.) Motor Speedway.
• Winning July 11 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa., Andrew Chess of Ripley, N.Y., captured his first Crate Late Model feature.
• Fifth-year Limited Late Model driver Brandon Bard of Greencastle, Pa., captured his first division feature July 11 at Path Valley Speedway in Spring Run, Pa. The 37-year-old is in his fifth season in the division.
Weekly news briefs
• Racer Myles Moos of Lincoln, Ill., announced an amicable departure from the Brent McKinnon Racing team with plans to return to his self-owned No. 84 entry. He plans to continue on the MARS Championship Series, where he’s second in rookie points and eighth overall.
• With the Menomonie Water System taxed by hot weather and forecasts for temperatures in the 90s, Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis., cancelled July 17's race program. The city has implemented an irrigation ban, which limits the track's use of its on-site water supply for race operations.
• The legendary Hawkeye Downs Speedway, which has primarily operated as a paved oval since 1989, plans to run dirt races on the quarter-mile layout in 2027 at the 102-year-old facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, promoters announced. The track ran a handful of Dirt at the Downs events in 2025 and after September's dirt events plans to leave the 350 truckloads of dirt on the track for next season’s campaign. “After putting pen to paper and reviewing the financials, we believe it’s in the best interest of Hawkeye Downs and its future to go with dirt racing in 2027, said Gordon Parker, board president of Hawkeye Downs. The track is considering continuing to host asphalt races on the half-mile layout, which shares a frontstretch with the quarter-mile configuration.
• Winder-Barrow Speedway on July 18 will induct the 2026 class of the track’s Hall of Fame: Dwight Brooks, Willie Peppers, Heath Page, Elmer Greeson, Heath Carlyle and George Recce Sr.
• The 43 acres of Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., has been listed for sale for $3.2 million. The Gundaker family-owned property includes a 3/8-mile dirt track, go-kart track, 8,000-square-foot building and seating for more than 5,000 spectators. The St. Louis Business Journal said marketing materials cite the property as a “former” racetrack and highlight its redevelopment potential, especially for possible warehouse or distribution sites.
• Thanks to sponsorship from Miron Construction, July 25’s Late Model event at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway will pay $2,000-to-win, double the normal winner’s payday. The 16th annual Racing for a Reason event raises money for HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.
• Longtime Science Hill, Ky., Late Model racer Tim Taylor died July 8 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. He was 63. The former Super Late Model winner at Lake Cumberland Speedway will be honored during July 18’s racing event. Along with Lake Cumberland, he logged victories at Clinton County Speedway in Alpha, Ky. The Somerset, Ky., native was formerly a dairy farmer and owned and operated Tim Taylor Trucking.
• Merritt Speedway’s biggest event will return to a five-figure payday for the Super Late Model division thanks to the “incredible generosity” of an anonymous donor, track owner Mike Blackmer announced. The 38th annual Ed VanDuinen Wood Tic will pay $10,000-to-win on July 24-25 at the Lake City, Mich., track after extra money was donated by an unnamed fan to increase payouts for the top five finishers in the Super Late Model and modified divisions. Merritt had planned on a $4,000-to-win Super Late Model payout similar to 2025’s event, Blackmer said.
• Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park is set to reopen under the new ownership of the Jent family on July 18 after July 11’s race program rained out. Super Late Models and Crate Late Models are part of a five-division program.
• Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram, Miss., is mourning the death of former Late Model driver Tony Henry of Brandon, Miss.
• After July 8’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series program concluded after midnight, promoters at Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y., said they “are committed to making the necessary changes to make sure that we can wrap up at a reasonable time when we have big events in the future.” The track scratched its July 11 race with plans to return to action July 18 with an event highlighted by the Modified Mafia tour with Super Late Models and Crate Late Models also on the card.
• Old No. 1 Speedway in Harrisburg, Ark., is on a summer break with racing to resume Sept. 11-12. Late Models don’t return until Oct. 3’s Rock-A-Billy.
• Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., has instituted a rules update regarding restrictor plates for the Late Model division. See the track’s Facebook page for details. The change was made “after listening to feedback from weekly and touring competitors.”
• The Randy McCoy-promoted Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown, N.C., plans to extend its season longer than previously announced with Saturday events added for Sept. 12, Sept. 19, Oct. 10 and Oct. 24.
• Boone (N.C.) Fairgrounds Raceway’s Aug. 1 High Country Classic will be co-promoted by track owner Matt Ward along with Virginia promoter Langley Austin, who last season operated the Ararat (Va.) Bullring. Late Models are part of a card including at least five divisions with more details to be announced.
• Chris Woods of Statham, Ga., inherited July 4’s 602 Crate Late Model feature victory at Toccoa (Ga.) Raceway after Shane Chastain was stripped of his victory when his tires failed lab test, a report revealed July 15. In a statement on his Facebook page, Chastain accepted blame and said he'd used 2-year-old tires that the team was unaware had likely been been treated with tire softener long ago.
Weekly points
DIRTcar (Supers): Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., has 1,791 points to lead Tanner English (1,618) and Mike Spatola (1,413).
IMCA (Limiteds): Zach Zeitner of Bellevue, Neb., has 765 points to lead Tommy Elston (755) and Curtis Glover (726).
WISSOTA (Limiteds): Shane Sabraski of Rice, Minn., has 1,160 points to lead Tyler Peterson (1,130) and Kevin Burdick (989).
American All-Stars (Crates): Logan Walls of Junction City, Ky., has 546 points to lead Brandon Fouts (508) and Dalton Brown (427).
Crate Racin’ USA (604 Crates): Shannon Lee of Lumberton, Miss., has 616 points to lead Chris Reid (578) and Nick Thrash (517).
Crate Racin’ USA (602 Crates): Brodie Thompson of Talladega, Ala., has 606 points to lead Joey Tucker (599) and Chace Pennington (577).
DIRTcar (Crates): Braden Johnson of Taylorville, Ill., has 799 points to lead Chase Wilson (727) and Hudson Dick (653).
Gen X (Crates): Parker Gilbertson of Montevideo, Minn., has 848 points to lead Trevor Walsh (838) and Blake Swensen (805).
RUSH (Crates): Multitime champ Jeremy Wonderling of Wellsville, N.Y., moves into the lead with 1,320 points ahead of Winchester, Va., drivers Devin Brannon (1,303) and Davin Kaiser (1,288).
Ultimate (Crates): T.J. Salango of Beckley, W.Va., has 220 points to lead Brandon Adkins (205) and T.J. Hicks (191).
USRA (Crates): Jason McFadden of Jim Falls, Wis., has 4,058 points to lead Lucas Peterson (3,698) and Josh Wahlstrom (2,818).
Upcoming weekly specials
Among non-touring and independent special events coming up for Late Models at dirt tracks around the country:
Freedom Motorsports Park, Delevan, N.Y. (July 17): The Pete Loretto Memorial pays $5,000-to-win for the Super Late Model division in a race sponsored by Briggs Transport.
Thunder Mountain Speedway, Corbin, Ky. (July 17): The first half of the North vs. South Steel Block Nationals pays $4,000-to-win (Lake Cumberland hosts a similar event the following night).
Skyline Speedway, Stewart, Ohio (July 17): Super Late Models run a Hillbilly 100 qualifier a night ahead of Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series action.
Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, Wis. (July 18): The 10th annual Duane Mahder Memorial pays $10,555-to-win under the track’s Late Model rules with a $2,500-to-win USRA Late model event on the undercard.
Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, Ky. (July 18): The Topless Steel Block Nationals with a $4,000-to-win purse has been tabbed the Tim Taylor Tribute.
Buxton Speedway, Merlin, Ontario (July 18): The Crate vs. Open Late Model Challenge pays $2,500-to-win with an additional $1,575 for any driver outrunning C.J. Field, who has seven consecutive victories at the track.
Wartburg (Tenn.) Speedway (July 18): The track's $3,000-to-win Limited Late Model event rained out July 3 and July 11 will be made up (along with fireworks during intermission).
Sugar Creek Raceway, Blue Ridge, Ga (July 18): In a program that includes a fireworks show, the 604 Crate Late Model division will chase a $2,500-to-win purse.
Ohsweken (Ontario) Speedway (July 21): The second round of the Crate vs. Open Late Model Challenge pays $2,500-to-win with Kenny Wallace expected to compete in a borrowed car.
