It’s the week most everyone slows down and gives thanks, holds family close and over-indulges at the dinner table. Race car drivers are no different. They will hit the brakes Thanksgiving Day, lock the shop doors and bow their heads.
Thomas Scott figures he’s got more than most to be thankful for this year. His small, family-centric race team had an amazing year on the track. Away from the track, Scott’s year was equally remarkable.
“I’ve had a lot of good personal growth this year,” said Scott, manager of an automobile body shop. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities with my career I’ve grown into and I’ve started a relationship with someone I’m going to marry.
“I’m thankful for all of that and I’m thankful for my mom and dad and for everything they have done for me.”
Scott’s on-track success was equally impressive in 2018. He finished third in the South Boston Speedway Late Model Stock points, behind two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champions, Peyton Sellers and Philip Morris. He was a solid fourth in the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway and put together a strong run in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.
“Obviously I’m thankful for the success we had this year,” said Scott, who will enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with his family and then head to Washington, D.C. for a few days of sight-seeing. “All the good runs and finishes at South Boston and then the good run at the Hampton Heat and almost winning Martinsville.
“Actually, this has been one of the best years of my life.”
Sellers picked up his fourth South Boston Speedway championship in 2018. He captured the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown a third time and was solid every time he rolled into a track. And while he is thankful for another stellar season of racing, this Thanksgiving week it is all about home for him.
“I’m very thankful for family. I work with my brother (H.C. Sellers). I race with my brother. I get to work with my mom and dad,” said Sellers, whose father Bert had heart surgery early in the summer and was sidelined for a good while. “Dad having heart surgery was a reality check, but he’s fine now. And at the end of the day, I’m thankful for family.”
For Johnny Layne, it’s always about family, especially his five-year-old daughter. But at Thanksgiving family is more important than ever to the 2017 Pure Stock champion who finished second in points in 2018.
“I can’t complain at all. My little girl, my dad and my brother, they make everyday worth getting up for, putting a smile on and heading out,” said Layne.
Layne is on vacation this week and said he’s going to spend the days around Thanksgiving doing “a little hunting, spending time with my little girl and the rest of my family. And eat a lot of turkey and tenderloin.”
Racing returns to South Boston Speedway Saturday, March 16 featuring twin 100-lap races for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock cars, a 50-lap Limited Sportsman division race, a 30-lap Budweiser Pure Stock race and a 15-lap Budweiser Hornets division race.
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