Justin Thompson's car racing hobby

Hannah Schott
Oct. 12, 2009
Car Racing

"The adrenaline rush from trying to control something on the edge" is his favorite characteristic of car racing, Justin Thompson said.
"I have always like going fast," Thompson said. Thompson, 35, said he began racing cars 10 years ago.
Thompson said he felt nervous at the start of his first race and didn't know what he was doing. "I went past the staging lights and had to back up," he explained.
The officials started the lights when he got back in position, Thompson said, but he wasn't ready and his competitor took off first.
"It was still fun though, and I was hooked," Thompson noted.
Thompson said he has won three first place trophies and numerous second and third place trophies while bracket racing at Rock Falls Raceway. Thompson commented that his favorite racing memory is the time he beat an arrogant young driver by over eight car lengths.
"I like to try new things," Thompson said. He said he recently decided to use E-85 fuel in his car because of its availability and high octane rating. E-85 has cooling effects and provides more power than ordinary race fuel, Thompson said. "It is also much cheaper than race gas," he added.
Thompson said he taught himself to make modifications on his car through Internet research. "I have been modifying my car for years," he said.
Thompson said racing cars has taught him a valuable life lesson. "Even if things aren't going right, keep at it and keep making improvements," he said.