GAR Motorsports’ Mission- Helping teens get involved in Dirt Racing

With the help of Millville New Jersey’s town mayor and a handful of local business Dave

Pierce and GAR Motorsports are trying to make a difference. Their program, Young

Guns- Race To Succeed, is aimed at high school teens that have an interest in auto racing

but not the resources or the accessibility to the sport.

“We want to give kids who come from disadvantaged areas something to put their passion into after school”. Pierce states “instead of hanging around after school, on the streets or at home, with nothing to do. We want to give the 16-I8 year old kids something positive to be a part of, even if they don’t pursue a career in the racing industry. They will have something they can bring into the workforce with them. They will have some thing to be a part of and will give them a feeling of pride and accomplishment at seeing something they helped built, that they are a part of, on the track, maybe even, one day, being behind the wheel.” While working on the racecars the participants will also have a chance to learn about teamwork, physics, math, PR and advertising. Skills that are in top demand by today’s workforce.

The plan is for the participants to design, build and race competitive DIRT modified sportsman racecars. The participants Will also have an opportunity to interact with team members from other top teams and draw positive inspiration from their life experiences to help give the participants goals to strive for and some inspiration to achieve them. Last year, to see if there was an interest he put an ad in paper. 20 kids called them.

“Our ultimate goal’s are to get a third and fourth car, to get more kids involved and race at different tracks in each car, then eventually the ones who appear most apt to succeed in racing, Have him or her drive a car half a season, than one of the other kids will drive the other half. “Our crew chief, Adam Schwegel will teach them how to drive like he taught my son, Rob”. “

The only stumbling block so far seems to be the usual problem all teams have, financing. It can be expensive to pay to get them into pits every week. Feeding the team is no problem for Pierce but pit passes for $30 a piece for 7-8 kids every week added to the general car expenses, can get a little expensive. Pierce states” “Some are so focused and energetic, they wanted to come into the pits, but sometimes we can’t afford to bring them in”

Although he could use a little more funding Pierce is optimistic about the fixture of the program and is currently in negotiations to bring the program to a local Vo-tech and hopefully get it funded by the state. They are currently running #88 Sportsman Modified at Bridgeport Speedway, with his son, Rob Pierce driving. So far they are having a strong season with one heat win and many strong finishes.

“We are tying to teach Rob, always pay attention to his young fans, because people who pay attention to kids is what were all about”. GAR Motorsports are currently shaking