From Bill W
Nineteen-year-old Missouri driver, Josh Fisher, is coming off another sensational year, and is hoping that by spreading his wings a bit in 2010, that the best is yet to come. The Smithton resident will be running several 410 shows for Illinois car owner, Rick Northrup, in addition to a bigger schedule with his family owned 360 sprint car. The first race awaits him at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas on March 19 and 20.
In his first three seasons in a sprint car, Josh has been very impressive in the “Show Me” State, scoring over a dozen wins. He put together seven victories in 2009, but this year he will mix in some 410 starts, primarily on Friday nights in Jacksonville, Illinois. “It’s going to be different, that’s for sure,” he says of a schedule that tentatively has over 60 races planned. “We’ve usually done a lot of local stuff. This year, we’re also going to be able to venture out to several different tracks. Some will be new, and that will be good for me and my career.”
Josh competed in 34 shows in 2009, and he will be hitting that by the time July concludes this season. “It will be good to get in different cars with different owners and different tracks and get some experience in those ways,” he says. “Hopefully, it will make me a better racer.”
The 2009 Winged Outlaw Warrior champion wants to seize the opportunity he is getting from Northrup and his #83 Ford racing team. “Even racing on the small tracks in a 410 will make me a better racer when I come back and run the 360,” he says. “Being able to run the 410 is a great deal. We’ll run a few shows with the World of Outlaws, and we’ll just see how we’ll do.”
The winner of the Lake Ozark Speedway Nationals last September was also honored as he was voted into the top 25 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum’s 360 sprint car poll last season. “With us only racing in Missouri, it’s definitely an honor to be mentioned in the poll,” he says. “Especially with the fact we only ran 30 or 35 shows last year, that makes it all the more special. We’d like to definitely stay in that with the amount of races we’re planning in 2010.”
The chore at Devil’s Bowl will be a tough one. Traditionally, the best in the 360 business are on hand in Mesquite to start the season out. “Our goal is to make both the mains down there and work forward from there,” he says. “Your draw plays a part in that definitely, and you know the competition will be tough. We’re really excited about it, and we’d like to kick off the season right. Last year, I think we made the show the first night (*) and had some troubles the second.”
The 2007 National Sprint Car 360 and WOW Rookie of the Year is also thankful for the help on the family #86 team. “I really have to thank Eric Rose, Charlie Trelow and my father, Rusty Fisher,” he says. “Without them working with me, it wouldn’t be possible. I’d also like to thank Rick Northrup and his son Ricky for giving me a shot in their 410 this season too.”
Follow Josh on his Website and on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter!
Follow Josh at his website located at www.JoshFisherRacing.com! Also keep up with him on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter (which also can be accessed at the website) at the following links…
MySpace link = http://www.myspace.com/joshfisherracing
Facebook link = http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=100000662545016
Twitter link = http://twitter.com/JEFRacing
Josh would like to thank the following sponsors for all their help: Ozark Barge & Dock Services Inc., ASAP Properties, Impact Wraps, Impact Sign & Lighting, Fischer’s Concrete, Champion Brands, Bill Ferguson Livestock Trucking, K&N Filters, Butler Built Seats, Maxim Racing Chassis, Winters Performance, Bell Helmets, Hoosier Tires, Ramey Dirtworks, TCI Tire Centers, Brian’s Gym