By Robert Haugh
After overcoming some early gremlins, Ricky Shelton and the Full Circle Racing team showed they can race with the strongest competitors in their debut race at the 73rd Annual Turkey Night Midget Grand Prix at the half-mile Perris Auto Speedway.
Shelton was among the top 20 in hot laps and the team was hoping for a strong qualifying run, only to place 24th, just a tenth off of the Top 14, which automatically earned a spot in the A-main event.
Having to avoid a fellow competitor, Shelton checked up early in Qualifying Race No. 2, to keep from hitting another racer and jumped the cushion. Upon getting back in line, an over-aggressive competitor forced Shelton into the retaining wall, sending Shelton into a cartwheel series of flips coming out of Turn 4 and onto the front stretch.
“We appreciate all the outpouring of support for the new team and the compassion to Ricky after the crash. We will not quit we will just rebuild and come back stronger,” stated Crew Chief Ty Hindman.
After over 15 years, the championship duo of Shelton and Hindman has come Full Circle, collaborating in the creation of Full Circle Racing (FCR) a new Southern California Midget racing team. The duo formed a partnership with Neverlift Motorsports/David Prickett Racing to field the #15 Neverlift Motorsports Stealth/Esslinger at the Turkey Night on November 28, with ten percent of their Turkey Night winnings donated to the Davey Jean Prickett fund (the unborn daughter of David and Brittney Prickett).
Shelton claimed the 1997 USAC-WS championship and rookie-of-the-year, claiming over 15 Midget victories from 1997 to 1999 and also claimed third place in the USAC National Midget series in 1998 with wins at such races as the Rich Vogler Classic at Winchester Speedway and Eagle Nationals in Lincoln, Nebraska as well as a fifth-place finish at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
Hindman has claimed many championships, feature wins and track records as a crew chief, most recently having claimed both USAC-Western States and Bay Cities Racing Association championships along with multiple wins and track records at tracks such as Petaluma, Silver Dollar Speedway, Calistoga, Stockton 99 Dirt track and more. Hindman also has experience as an Indy Car mechanic and has compiled multiple wins and accolades in Midget racing.
Shelton and Hindman claimed the 1997 USAC-Western States Midget championship together and are looking forward to coming Full Circle after winning many races and championships together.
FCR sponsors include Hall Ass Racing, Amerseal, So Cal Nitrous and Race Fuel, Electronic Chrome and Grinding, Kevin Triplett, AJ Nigh, Pro Tech Services, Western Proformance, Scully Family, Rod End Supply and West Evans Motorsports.
Full Circle Racing is looking for additional sponsors for the 2014 season. Visit FCR on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/