Vanderhoof to face challenge at Flat Rock Speedway — his son

FLAT ROCK — All that stood between Jeremy Vanderhoof and two track championships at Flat Rock Speedway last summer was one broken part.

The Temperance man will be gunning for a sweep of the Street Stocks and Figure 8 divisions this summer.

But that’s not the only reason Vanderhoof is excited and a little nervous about the upcoming season, which begins Saturday with opening night at Flat Rock.

One of his competitors in the Figure 8 division will be his oldest son, Avery Vanderhoof.

“I raced with my dad, so I’ve seen it from that side,” Vanderhoof said. “It’s something new and exciting.”

And father expects good things from his 18-year-old son, who graduated from Bedford High School last spring.

“He’s been on the track for the last two practices,” Vanderhoof said. “I get a little nervous, but he’s pretty good. He’s doing a lot better than expected.”

It will be a summer of learning for Avery.

“He’s young,” his father said. “He thinks he knows a lot, but he learned a lot in the last couple of weeks of practice. Everyone wants to go out there and win, but you’ve got to earn your respect.”

Vanderhoof, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, has earned plenty of respect in the local racing community.

He has eight season track championships on his résumé — four Figure 8 crowns at Toledo Speedway to go along with three Figure 8 and one Street Stock title at Flat Rock.

He was the Figure 8 champion last summer at Flat Rock and finished second for Street Stocks.

The most important lesson he wants his son to learn is that preparation is the most important part of auto racing.

“The work in the garage is obviously the most important thing,” he said. “You have to check the nuts and bolts from week to week and make sure that nothing is going to fall off.

“That’s what happened to us last year on the Street Stocks side. We had a parts failure in a big race. The guy we were racing for the title finished well and we finished bad.”

Few drivers tax themselves as hard on race days as Vanderhoof.

“Not many,” he said when asked how many compete in both Street Stocks and Figure 8. “There are probably three or four out there who run multiple divisions.”

More: Temperance man runs a nearly perfect summer on the race track

Each of Vanderhoof's cars has a different setup and driving challenges are unique.

“They are two totally different things,” he said. “In Street Stocks, obviously you just keep turning left. You can only see two or three cars ahead of you.

“In Figure 8s, there is so much more going on. You have to have a lot more awareness. That helps you in other divisions.”

Racing is a family affair for the Vanderhoofs.

“Luckily, we have good car owners and sponsors,” Jeremy said. “Our car gets around the track very well. It helps when you are prepared. My wife and kids all chip in and do their part.”

Jeremy and his wife Melissa also have a 17-year-old daughter named Aubrey who also hopes to get her chance behind the wheel.

“She does want to race,” Jeremy said. “We have to figure that out, probably not next year.”

Jeremy says Melissa is the engine of the Vanderhoof racing clan.

“She's what keeps all of us going,” he said. “I’m out in the garage a lot. She supports that.”

Opening Day at Flat Rock Speedway will feature competition for Figure 8, Street Stocks, Late Models and the new Factory Stock 500 series. Go to www.flatrockspeedway.com for more information.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Vanderhoof to face challenge at Flat Rock Speedway — his son