Thunder Road driver's passion for racing helped him overcome addiction
"I had to make a choice," said Prescott. "Either live or die and that's where I was at."
"I had to make a choice," said Prescott. "Either live or die and that's where I was at."
"I had to make a choice," said Prescott. "Either live or die and that's where I was at."
Thunder Road is home to one of the most famous short track courses in the Northeast, and its history spans generations. Ken Squire opened the course in 1960 and since then it's invited some of the best racers in the area to try and master the circuit.
"I come from a huge racing family," said current Flying Tiger Division competitor Justin Prescott. He's had a love of racing since he was a kid, which led him to start competing at Thunder Road in 2009. But, that all changed after a brief stint in the military took him away from the sport.
"I joined the Navy, and then I got injured," said Prescott. "Came back and got badly addicted to pain killers."
When addiction took its hold over Prescott, he said but him in a dark place — taking him away from racing and even his family.
"We weren't really the closest when he wasn't racing," said Taylor Hoar, a Street Stock racer at Thunder Road and Prescott's stepsister.
After finally hitting rock bottom Prescott said he knew he had to make a decision.
"I had to make a choice," he said. "Either live or die and that's where I was at."
In the end, Prescott chose life, reaching out for help and finding the answer to getting his life back.
"I was asked by somebody what used to make me happy, and the first thing that came out of my mouth was racing," he said.
2020 marked a new beginning for Prescott, as he jumped back behind the wheel and began racing again. This not only helped him find a purpose but helped reconnect him to his family.
"We're each other's biggest supporters," said Hoar.
Once Prescott returned to the sport, that inspired her to start working on a car of her own. With the help of their team, including Thunder Road legend Brian Hoar, the two work on each other's vehicles every single Tuesday in preparation for that week's race.
"We're really proud of him," said Brian Hoar. "He's doing a fantastic job."
The motivation that Barre's short track provides is working out for the team, with Prescott currently ranking second in the Flying Tiger Division standings heading into the final weekends of the season. More importantly, though, it's helping write a new chapter in Prescott's life, as he overcomes the grasp of addiction.
"Three and a half years ago if you would have asked me where I am today I would have laughed," said Prescott. "Recovery is possible. If you have a desire to change there is a way."