Austin Hubbard: The DIY Method

Austin Hubbard in the staging area during the 2014 Firecracker 100 weekend at Lernerville Speedway.
(Pat Miller Photo)

Whether its a simple thing or something more complex there's always that sense of satisfaction a person gets when they do a task by themselves.

Austin Hubbard gets that feeling most nights when he unloads his race car. While he has help from friends and family, Hubbard is the main cog behind the Hubbard Motorsports team. Owning and operating a race team gives the Seaford, DE resident a sense of pride.

"It's kind of nice to decide where we are going every week," Hubbard said. "Sometimes I'll decide to go camping with friends or go out to eat on a weekend."

"We sometimes end up on deciding where to race, that Friday," Hubbard joked.

Hubbard, 23, has seen the rigors of running a racing series and did so as a teenager. In 2010 he was the World of Outlaws Late Model Series rookie of the year driving of Beitler Motorsports. He picked up two feature wins that year.

Hubbard has raced regionally around the Mid-Atlantic ever since 2010. Last year he won four races. He now defends his home turf when the likes of  the WoO and Lucas series' invade the region. The driver known as the "Delaware Destroyer" defended it well when the Outlaws rolled into Potomac (MD) Speedway last August. Hubbard dominated the field and took home the $10,000 paycheck.

That sense of satisfaction shined brightly after the win.

"It was probably the most meaningful win I've ever had because i did it my own way and with my own friends," Hubbard said. "It was a big personal win for me."

"We proved to ourselves and others that we can compete on that level."

Hubbard at Selinsgrove during the 2014 Showdown on Sand Hill
(Pat Miller Photo)

Choosing where to run can be tricky for a team on a budget. Like many other race teams the costs cause the biggest hurdle for Hubbard Motorsports. Hubbard doesn't know what the solution is and he's not sure if anyone does.

"Sometimes you got to weigh the cost of fuel (for the transporter) versus the chances of making money," Hubbard said. "The two biggest costs are fuel for the hauler and engines. I don't see the price of fuel going down and I don't know if anyone has the answer when it comes to engines. If they did they'd be doing it right now."

Regardless of the costs Hubbard still likes to travel to the biggest events in the area. He's been competing at Lernerville's Firecracker 100 basically all seven years of the race's existence. Don't expect that to change anytime soon. He's really taken to the Sarver, PA speedway.      

"As long as I'm racing I'll be there," Hubbard said. 

"I love that race and I love that racetrack. You can see that race growing every year. That track is one of a kind. There aren't many places where you can go really fast and slow on the same night. It probably makes the biggest swing in lap times at any track that I've been to."

"It's one of the top three races I'd like to win the most."

Hubbard knows to accomplish that goal, he has to be versatile as a driver. It's something Hubbard continues to improve on.

"It's all about knowing when to use your stuff," Hubbard said. "That's why you rarely see a young guy winning the big races." 

While he is still in his early 20's, Hubbard is in his tenth year of piloting a dirt late model. He's comfortable where he's at right now. Look for him to continue to steal races from touring professionals when they hit the Mid-Atlantic.