Lindsey, Ohio- Steve Rando is one of the stand out
drivers in the 305ci sprint car division at Attica Raceway Park and
Fremont Speedway. Every weekend fans can watch him wheel his North
Coast Sealing, North Coast Asphalt, Davis Fabricators, Parkmont
Wealth, Whetsel Salvage, Loadmaster Trailer, Gressman Powersports,
Tony and Dawn, MBMZ, High Side Motorsports, Attitudes Hair Salon 19R.
The
32 year old from Lindsey, Ohio started his dirt track racing career
13 years ago in the dirt truck division and after three years moved
in the the 305ci sprint car. He has won a 305/360 challenge and also
currently holds the 305ci sprint car track record at Eldora Speedway.
Rando's biggest win so far happened at Waynesfield Raceway Park with
the Fremont/Attica Sprint Title (FAST) in 2015.
The
FAST series will hit the road numerous times again this summer and
Rando is looking forward to the challege.
“It
can be very challenging. Especially seeing them for the first time
you have no idea what to expect or how the car will react. I enjoy
going to Waynesfield. It is a real small but fast track and pretty
racey,” he said of traveling to new tracks.
Seeing
tracks for the first time has it's ups and downs for Rando.
“Sometimes
you don't overcome the challenges and you go home scratching your
head. Other times everything goes your way and that makes the night.
We just can't give up and have to keep going back for more,” he
said.
On
the track Rando looks up to racers like Kasey Kahne but off the track
he looks up to his father.
“If
it wasn't for him wanting me to race I would have never made it on
the track,” he said.
Opening
night at Attica Raceway Park is coming very soon and Rando is ready
to shake off the rust of the long off season.
“I'll
usually look over my setups from last year and hope it is at least
close. I don't know any practice sessions to run the car so I show up
a little dusty on the first night. Usually after the first set of hot
laps it all comes right back to me,” he said.
During
the off season he spends time with his daughter.
“Racing
takes a lot of time so when I'm free I do what I can with her.” he
said, “I also enjoy riding anything like motorcycles, four-wheeler,
three-wheeler and snowmobiles.”
In 2017 Rando plans on competing with the FAST series again and trying
to notch a few more wins.
“I
would love to get a few more wins and possibly a track championship
but everything has to work in your favor to accomplish that,” he
said of this season plans.
Rando
handles his own car and balances life as best he can. In the future
he stills sees himself racing given the right chances come along.
“It is very difficult financially and trying to balance time
between racing and spending time with my daughter. Hopefully things
will continue to work for me though,” he said.
Would
the seasoned 305 driver jump in a 410ci sprint car? Of course if the
opportunity presented itself.
“I
would love to but there is no way I could do it on my own. If I had
the support financially and a setup guy I definitely would be in a
410,” he said.
Every
driver has a race or two on a list of must wins, Rando is no
different. If he had his way he'd win them all.
“That's
the goal every night we show up to the track but with racing that's
just not possible,” he said.
Rando
would like to send out special thanks to his parents along with
Scott, Mike and his Uncle Leroy for everything they do, his sponsors
and Gressman Powersports and his girlfriend Kayleah.
Photos provided by Campbell Photography
The Dirt network is a nice blog. We can read about the profiles of different players and can know how difficult racing is for the players when you have a young family.
ReplyDeleteGood post, I have interest in cars and car racing. You have given pretty good details about Steve Rando. I need to watch his skills soon. Thanks
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