Jeff Blaser Photo

Part Two of Four Introducing Dells Raceway Park's 2010 Rookies of the Year

by Matt Panure
Most drivers get into racing because it's engrained in their DNA. Most drivers watch a parent, an older sibling or cousin get into the sport and decide to take a shot. This isn't that kind of story.

Kory Childs, an employee of Nord Gear from Poynette, admits he always had a need for speed and loves to get his adrenaline pumping. But the 2010 Dells Raceway Park (an ASA member track) bandit Rookie of the Year was hesitant to get involved, until a push from his younger brother, late model driver Derek Childs.

Maybe the younger Childs is now at blame to those bandits chasing Kory every Saturday night.

"I went up last year every week and watched [Derek] race, and toward the end of the year one racer was selling his car," Childs explained. "My brother told me, 'why don't you buy it and get into racing?'" That was all the convincing Kory needed.

In his first season of racing in any competitive fashion, it was a rare occurrence to see the 24-year-old outside of the top ten. Childs recorded seven top-five finishes through the 2010 campaign, picking up his first career feature win on July 24.

Grabbing the feature win was only part of what Childs said was a three-fold goal. "My three goals were to make it through the season as rookie of the year, get a fast time in qualifying and get a feature win."

Finishing third is season standings, Childs topped the most competitive rookie battle in DRP's four divisions.

Childs completed his goal of setting fast time in the bandit division not once, but three times this season. Starting toward the middle of the field after an inversion of the field, Childs recorded a second-place finish after recording his first quick qualifying lap on June 26.

Although Kory can take all the credit for a spectacular season behind the wheel, he is quick to admit that his brother is an integral part of making sure the car is ready on race day. Derek, now at age 22, got his start in the bandit division.

"My brother pretty much sets the car up for me. He does all the changes," Childs said. "I hardly did any of the physical changes to the car to make it handle better. He did it all."

While Childs enjoyed the success of his season, he was more than happy just to be out on the track and part of the racing program. "It was a blast," he said. "I met a lot of cool people and new friends in the bandit division. There were a lot of good racers."

Childs had so much fun, in fact, that he may share some of the enjoyment with his crew members in 2011. He said he plans on competing in the first two races of the season and letting his friends take the 29 car for a spin the rest of the season, maybe.

"If I feel that I'm competitive enough to compete for the championship, I'll probably race the whole season," Childs said. "I can't wait to do it again. It was awesome; the best time of my life."

In 2010 Childs was sponsored by Gustafsons Body Shop of Dane, Inn-cognito Food&Spirits, We Buy Homes, Koepp Flooring Home Repair, and Pro-Shot Water Conditioners, and J.C.'s Home Repair all of Poynette, Elsing Oil Arlington, Adrenaline Graphics, KDS Construction, Arlington Inn, and Marv's Electric of Portage.

Kory also wanted to pass along a thank you to his mom and dad, Michelle, Kelby, and Connor,
his grandparents Tom and Gloria Rortvedt, and Glenn and Donna Childs, his uncle Dan and aunt Kim, uncle Troy and aunt Michelle and all family and friends who supported him in 2010. Also to his crew Guy Colstad, Justin Gray, Willie Colstad, Carl Colsatd and his brother Derek.

Childs and his fellow rookies of the year will be honored at the Dells Raceway Park Championship Banquet on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

For more information visit www.dellsracewaypark.com or www.chulavistaresort.com.