If a vehicle can be raced, chances are Michael Clancy, Jr. will win.
Any age, on any wheels, 13-year-old Clancy, Jr. is comfortable’from a quad all-terrain vehicle at 2-years-old, a dirt bike by age 4, and quarter midgets at 5 years of age. Now the Brandon Township native and Brandon Middle School seventh grade student whose short lifetime of racing has earned him dozens of trophies and victories will take on some even faster competition next month.
Clancy, Jr., along with his father Michael Clancy, Sr., will head south to New Smyrna Speedway and NASCAR’s World Series of Asphalt Car Racing on Feb. 11-20. He will be driving a new car, too, with a custom made 2015 Port City chassis and compete in the Pro Late Model class. The New Smyrna raceway is located just south of Daytona International Speedway, home to the 500 mile race on Feb. 21. Local viewers can watch all the action on the internet at www.Speed51.com.
While entry level at NASCAR short tracks starts at age 14, Michael Clancy, Sr. said it’s not the first time a 13-year-old made it to New Smyrna.
‘He’ll be the third youngest ever to participate in that race,? said Clancy Sr., owner of AC Tire in Waterford. ‘I had to get special permission and insurance to run there. It’s not as big a deal in the south as it is in the north for the younger drivers to compete’they come from all over the country to race there. However, it will be a very tough race’it’s night time driving and we are entered in seven of the 10 events, including the 100 mile finale. When the racing day is done at Daytona Speedway that same week many of the professional drivers come down and watch the half-mile races at Smyrna.?
The road to Smyrna has been fast for Clancy, Jr.
Clancy’s first vehicle of choice was the .25 midget car, a quarter the size of midget racer which lap the 1/20 mile track in often under five seconds. Clancy Jr. had competed at Waterford Hills Quarter Midget track for seven years and earned the Gen Next Western and Eastern championship trophies, to be added to the hardware already lining the walls at AC Tire as well as at home. Clancy Jr. raced in United States Auto Club .25 Midgets though 11-years-old. The junior speedster finished in the top three in 18 races in 2014 ? each good enough to earn him a trip to the awards podium ? and he also won eight of 10 national races that year.
At age 12 he stepped up to full-size cars and in May 2015 Clancy Jr. took on Owosso Speedway.
‘The full-size cars are more to handle,? said Clancy, Jr. ‘It’s like going from a 270 pound car to 3,200 (pound car). It’s a bit more to maneuver going from 12 hp to 450 hp. Because the car is bigger it’s like slow motion’the track is so much bigger, too. The midget cars seem faster because the track is smaller.?
The transition did pose some difficulties.
‘We knew there would be some ego issues,? said Clancy, Sr. ‘Some just did not want to get beat by a 12-year-old kid. But consider some of those drivers started when they were 20-years-old and have maybe 3,000 laps of racing. Consider Michael had maybe 20,000 laps at only 12-years-old. After the first half of the season they earn a lot of respect for him, but many were glad to see him go.?
The 2015 season success ended with rookie of the year honors at Owosso Speedway.
‘After the Smyrna race we’ll be starting Jegs All Star Tour series that runs in Michigan, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio, ? said Clancy, Sr.
‘He also needs to get more sponsors and hire a crew.?