{"id":40305,"date":"2017-06-06T06:00:43","date_gmt":"2017-06-06T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=40305"},"modified":"2017-06-05T11:04:18","modified_gmt":"2017-06-05T18:04:18","slug":"behind-the-wheel-derek-stoltz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/behind-the-wheel-derek-stoltz\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Wheel: Derek Stoltz"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Behind
All Photos Courtesy of Derek Stoltz Racing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the summer heats up, so does the racing action at short tracks across the country. RacingJunk.com<\/a> slid Behind The Wheel <\/em>with a driver who is currently burning up the charts at Winston-Salem, NC\u2019s famed \u00bc-mile, Bowman Gray Stadium.<\/p>\n

Currently the points leader in the track\u2019s Sportsman late model series, Primetime Derek Stoltz has continued to turn heads and burn up the track for many years. This 35-year-old Walkertown native found his passion for the sport after spending much of his youth around the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandfather, father and uncle were always involved in both the automotive and racing business,\u201d said Stoltz. \u201cI remember spending many Saturday nights while I was growing up with my dad who worked for drivers like Jimmy Johnson and the entire Clifton family at Bowman Gray Stadium. While I never really pictured myself competing here someday, there was just something about the whole scene that got my gears grinding.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Stoltz wouldn\u2019t begin racing at this popular short track right away, he would soon be picking up wins in a go-kart. \u201cMy brother and I spent a lot of time racing four-wheelers, and at the age of 9 years old I saw my first go-kart race. Shortly after this my brother and I began competing with our family-owned kart team,\u201d said Stoltz.<\/p>\n

After spending a few years racking up wins throughout the Southeast, Stoltz knew he had found a sport he would long have a passion for. \u201cI guess you can say that I was bit by the bug,\u201d he said. \u201cI was never that good at stick and ball sports, but I felt good when I was racing and knew that I wanted to keep doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite his love for racing, ongoing travel began to take its toll on Stoltz and his family, leaving the born-to-be driver with a new focus. \u201cIt became pretty difficult to keep up with school and my ongoing race schedule, so I stepped away from the sport for a little while,\u201d said Stoltz.<\/p>\n

While the speed junkie would step away from the sport that he loved for a short period, it wouldn\u2019t be long before he would return to the track that brought his racing dream to life. In 2003, Derek Stoltz began competing in the Street Stock division at Bowman Gray Stadium. After five years and several wins in this series, Stoltz would make the move to a challenge that would forever cement his name at Winston-Salem, NC\u2019s famed \u00bc-mile.<\/p>\n

\"Behind<\/p>\n

In 2008, Derek Stoltz slid behind the wheel of his first late model at Bowman Gray Stadium, and although his start in the Sportsman Series was a rough one, it wouldn\u2019t be long before his no-nonsense, intimidating driving style would have both fans and fellow competitors talking and yelling, all while earning Stoltz the nickname ‘Primetime.’<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I enjoyed the Street Stock Division, I couldn\u2019t wait to compete in a late model\u201d said Stoltz. \u201cThere is nothing like trying to control these full-bodied stock cars on this challenging track and I have always wanted to prove that I had what it takes to win and the Sportsman Series gave me this opportunity so much more than the Streets.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Stoltz began to rack up the wins in the Sportsman division, the rumors started to fly. \u201cSome would say that I was cheating and I even had to deal with a controversy at this track after race officials deemed my carburetor illegal following one of these wins,\u201d said Stoltz.<\/p>\n

\"Behind<\/p>\n

Despite ongoing rumors, Primetime Derek Stoltz would continue to be a force to be reckoned with at Bowman Gray Stadium, and there would be no question about this following an on-track incident that had the whole nation talking and also earned the \u00bc-mile its Madhouse <\/em>status.<\/p>\n

While competing for a 20-lap race win against fellow driver Mike Robertson, during the 2013 season, Stoltz gave the No. 31 driver a shove, leaving Robertson kissing the outside wall in turn one with only a few laps remaining. Expressing his displeasure with the No. 02 of Stoltz, Robertson climbed out of his car to approach the passenger window of his rival\u2019s vehicle. As Robertson began to reach inside Stoltz’s vehicle, the No. 02 would take off, leaving Robertson hanging on for dear life and eventually tumbling on the track in front of the remaining field.<\/p>\n