The 'Smoke Show' Holley Among Must See Entrants at Sandusky
Despite some early season disappointment, Rick Holley has a lot going for him on and off the race track.
Rick Holley hasn’t gotten off to the start that he would have liked this season. But despite his early season disappointment, he has a lot going for him. He currently sits in third place in the Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Perfit-Parts point standings and just became a grandfather to baby girl Francis.
When Holley returns to racing action Wednesday night July 24 at Sandusky Speedway for the next stop on the MSR 2024 title chase he will be in a completely different mindset. He finds himself in the thick of the MSR title chase and now carries the title of grandpa.
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“It’s different now being a grandpa” explains Holley. “I don’t get over enough, of course. It’s amazing how 7 pounds can change your perspective on family and life. You’ll probably see her at the track later this summer” Holley proudly stated.
In the meantime, it’s back to business for the “Smoke Show”. Currently sitting third in points, he hopes to move up a position or two before the season ends.
One of the highlights for Holley in 2023 was setting quick time at Owosso Speedway in Ovid, Michigan both times MSR competed there. With new pavement, Holley’s driving style mixed well with the new asphalt. He ended up with the all-time track record at the second event there over Labor Day Weekend. He thought he had a chance to lower it even more before the rains came during the June 22 event just a few weeks ago.
“We’re close right now. The last race at Owosso kinda messed me up. I went out and scuffed some new tires in the final practice before qualifying. Then the rain came, and they used our times from the second practice to set the feature lineup. In the first practice I was second quick. The car in practice felt better than what it did in the fall. I think I had something for them. I’m looking forward to getting back there in the fall”.
Holley relies on his son Chance to do the setups. The duo seems to click everywhere they go and are always competitive.
“A few years ago, I was trying to do the set-up and everything else. One day I told Chance I’m turning all the set-up stuff over to you. You take care of that, and manage that, and I’m gonna drive the car. We talk about everything, but I usually just go with what he suggests. We’ve been good the past couple years”.
Holley is selling his own t-shirts this year with a picture of his car throwing an enormous amount of smoke. The shirts are courtesy of the nickname “Smoke Show” given to him by Joe Liguori.
“I was wearing a t-shirt with a picture of my car with smoke coming off the right rear. Joe Liguori saw it and said, ‘That’s quiet the smoke show’. It’s stuck ever since” laughs Holley.
“I like Sandusky a lot. It’s a track where you must pick your battles. You must decide if you’re gonna drive it hard and stay on the outside or finesse the car and be on the bottom. But I like our chances there. I’m going for a top three, but a win would be great” concluded Holley.
In other Must See Racing news longtime series car owner John Reiser will be returning to competition with driver Adam Biltz at the July 24 Sandusky Speedway event. The Maxima Racing Oils Midwest Lights Series will also be in action giving fans a double-header of winged sprint car action.
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-Must See Racing Press Release
-Photo credit: David Sink Photo
