ROSEVILLE, California — Saturday night racing at All American Speedway would not be the same without Gary Glenn out on the track. He has always been a force to be reckoned with in whatever series he is racing in. He has raced Bombers, Late Models and Modified cars at Roseville for 12 years.
"I think everyone is being treated fairly, and everything seems to be running pretty smooth at Roseville this year."— Gary Glenn
Glenn has always liked cars and working on cars. He first raced a Bomber at AAS by acquiring a demolition derby car and making it into a Bomber. "Back then they were pretty much stock. It was like driving a street car with a roll cage," he said. He raced the Bomber for three years, and then bought a Modified that he also raced for three years. In 2004, he started racing a Late Model and did very well for many years.
Due to the economy and how it has affected his family business, Gary Glenn Plastering in Orangevale, Glenn went back to racing a Modified this year after six years behind the wheel of a Late Model. He said for the cost of running a Late Model in one race, he can race his Modified for a month. "I'm having more fun in my Modified," Glenn said. "When I was racing my Late Model, it was more like a job. In Modified racing you get to have more fun."
Glenn also said the competition is tough in that series. "You've got to be good to win in Modified racing. You have to earn it and be on top of your game. You have to do your homework to make your car better."
He also likes the atmosphere at All American. "There are a lot of nice people at the racetrack," Glenn said. It is like having a second family. I love racing, the adrenaline rush, and competing with good drivers. It takes a lot of work to be a good race car driver, but once you get there, it's a blast."
The one thing Glenn does not like about racing is poor losers. "I don't like whiners," he said, "and I don't like it when people accuse drivers of cheating, just because they are good.”
Since the 2010 racing season began in April, Glenn has had five second place finishes, one third, two-fourths, a 15th and an 18th at All American Speedway. He has also won three races and the Open Show at Stockton 99 Speedway.
Glenn plans to continue racing his Modified next year. During the off season he said he is going to strip it down, rebuild it make it look brand new to make a run for the championship. He also said he has a few ideas to make the car better. Glenn and a couple of friends do all the work on the car in Glenn's shop at his house.
"I'm happy with the way everything is going at the track," Glenn said. "I think everyone is being treated fairly, and everything seems to be running pretty smooth at Roseville this year."
He said he appreciates all the help he gets from his grandparents, who have backed his racing career since the beginning. He also thanks Body Bazzare for coming on board this year, and MTFX Graphics for doing all his vinyl work and tee shirts. He thanks his team and his two Crew Chiefs, Eric and Danny Johnson.
