Virginian Leader, March 18, 2020, Page B-1

Racing and Cruise In Highlights

Fleet McDaniel had no plans to stop racing go karts in March of 2016. Those plans remain the same four years later despite some setbacks since that time.

McDaniel opened his career at Cashmere Speed-way in Monroe County and that became a home course of sorts for him. However, Cashmere came under new management and eventual-ly closed down. There was also a track in Lewisburg he went to and it closed down and then another track in Charleston also closed down.

The track he raced at last year, Dumplin Valley Speedway in Tennessee, also closed down after the season. Despite those set-backs, McDaniel still has a passion for the sport.

“It’s a future opportuni-ty to go places,” McDaniel said.

Those places are be-coming somewhat more limited with all the track closures, though he has traveled to several tracks

McDaniel continues passion for go kart racing, despite roadblocks

Most thrilling raceFleet McDaniel’s most thrilling race happened in Dumplin Valley, but he said his most thrilling win came at

Henry County. He came from the back of the pack to pull out a victory a couple of years ago.

Earliest days of racingFleet McDaniel got his start primarily at Cashmere Speedway in Monroe County,

W.Va.

Go Kart racing is still his passionFleet McDaniel had several top three finishes last year at Dumplin Valley in

Tennessee.

over his career – he noted the time he traveled to the flat track at Daytona. While McDaniel recorded victo-ries at many of the tracks he raced at the beginning of his career, he didn’t find the winner’s circle last year though he was close. He had over 10 top three fin-ishes last year at Dumplin.

Though he had his most exciting race at Dumplin last year when he was trying to chase down the man to beat, Jeff Niebel, his biggest win came at Henry County a couple of years ago. He came from the back of the pack to win after the first place winner ahead of him failed a post-race inspection.

“We worked really hard for (it) all day long,” Mc-Daniel said.

What he has learned the most over his racing career is the importance of the tires and specifically tire stagger. Tire stagger is the difference in circumference between right side tires and left side tires on the same end of the kart.

After years of racing one thing that still eludes

him is winning a leather jacket race.

“Once you get a leather jacket in go kart racing you

are the best there is pretty much,” McDaniel said.