DJ Snyder's Mini Sprint Racing

Images from New Mexico Mini Sprint Racing

"This year the S & S Motor Sports racing team's #17 is racing a Foz Race Car which we assembled during the off season (see our News page for photos). Under the guidance of Larry Fasse, with additional parts supplied by Speedpartz.com, the finished product is sure to be a top contender this year. No matter what the question was or what time of day it was asked, Foz Race Cars was always available. Our engines are being built and supplied by Clifford Cycle, located in Omaha, Nebraska. Maximum horsepower and reliability are practically guaranteed with work being done by Jim Clifford and his crew. Our "racy" paint job was done by Steve Copeland of Copeland's Automotive & Collision Repair in Albuquerque. S & S Motor Sports wishes to thank all of these people for their help & support. Let's go racin!!!!"

Dan Snyder -- Crew Chief

"I feel really good compared to last year. Driving this Foz Race Car is like going from a '52 pickup to a '07 Corvette. From entry to mid-corner to exit, the handling of this chassis is excellent. Thanks, Papa!!"

D.J. Snyder--Driver of the #17 car

#17 Crew

2007 Season

4/29/07 - Hollywood Hills Speedway

Our 2007 season got off to a rocky start with contaminated fuel. Nevertheless, DJ hung in and finished 8th in a field of 18 cars.

5/12 - Hollywood Hills Speedway

Our club was joined by a few members of the Arizona Mini Sprint Association, making a field of 19 cars. The Arizona cars are 800 pounds with 750cc engines; our car weighs 840 pounds and has a 636cc engine. Horsepower and torque is the secret. The Arizona car that raced DJ hard is owned by a chassis builder. He has been racing mini sprints for about 15 years and was the Arizona State Champion in 2004. Anyway, we started 8th in the main with 20 cars in the field. The Arizona cars started in the last rows because they didn't have any points with our club. (Also, Arizona cars had won their heat race and the Trophy Dash.) DJ was running in 5th place at about Lap 7 and came down the front straght three wide, with one rookie and one experienced driver. They went into Turn 1 that way with DJ exiting Turn 2 by himself. On Lap 12 the best Arizona car caught up with him, and they fought it out for 10 consecutive laps. The Arizona car would try to pass every way he could, including the top and bottom lines, but to no avail. DJ would pull away from him in the corners. Finally, on Lap 22 DJ caught a bump and upset the car, but it was just enough for the Arizona car to pass. DJ ended up finishing in 4th place. It was some of the best racing we had seen in a long time. After the race the Arizona driver came to our pits and told us what a great job DJ had done in holding him off, showing what a quality driver he is, and that he races very clean. He then invited us to race with them in a two-day show in Show Low, Arizona, over Memorial Day weekend. When the pit gates were opened, our pit was visited by a lot of fans wanting his autograph. This was a WONDERFUL night of racing for our driver and the #17 team.

5/26 & 5/27/07 - Thunder Raceway

On Memorial Day weekend, we traveled to Show Low, AZ, for a 2-day show with the Arizona Mini Sprint Association. This club fields cars with 750cc to 1200cc engines. Needless to day, with us running a 636cc engine, we knew this would be an interesting event for the team. We were joined by DJ's mother and grandparents from Bullhead City, AZ, and a friend, Steve Barth, from Flagstaff, AZ. This would be the first time any of these folks would see DJ behind the wheel. Because we are not regular members of the Arizona club, we had to start last in every race we participated in. Our driver gained a lot of experience because he was racing against 30 other cars, most of which had a lot more horsepower. DJ put on a good show, passing and moving through the field both nights. He even transferred to the A Main on Saturday. One highlight on Saturday night came during the A Main, giving us all a thrill. Coming out of Turn 4, he did a slow spin, touched the inside berm, and tipped the car over (just like Artie Johnson on his tricycle on the "Laugh-In" show, for those of you old enough to remember.

6/2/07 - Hollywood Hills Speedway

Due to various chain problems, our night went from bad to worse. DJ managed to hang on for a 7th place finish in the heat; however, he was unable to start the main.

6/9/07 - Hollywood Hills Speedway

Racing was cancelled this evening due to a tornado.

6/23/07 - Hollywood Hills Speedway

The #17 car had another good night of racing with a 3rd place finish in the heat and a 5th place in the main. Joining DJ this week were two aunts and an uncle from Cerritos, CA, two sisters, his niece and three dogs.

7/7 & 7/21/07 - Caplin Speedway

Harvey Caplin Speedway is a 1/5 mile dirt karting track that we visit three to four times a year racing non-wing. On 7/7 DJ finished 2nd in the heat; however, somehow the rear torsion bar bolt on the bird cage was bent. After making some makshift repairs, DJ was able to take the green flag and finish 4th. On 7/21, after delays due to bad weather, DJ finished 2nd in both the heat and the main.

7/14/07 - Hollywood Hills Speedway

DJ had another good night of racing with a 3rd place in his heat and a 4th place in the main.

7/28/07 - Hollywood Hills Speedway

Saturday, July 28, 2007, will be a night to remember. DJ was in the first ever Dash for Cash for Mini Sprints at Hollywood Hills Speedway. The field was set up inverted for the start; the #17 mini sprint lined up outside second row. When the field received the green flag, DJ dove to the inside of the pole sitters. Once again he was three wide going into Turn 1, came out of Turn 2 in the lead, and never looked back, leading the four-lap dash start to finish. His pay for the event was $200. Thank you to the event sponsor, Inn at the Springs, LLC, in Pagosa Springs, CO.

The main event saw DJ starting in the next to last row outside. After the green flag dropped, he took the car to the front in 3 laps and lead the race for a total of 8 laps. On Lap 12 he took the car too wide on exit of Turn 4 and, like most racers, he tried to make up for the mistake carrying too much speed into Turn 1 causing him to go wide in Turn 2. This let the second place car take over the lead. Despite gaining back quite a bit of lost position, he ended up finishing second for the main event.

The last two months have seen DJ finish in the top ten with some top fives in every race at Hollywood Hills Speedway. With his consistent performance, he is now in second place in club points and in third place in track points. DJ continues to want to move to sprint cars. So to help him try to realize his dream, he will travel to Ventura Speedway in Ventura, CA, on Sepember 17 and 18 to visit and work with Cory Kruseman, who is a successful paid driver in USAC/CRA Sprints, USAC Sprints and USAC Midgets in California, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

8/11/07 - Thunder Mountain Speedway

The #17 team had a weekend off, so we decided to give DJ some additional experience with other drivers and race tracks. The team traveled to the Thunder Mountain Speedway in Olathe, CO, to race with the Western Slope Lightning Sprints. This club runs upright mini sprints with 1200cc engines. Remember, we have a 636cc engine; however, we wanted a chance to race against other uprights even if we ended up in the back. Well, DJ proved us wrong. In the heat race, starting in the 4th row inside, he took the #17 car to the front by passing on the high side of the track. When the checkers flew, we were running a strong second place. With this finish, DJ was placed in the trophy dash. The dash was a four-car field with our car starting in the back; and, once again, DJ took the car to the front and never looked back, winning handily. The feature had the #17 placed well back in the field, so DJ had his work cut out for him. He did what he knows best and started passing from the get-go. On Lap 16, a car spun, causing a yellow flag and closing up the field. So now DJ is right behind the leader, who happens to be the Western Slope Lightning's president with many years of driving experience. The green flag flew with the two cars racing nose to tail for the last three laps--some really exciting racing--with DJ finishing second. After the race, the winner came to our pits and talked about DJ and his ability to run with him in a three-lap shootout and not flinch. Later on some of the track officials stopped by to tell our team what a great show we had put on--a passing exhibition--which they had not seen in a very long time.

8/18/07 - Hollywood Hills Speedway

"The race this weekend was a very special one for me. It was my grandpa's birthday and we decided to throw a surprise birthday party for him at the track. Coming in to help surprise him were my two aunts from California, my three sisters, my brother-in-law and my niece. We hope you had a good time, Papa. Thanks for everything you do for me." DJ