#3WideBlog #HighsideSeries: Josh Reeves

Josh Reeves at Martinsville Speedway

     Hey its Smitty, creator and writer for Smitty's #3WideBlog. In trying to shy away from the race preview/review style of blogging, I've decided to start a new #3WideBlog feature called the "Highside Series". This new "Highside Series" feature is to showcase up and coming drivers who you may or may not have heard of, from a variety of racing disciplines, and their journey through this awesome sport. Sometimes the ups and downs of the sport we all love, force these up and coming drivers to take the "highside" to their goals.


    I was approached by a member of the Twitter Inanimate Object Family, @DaleJr_Beard, who asked me if I would be interested in writing a piece on a good friend and up and coming driver; Josh Reeves. I jumped at this opportunity, and interviewed Josh by e-mail, and quickly learned; This man wants to race.


#3WIDEBLOG: Josh, tell us about yourself?


JOSH REEVES: My name is Josh Reeves and I am 19 years old. I'm from Martinsville Virgina and I have a deep, intriguing passion for racing. The part about my story that I think is so unique, is that I am a modern day driver making it the “old school” way. I don’t receive funding from my parents, or anyone else in my family. I do it all on my own. I always have since my very first start in 2007 as a driver. Since then, I have totaled around 60 starts, with 12 victories, and two championships.


#3WIDEBLOG: Tell us why you feel its "old school"


JOSH REEVES: The majority of teams today are family owned.  The parents fund their kids racing completely. Most even hire crews, professional marketing companies, and photographers. Due to my lack of funding, I have to do all of this on my own. Up until this point, I have built, and maintained my race cars. I do all of my setup, and chassis work, I handle all of my marketing and PR work also. I am literally doing it the “old school” way with the new school twist. I want to make it more than anything. I believe if you want success as bad as you want to breathe, you will be successful. More than anything I want to show all of the other kids out there that are doing it alone as well, that it can be possible.


#3WIDEBLOG: How did you become interested in motorsports?


JOSH REEVES: I started helping a local late model team at the age of 7, and since then I have been hooked. Starting at that young, there is only so much I could do. I did minor things. Washing the car, cleaning the tires off, pushing the brakes to bleed them, things like that. As I got older, I began to gain more experience and knowledge. I began to do more hands on and setup stuff. Now I have just recently built an entire late model from the ground up at the college I attend.


#3WIDEBLOG: Stats Time. Tell us about your career to this point.

Josh Reeves at Talladega Superspeedway

JOSH REEVES:  I have quite a few local tracks. One that is closer than others is a small 3/8 mile bullring about 30 minutes away called Franklin County Speedway. This was the track I started my career on. In my rookie season in the Extreme division, I finished 2^nd in driver standings just 24 points out of the lead, and won the Rookie Of the Year Championship. The following year I went on to race only a partial season in the pure 4 division due to lack of funding. Out of the 16 races I competed in, I had 5 victories, 14 top 5s, and 8 poles. Due supporting my own career financially, I have not been able to run as I would like. But I have done well. I have made something out of literally nothing and that is what I base my entire racing career off of.  I have also ran go-karts, and have done well on those, as well as a few late model stock tests. One of my most recent and most memorable vehicles has been in an ARCA car at Talladega, where I ended up p13 out of 31 cars there.


#3WIDEBLOG: Can you tell us about your 2012 schedule and beyond?


JOSH REEVES: Through my persistence, I have found a team owner willing to help me out. Out of the 500+ people I have contacted, he has been the one to help me more than anyone. He grew up the same way I did, squeezing dollars out of dimes. He is now in my opinion one of the most successful ARCA Re/Max series team owners in the country. He has taken my dream and turned it into a very possible reality. I am definitely remaining there for the remainder of the year, and I hope to find funding so that I can actually get out there and give my fans what they all deserve. Now that I have a team, I am in desperate need of a sponsor. In order for this dream to become a reality, I need financial support desperately. So the short answer is, No. I wish I could, but that is something that I am unsure of. Unlike a vast majority of the drivers racing out there, my career actually depends on the funding I am able to get through motorsports partnerships. I am 19 years old, a full time student with a part time job. Since I fund my entire career, I am not able to afford the series I am trying to break through in. I hope to set something in stone soon, but until then, it’s up to my hard work, and the man upstairs.


     In closing of this first "Highside Series" piece I had to include this bit that Josh wrote to me.


     "Anyone who knows me knows how bad I want this dream to become a reality. They know what I have been sacrificing for this. During the night, while my competitors are sleeping, I am up working on sponsor proposals, or new hero card designs for my fans. I am constantly building my fan base. Through my hard work, and my marketing skills, I have been able to reach over 2,300 followers on twitter, and over 10,000 views on my website. This is just a small portion of what I can offer any sponsor that comes along."

     "I have given up everything to become a race car driver. It is what I eat, sleep, and breathe. I work every day for this. Please I ask you, to help me out. Getting my name and story out there is something that I have to do. I want to prove to everyone that the dream of becoming a race car driver is alive and well for ANYONE. If I can do it, (and I am well on my way) then anyone can. I hope you take this story to heart, and that you are able to help me, thus helping many other kids out there as well. Thank you for taking the time to read"




     If you would like to learn more about Josh Reeves like I did, you can follow him on Twitter @JoshReeves77 or check out his website www.joshreevesracing.webs.com. Spread this story and help an up and coming driver! Thank You for taking the time to read.