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Local racer's star ascending rapidly
Clemons to drive in Busch in 2005
By GARY MULLINS
gmullins@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Most of the drivers competing in tonight's ARCA Kentucky 150 at Kentucky
Speedway only dream of the chance to drive in NASCAR's Busch Series. The big
hurdle is finding sponsors willing to back an up-and-coming racer.
ARCA rookie Josh Clemons, a relative unknown who isn't even listed in the
stock car series' 2004 media guide, will move up to the Busch Series next year
after partnering with United States of Mind Productions. In fact,
Clemons, 28, of New Albany, Ind., was moving up so fast that
NASCAR had him put on the brakes.
He was scheduled to compete in selected Busch events this season with Clemons
Racing and USM, but NASCAR originally nixed those plans because of concerns
about his experience.
"NASCAR told me to go back and run ARCA this season and get some more
experience on the bigger tracks," said Clemons, who has driven in NASCAR's
Southeast Series. "We didn't run any NASCAR-sanctioned events last season,
so they just wanted to make sure I was ready."
So, Clemons Racing bought a Ford from Roush Racing to run in ARCA this season.
He has entered two races thus far, finishing ninth at Nashville Superspeedway
and qualifying fifth-fastest at Kentucky Speedway, where mechanical problems
during the race left him finishing 28th.
Those performances were all NASCAR needed to see.
"After the first Kentucky race this year, NASCAR called and said I could
run the mile-and-a-half ovals this season if I wanted to," Clemons said.
"But we decided to wait and try to run for Rookie of the Year next season.
Plus they still want us to run Talladega (Ala.) this season in ARCA before they
will clear us for Daytona."
Rachel Tucker, Creative Director at USM, a non-profit organization that runs
11 entertainment-based charity programs, said she wanted to get involved in auto
racing for some time.
The organization puts on concerts and other entertainment events and donates
proceeds to the various charities it works with, including Angel Call, a
four-day "vacation" for caregivers of chronically ill household
members.
One of her entertainers, country music singer Gina Emerson, knew about
Tucker's interest in the sport. She also knew of Clemons' racing background and
recommended him to Tucker.
"The first time I met Josh I was so impressed with his knowledge of
racing," Tucker said. "He's not one of these spoiled kids that comes
from a wealthy racing family. He works hard. Josh and the entire Clemons family
are salt-of-the-earth people. And that's the kind of person we want representing
our charities."
USM will fund Clemons' Busch effort in return for his services as a
spokesman.
"It's a great organization to be involved with," Clemons said.
"They've agreed on a three-year Busch program with us. We'll run a few more
ARCA events this season and start full time in Busch at Daytona in February with
USM on the car."
Clemons' father, Larry, a former ARCA driver and the owner of Clemons Racing,
couldn't be happier that his son is getting this opportunity.
"You work toward getting to the bigger series all the time, and to get
this opportunity is a great step for Josh,'' he said. "We hope it leads to
him running full time in Nextel Cup in a few years."
Despite his inexperience on superspeedways, Clemons does have a full racing
dossier. He cut his racing teeth driving go-karts between the ages of 10 and 17
under the watchful eye of his father and Elmer Davis, a former USAC sprint car
and ARCA stock car driver.
By age 18, Clemons was racing in weekly late-model and street-stock events at
Salem (Ind.) Speedway and the old Louisville Motor Speedway, winning Rookie of
the Year awards at both tracks.
During those years Clemons became friends with reigning ARCA champion Frank
Kimmel of Jeffersonville, who also was driving at those tracks. Kimmel helped
Clemons make the transition from the Southeast Series to ARCA this season.
"When we got our first ARCA car, we were lost," Clemons said.
"We had never worked on anything like that before, so Frank and Bill Kimmel
(Jr.) helped us get the set-up right and dial that thing in for Nashville and
Kentucky. They've always been good to me, and I appreciate it."
But with all the experience he's gained, Clemons still is a bit nervous about
the jump to Busch.
"It's going to be tough for sure," he said. "I think Busch is
the most competitive series running right now. In some cases it may be easier to
make Nextel Cup events (due to lagging car counts) than Busch races."
Clemons Racing already is shopping for Busch cars.
"We've talked to a few teams (including Roush) about buying some cars,
but we probably won't make any decisions until after Talladega," Clemons
said. "Then we'll get the equipment together and go testing."
Until then he is focused on the task at hand, tomorrow night's Kentucky 150.
"It's always exciting running close to home," he said. "We had
a top-10 car there the last time we ran but suffered some mechanical problems. I
think we'll be strong there again this time."
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