MMSA Driver of the Week

presented by Cresent Donuts Shop of Bloomington, Indiana 

This week we are featuring Jimmy (Hollywood) Gardner driver of the number 51 but sometimes scored as 151  MMSA Lightning Sprint from Cincinnati, Ohio

Q:  When and how did you get your start in racing ?

A:   I got my start in November of 1998 at the Lightning Valley Motorsports Park in
Junction City, KY in karts. Ran second my first night out and won the season finale.  I've been addicted ever since.

Q:  What made you decide to race a lightning sprint?

A:  I went to Lake Cumberland Speedway a bunch when I was little, always wanted to drive a Late Model. But i went to the outlaw show at Lawrenceburg in 2005 and was hooked on sprint cars immediately. The Lightning sprints were the best entry level car to get my open wheel career started.

Q:  I know that not everyone probably knows about your cool summer job.  Could you tell us a little about your work with the Richard Petty Driving Experience?

A:  I started working at RPDE in 2006. I started as a tire guy and instructor and started driving in 2008. It's been a really awesome experience as I've laid down laps at a bunch of tracks and I've met and befriended a bunch of great people from all over the country. To date I've run Walt Disney World Speedway, Daytona,
Richmond, New Hampshire, Michigan, Kentucky, Bristol, Nashville, Texas, Chicagoland, Iowa, Kansas, California, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There were a couple of years in 2009 and 2010 where I spent over 100 days at the race track, which is my favorite place to be.

Q:  Do you have an event that stands out as your biggest or most memorable event in your racing career?

A:  Well Columbus last year until we had to cross the scales... haha but seriously  The first time I hot lapped a 410 sprint car at North Vernon is the single greatest feeling I think I've ever felt. I haven't felt a rush like that since that day in 2009.

Q:  What are  your future plans for racing?

A:  Well I'm in a transition of moving to Texas, where there is a whole bunch of 305 racing. So hopefully by this time next year we will be running one of those.
Also I will not hang up my helmet until I run the Little 500 at Anderson, so with this change I'm going to seriously focus on putting a pavement deal together.

Q: In closing do you have anyone that you would like to thank for making things possible for you to race with the MMSA ?


A: I've had a ton of support starting with my parents and sister. My Aunt Betty and Uncle Dick were my first sponsor and my cousins Matt and Jeff helped me when I was just starting out.

Now I have to thank the Survive Institute, Jacszen Consulting, Performance Powder Coating, Simpson Race Products, Bryan Decals, and Super Shox for all of
the support this year.