Away from the crowd of fans, the echoing announcer and revving engines, the smell of tires and fuel, down a dirt road surrounded by trees and only a few neighbors lives a racing veteran, Wayne Niedecken Jr. Many racing fans know him as “Junior” not just because he shares his father’s name, but because he shares his father’s passion for racing.
Wayne Niedecken Sr. began racing in 1949. Between ’49 and 1964, when he moved to Pensacola, Niedecken Sr. raced and consistently won in Texas and Oklahoma, as well as races in Shreveport, Memphis, Ascot Park, CA and Knoxville, IA.
After moving to Pensacola, Niedecken Sr. also won the Fiesta 200 at Five Flags Speedway and other titles there. Notable among his wins were the first and third Snowball Derby.
Niedecken Jr.’s record stands for itself, including a combined 10 track championships at Five Flags, Mobile International, and Jackson International Speedway, spanning 35 years of racing. Niedecken Jr. was also the first consecutive two-time NASCAR Grand American National Champion in 1980 and 1981.
Niedecken Jr. has also received the “most popular driver” award numerous times, just as his father won “Best Sportsman” by his fellow drivers. “You have to be a clean driver. I try to keep a good reputation,” Niedecken said. “You can’t let people drive your car. Patience and concentration are the two keys. You can’t let people get in your head,” he said. All of this, he does while “shoestring racing.” He said, “We look at pennies hard. We try to race and at least break even. The purses pay to upgrade and maintain the car.”
All around, racing is an expensive endeavor. Three sponsors Niedecken said back his career are Lou Sabh’s Milton Chevrolet, Lifeguard Ambulance Service, Kool Karts, and Kool Graphics. Other sponsors readers can find listed at www.niedeckenracing.com. “Money buys speed,” Niedecken said. He still has two spots on his Pro Late Model for sponsorship, the prime spot being the hood.
While Niedecken has no desire to retire, he said he’d like to focus on driver development to bring in new blood. One of the last drivers he mentored, he said, was Hal Martin, the Pro Late Model division winner at the Mobile International Speedway in ’07, who’s also raced at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
“They need to be confident,” Niedecken said of new drivers. “At Five Flags, you need confidence to run up to the wall and not worry about it. You can’t be fearful of it.” He also said he wants a driver to be comfortable and consistent. “The smoothest is the fastest,” he said. Like any teacher, he said, “I want someone who listens well, will apply lessons, and has good feedback.” Niedecken said a new driver must have resources to get whatever equipment he needs.
“You always need to control your destiny, which means being self sufficient,” he said. A new racer, he said, would probably come from go-kart or bandolero racing. So, he said, “The biggest thing is getting used to the weight.” He also said drivers coming from those smaller, more similar cars tend to bump each other on the track. Wanting to train a clean driver, he said those bad habits would have to go.
Niedecken said he’d like to run some venues he’s run before while he’s still aggressive and competitive and with no medical issues.
“When I can’t, I’ll either sell the business or find a driver with some money.” The next challenges ahead for Niedecken Racing are an August 9 Pro Late Model 20/30 at Mobile International Speedway, the Lee Field Memorial 100 lap later in August, and a return to Pensacola in September for the 100 lap Night of Champions. “We’re looking to win,” he said. “We’ve done our homework. We’ll upgrade all we can and go with the best possible set up.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Still on track