STAR - Thevalleystar.net
STAR - Thevalleystar.net
STAR - Thevalleystar.net
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March 22, 2012 the valley star Page 5<br />
ON THE ROAD with Anthony Bates<br />
A 17-year-old battling the big boys<br />
Jacob Stephens loves stock car racing<br />
Anthony<br />
Bates<br />
by Anthony Bates<br />
Jacob<br />
Stephens is<br />
no longer<br />
dreaming of driving<br />
a stock car because<br />
that dream<br />
is over. Now it’s<br />
for real for the 17-year-old.<br />
It started early, at age 4 to be<br />
exact, when he drove his first<br />
go-cart. His grandfather, Buck<br />
Edwards, told Jody (Jacob’s father),<br />
“this kid will make a fine<br />
race car driver.”<br />
And, boy, was he right!<br />
Jody was a good driver himself,<br />
racing at Moulton, Thunder Hill,<br />
TN, and at North Alabama<br />
Speedway. So, Jacob said it was<br />
a no-brainer for him.<br />
To drive one - first you have to<br />
learn to work on them and take<br />
care of your car. His parents, Jody<br />
and Verna, owners of Stephens<br />
Used Cars in Athens, have supported<br />
him since day one.<br />
Jacob Stephens with trophy after a big win.<br />
At the age of 14, Jacob, won his<br />
first race at Moulton Speedway<br />
running against grown men up<br />
to three times his age. That, he<br />
said, was a big moment, “winning<br />
on dirt.“<br />
But, last season at Huntsville<br />
Speedway at age 16, his biggest<br />
moment came. It was his first<br />
win on asphalt.<br />
“That was my biggest moment<br />
yet,” he said.<br />
Jacob is a junior at Athens High<br />
School and is a big Alabama<br />
Crimson Tide fan. His favorite<br />
NASCAR driver is Dale Earnhardt<br />
Jr. His heroes are his dad and<br />
Dale Jr.<br />
Jody says his biggest moment in<br />
racing came last year in winning<br />
at Huntsville Speedway and<br />
gaining respect from his fellow<br />
competitors. His life goals are to<br />
get a good job and make lots of<br />
money so he can continue racing.<br />
His racing car is a Chevrolet<br />
Monte Carlo. His sponsors are<br />
Athens Radiator, Stephen’s<br />
Used Cars, Rebel Machinery,<br />
and White’s Auto Sales, all of<br />
Athens.<br />
Editor’s Note: If you know of any<br />
good stories about good people,<br />
both young and old, please give<br />
Anthony Bates a call at 256-874-<br />
2585. He’s looking to tell your<br />
story.<br />
Jacob with his Athens Radiator<br />
sponsored car.<br />
Jacob Stephens at an area raceway, left, and working on his car above right.
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