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DRIVER
PROFILE - "TWO LAP" TOMMY RICKER
May 31, 2008
Ricker dances, drives way into fans'
hearts
By Kalle Oakes
OPS Media Services
Tommy Ricker acquired his unusual nickname from the frustrating
tendency for his feature races to end before they even started.
His fame with the fans and friends
who faithfully attend races at Oxford Plains Speedway is connected
with much happier times.
On the many occasions Ricker has
finished first, second or third in a 30-year racing career, the
friendly driver with the familiar mustache and ever-present smile
has become known for climbing from his car and gracing the crowd
with a victory dance.
Ricker, 52, considers the gesture a
way of giving back to the sport that hooked him when he was the same
age as many of those impressionable fans.
"I went to the races as a kid,
got out of school, built a car, and I've been racing ever
since," Ricker said.
Contrary to the "Two Lap"
moniker assigned to him by Bobby Walker (possibly with an assist to
Dave Moody), that career has been a success.
Ricker owns 15 career checkered flags
at OPS.
He picked up wins in the
ultra-competitive, six-cylinder Charger division back in 1987 and
1988. It was the latter heyday of that class, when the competition
included the likes of Alan Wilson, Blaine Chapman, Frank Snow, Tim
Brackett, Sam Sessions and Joe Constantino.
It took a few years for Ricker to
gain his footing in the Limited Sportsman division, but he made the
first of 13 journeys to victory lane in 1998. His last win came in
one of the final races in the proud history of that division in
August 2006.
Ricker saw the Limiteds' departure as
an opportunity. He jumped into the Oxford Networks Late Model ranks
in 2007, consistently running in the top-10 and finishing second in
a tremendous rookie of the year battle with Travis Stearns.
His proudest moment of the new
venture, however, was qualifying for the TD Banknorth 250 in his
first try.
"I'll always remember getting my
first trophy," said Ricker, "but I would have to say to
make the TD Banknorth 250 in my first-ever attempt was very
exciting."
It isn't difficult for Ricker to
explain what keeps him racing, even though he's been in the driver's
seat for longer than division rivals such as Stearns, Shawn Martin
or Travis Adams have been alive.
"The adrenaline rush you get
from driving fast," Ricker explained, adding that the work it
takes to get a high-performance machine to that point is
misunderstood and under-appreciated. "(Sometimes you) get the
car set up, fixed up, and have to change the whole set-up all over
again."
Ricker's goals are lofty as ever.
While he won the Limited Sportsman Triple Crown championship in
2002, a full-season title remains on his wish list.
Now that winning the TD Banknorth 250
is attainable, Ricker dreams of that payday and joining the
who's-who of champions in the summer classic.
Just as importantly, however,
Ricker's plan is to continue taking advantage of a sport that allows
him to stand toe-to-toe with drivers of all ages and ability levels.
"My goal is to still be able to
drive in five years," Ricker said.
You can bank on this: Oxford's lucky
fans haven't seen Tommy's last dance.
The Ricker File
Hometown: Poland,
Maine
Division: Oxford
Networks Late Model
Car: 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
Years in racing: 30+
Sponsors: Gendron & Gendron General Contractors, www.volvospecialist.net,
Randy's Auto Parts, Double R Crane Service, Safe Approach, Royal Roofing and Siding,
Lakeside Repair, Lawn Guard, Caron's Body Shop, Somers Engines,
Gendron's Auto Repair, Buko Company, JARRacing Photography
Crew: Fred DiPompo, Ray Libby, Corey Turcotte, Zach Bowie,
Kevin Alden, Barry Morris, car owners Rudy and Natalie Kyllonen
Heroes in racing, and why? Mark Martin ("Because like
Tommy Ricker, he's an underdog") and Darrell Waltrip
("because he can talk a good game like me")
Favorite current NASCAR driver: Don't have one; I just like
to see good racing
Favorite racing song: "I Won't Back Down" by Tom
Petty
Favorite racing movie: Days of Thunder
Favorite OPS racer of all time: Al Hammond
Favorite OPS moment: 1985 TD Banknorth 250, when Dave Dion
got his second win by passing Joey Kourafas
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