Now with nine years of crate-engine late model experience under his belt, Ivey’s accomplished many things and proved himself worthy of moving up the ranks, which he did full-time just last year.
That was Ivey’s rookie season at the controls of a super late model around his home track of storied Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C.
Garnering two wins at the track in regional competition, Ivey said he’s learned a lot from moving up, and it’s made him a more well-rounded pilot.
“Driving a crate and then going to a super and making sure I do everything I can behind the wheel has helped me the most,” he said. “A lot of people say that Super Late Model experience helps in driving a crate car. I say it’s the opposite. In a super, you’ve got all this motor and you can get yourself out of trouble. But with crates, you’ve got to hit it perfect if you’re going to be the man to beat.”
Now a two-time South Eastern Crate Ass’n (SECA) late model champion after his second crowning in 2018, Ivey’s had a chance to race at several tracks in his region.
But to him, there just isn’t anything like The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
“Charlotte’s a big venue, and everybody likes to go race there,” he said. “But I like the track the most. Charlotte’s unique because you can race all over it. You get to see who really can drive.”
Ivey also ran third in a 75-lap, $50,000-to-win event at Virginia Motor Speedway last September, showcasing his versatility in the fendered ranks. But his diverse racing skills aren’t the only pages he has in his playbook.
Ivey Construction is still in business today. Trent plays a big part in running the family operation, which specializes in residential construction projects around Northwestern South Carolina.
“I started working there as soon as I got out of college; I just did a two-year business degree [at the University of South Carolina]. But as soon as I got out, he started letting me run the business and fell back as the owner. He runs around and sets up the jobs, then I have my crew and we go and do all the work,” Ivey said.
So far, he’s got five years of experience as a carpenter on the crew and works Monday through Friday for the family business. On weekends, though, he said it’s all about racing and wrenching on the cars.
That said, a round of golf and a nice tennis match do suit him well during the summer months, too.
Ivey got into iRacing right when the dirt expansion was launched in the spring of 2017.
Racing on what he describes as a “1970s-ish” table, with a basic wheel-and-pedals set, a single computer monitor and a new gaming computer – which he recently acquired after his previous computer crashed coming to the green in a recent feature at Charlotte – Ivey has quite obviously been spending much more time recently in his roll-around computer chair in preparation for the big-time iRacing events.
Now, he’s caught right in the spotlight of one of the biggest things to hit iRacing: nationally televised events.
Keep an eye out for the late model guru on Wednesday night as he looks to become the first repeat winner in World of Outlaws iRacing Invitational competition.