It had rained earlier in the day, but the race went ahead as scheduled. Frye III had not practiced in a midget so when he entered a turn on a slimy surface, he headed over the top and was soon going for a ride. The younger Frye and the car emerged relatively unscathed, which led Frye Jr. to tell his son, “I told you it was a question of when, but I didn‘t think it would be that fast.”
It was a different time in midget racing and the Fryes knew that when they came to the track, they were already a bit outgunned. Frye III then realized that the trick was to create small goals. To this point his first POWRi race came at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo.
Frye III never saw his grandfather race but knew the stories and he was also aware of his father‘s accomplishments. There was a lot on his shoulders.
“When I was younger it was hard,” he said. “At first it was a lot because we are a racing family. If I missed a race, I would think that was embarrassing. Most of the pressure is what I put on myself. I couldn‘t let the name down. But Dad and I would talk. As the years have gone on, the pressure has come off because I know where we are at. We don‘t have the equipment to run in the top 10 every night.”
Frye Jr. is reflective when talking about the family‘s racing efforts.
“All we have is a little Gaerte engine,” he said. “I told Danny we can go occasionally, drink some beer and have some fun hanging out with the guys. At 72 years old I‘m not going out and spending 50 thousand dollars on a motor.”
They race on a budget and do so for the love of the sport. There are no illusions as to where this will lead. Danny Frye III has an important job handling contracts for a subsidiary of Ascension Health. He has completed an MBA and is pointed toward becoming a certified public accountant. He has things in perspective.
“Racing is something to do to escape and be in my own world and have a night out with dad,” he said. “That has bonded us as much as anything.”
Rest assured when the Chili Bowl comes around, they will be there.
The family has much to be proud of. In January 2022, Danny Frye Sr. will be inducted into the National Midget Hall of Fame.
As for Danny Frye Jr., when he reflects on his career he says, “I ran in 24 different states, won some races and kept my job.”
There was also a special moment shared with Barney Flynn at a time when the former owner was very ill. Looking his old hired gun in the eye, Flynn told him that of all those who had driven for him he truly felt Frye Jr. could have succeeded at Indianapolis.
In 2019, Frye III and Frye Jr. had the unexpected opportunity to race against one another at Belle-Clair Speedway in Illinois.
Frye III was making the rounds through the pits when he encountered an owner who was prepared to load up and leave. It seems his driver was stuck at work. Frye III offered to take the seat and while that was a reasonable solution it was suggested that he go back and check with his father.
“I told dad what was going on and saw the look in his eye,” Frye III remembered. “I saw him looking at our car and when he went to get in and I said, ‘No, go see if you can fit in the seat of the other car.‘ My seat would have been really tight for him. I went around the pits and I collected a helmet, I had an extra suit that was big on me. I got some gloves and it seemed like he had something from every other driver in the field.
“We took a picture after the feature and I don‘t think I ever saw a smile on his face that big in my life,” Frye III continued. “It is probably my favorite race because it was something I never thought would happen. It was awesome to say I got to race with my dad once, and I like to brag that I beat him.”
This is a story is a reminder of what racing is all truly about. Yes, the landscape of midget racing has changed dramatically in the decades since Danny Frye Sr. attended his first event. The participants are younger, the costs have skyrocketed and everyone seems to be perpetually serious.
One thing has never changed. This sport has always been about family and a passion for competition and camaraderie that is passed down generation to generation. When one considers the clans who have made an indelible mark in midget racing, that list must include the Frye family.