“We were good right out of the box on the practice day on Wednesday,” Trainor recalled. “We were pretty much on the money. That was the biggest thing. Anderson is a unique track and I had never run anything like it. I felt I spent a lot of time in practice just getting used to the track. I didn’t pass a car until the race.”
It was one thing to be fast in practice, but when he qualified third behind former winners Kody Swanson and Tyler Roahrig people paid attention.
Two former Seymour family drivers — Schrader and Bentley Warren — were on hand showing their support. Suddenly, the magnitude of what was about to unfold hit the young driver right between the eyes. There was pomp and circumstance that included a trip around the track to acknowledge the crowd. There was also time to talk with Swanson and Roahrig, who offered needed counsel on what to expect.
Then, as Trainor looked at the 33 cars on the grid, it dawned on him. There isn’t a whole lot of room on the old oval, and the idea of starting three-wide began to play on his psyche. It was enough to momentarily unnerve him. For the Seymours this was uncharted territory.
“He isn’t cocky, but he is very confident in his abilities,” Bob Seymour said of Trainor.
Matt Seymour was more specific, “We have raced with Jake for three or four years now and he is as cool as it gets. Nothing rattles him. He is never intimidated. But before this race he was puking. The cars are lined up and he saw how narrow it was.”
Before the green flag, Trainor’s team had one unified message. It was imperative that he get down from his outside starting position as soon as he could. Simple advice, but as Trainor looked at 11 rows of sprint cars, he began to wonder how he was going to pull this off. Doubt began to creep in.
Warren entered the picture.
“Bentley just turned him around,” Bob Seymour related. “He said, ‘Jake you’re as good as anyone here. You have so much talent. Everyone is telling you to get down, but you’re a racer. You always run well up there. When it is time to blend in you will know when to do that. Don’t worry about getting down.’”
With the nerves quelled, Trainor took off and did exactly what was required.
“We had great balance in the car and that allowed me to ride at a steady pace and not lose the leaders,” he explained. “It made it so much easier on me that I was able to follow Kody Swanson and Tyler Roahrig, who are two of the best.”
According to Matt Seymour there was another unsung hero – Bob Seymour.
“My father won’t take the credit he deserves for the job he did spotting but he was phenomenal,” Matt Seymour said. “He kept Jake in a position that was safe and out of trouble. He told him to get next to a lapped car and show him where you were going to pass him. He was more of a coach than a spotter.”
There was a moment early on when it was clear that Trainor had found his footing and was up to the task at hand.
“We were about 25 laps in and my dad came on the radio and said that’s one NEMA feature down,” Matt Seymour said. “Then at 50 laps, Jake said: ‘OK, buddy, I’m ready to go. I’ve got this.’”
Bob Seymour knew then that he was experiencing one of the great thrills of his life.
“It was so easy to spot for him because I know him so well,” he said. “I just told him to ride. Then he gets into third. Then, C. J. Leary breaks and we are in second. I started watching and sure enough Kody Swanson is dropping back. Finally, I said, ‘Jake, he’s wounded it is time to attack.’ In one lap, he went from two cars back to get him. I don’t know how an 18-year-old kid could be so poised and never make a mistake the whole race. He wasn’t the fastest car. He was a good car, certainly a top four or five car, but with circumstances and keeping his composure, he did a great job.”
As for Swanson, in one of the great ironies, his problem was a broken steering gear.
Soon after the checkered flag at Anderson, there was an equal mixture of smiles and tears. As for the guy who did it, he says his life might have changed a little, but, truthfully, he remains unfazed.
One would imagine his talk would now center on big dreams and big stages. That is hardly the case. He is back on the job and has been back in victory lane with NEMA. He also looks forward to participating in the 500 Sprint Car tour when time allows. His goal? He would like to take on the USAC Silver Crown Series.
There are no plans to pack up and move to Indiana or change his life. Jake Trainor likes his job, he appreciates the people who have helped him and he seems content. How utterly refreshing.
This story appeared in the August 9, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
