Timms moved forward from the 17th starting position in the feature and improved eight positions by the end of the race. With one night under their belt, perhaps, the tension dropped down a peg as the team headed to Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo. On this evening, Timms used a restart to power around eventual series champion Brad Sweet and then chased event winner Carson Macedo to the stripe. He became the youngest driver to earn a podium finish in World of Outlaws history.
It was a stunning outcome. Reliving the evening Lawhead says, “Everyone knows the name of the game is qualifying, so when we timed in well it was like we just needed to maintain. There was a sense of relief because you really want to perform. Everybody is watching and then you have the naysayers. To put it on the podium and drive around Sweet at the end there on a restart it was like, ‘OK.’ I knew we had what we needed to belong there but didn’t think it would come that soon. But as soon as we finished second, it was in my mind and I think everyone on the team thought, hell, if we can run second, we can win one of these.”
Timms was now on the minds of many in the sprint car world. Just how good could this kid be? Then another log was thrown on the expectation fire. After taking on the Trophy Cup in Tulare, Calif., where he won a preliminary feature, Timms had the opportunity to race with Paul Silva.
By this point the comparisons between Timms and Silva’s most famous driver came raining down — fair or not.
“We hear it all the time, ‘that this kid is the next Kyle Larson,’” Lawhead said. “I just laugh when I hear it. I don’t know if it is because I’m involved with him day to day. I’m not saying he isn’t good. He’s very good. But when you throw that name out there, I think there is already enough pressure on him. At the end of the day all we want to do is race and win.”
Ryan Timms might eventually be mentioned in the same breath with Kyle Larson, but there is much work to do before that happens. More than anything it takes time. His dad can appreciate what his son faces.
“It is hard because a part of the issue is that everyone expects him to do well,” Randy Timms said. “It’s like when he doesn’t do well everyone is like what’s the problem? Why isn’t he winning? Well, he is racing against the best guys in the world. It isn’t that damn easy.”
The only agenda for 2023 other than run big-money races against top competition. They may also concentrate on various regions of the country where they want to be better.
“If you want to get better you have to go out there and take your licks,” Randy Timms said.
Could someone like Toyota take an interest and begin nudging Timms in a different direction. Maybe. Right now, everyone on board isn’t worried about what’s down the road, they’re just enjoying the moment.
Randy Timms is all in on this deal and the plan is to continue their family operation.
“My dad is definitely my No. 1 supporter and he gives me the opportunity to do all this stuff,” Ryan Timms said. “It is also his dream to own a team like this, travel around the country and win races. I am very fortunate. I know that. I’m just going to try to make the most of what I have and do the best I can.”
Randy Timms said that at some point it became clear to him that the joy he had watching his son race far exceeded the thrill he got doing it himself.
“I love it,” he said with a laugh. “I’m like a heroin addict. I admit it. There is nothing I enjoy more than being at a sprint car race and watching my kid race a 410 sprint car. It is so bad-ass. I couldn’t have dreamed of this.”
This story appeared in the Dec. 28 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
