CHILDERS TO MAKE HIS RETURN AFTER 22 YEARS IN CHILDREN’S DREAM FUND 50
February 13, 2024 – Two-time Little 500 champion Jim Childers today confirmed that he is returning to pavement sprint car racing after a 22-year hiatus. He will make his return during the Children’s Dream Fund 50 at Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, Florida March 2. The $10,000 to win event will be a co-sanctioned race between the Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Perfit and the BG Products Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series.
Childers, now 80 years old, captured his second and final Little 500 victory in 2000 and a T.B.A.R.A. championship would follow. He would retire from racing after the 2002 season due to work responsibilities, grandchildren, and being burned out from racing so much at the time.
“When I got out of it, my wife Charmaine and I were racing a lot. We both had full-time jobs” explained Childers. “We were racing every weekend, and I was getting burned out a little bit. I was missing out on family life a little bit too. I decided to take some time off. I wanted to go to the games with my grandkids. They were playing baseball, and one granddaughter was riding a horse in the horse shows.
We bought a farm up here in Brooksville and I just got a little bored sitting on the porch watching the cows. I’d been thinking about the set-ups I wish I had tried.
A friend of mine, Bruce Brantley, put a brand new 410 in his car and asked me if I wanted to go try it out. Another friend of mine, Chris Wiley, is his engine builder. We went to Showtime Speedway and tried it out. I felt pretty good in the car, but I’d never had so much horsepower. That 410 would break loose whenever you wanted it too. I’m used to flat footing it.
I told my wife I wouldn’t mind getting a car and just renting the track and trying some of my set-ups, kind of low key. One thing led to another, and I bought a car. We did go to Auburndale, rented the track, and tried it out. The car felt good, but we blew a head gasket. We’re in the process of getting that fixed now. I think we’ll be in pretty good shape for the race up there.”
Childers was asked if the car felt the same as it did 22 years ago. “Actually, it felt pretty much the same. But there are some changes. The shocks are a lot different now. Back then I just worried about springs, weight, and stagger. With the shocks today, you got a lot more to worry about.
I called up Todd Schmidt who’s the best chassis man in the country. I’ve known him for a long time. I used to race with him a long time ago. He’s been helping me a little bit with the set-ups. Chris Wiley’s been coming over every day helping me with the motor. I’m kinda lost on the motor, I’ve been just a driver all these years. Chris has been doing a good job getting it ready for us.
I really didn’t want my first race to be the Children’s Dream Fund 50,” laughed Childers. “I wanted to run that last race at Auburndale. Low key, just a regular race. But I didn’t have it ready then. There are gonna be a lot of good cars at that race, that’s for sure.
JJ Dutton has really been doing a fantastic job with this race. The way he promotes he should be a promoter. He’s putting these Florida race drivers on the map again. I had the chance to meet him and his pretty daughter Sadie the other night at Showtime. She’s such a sweet girl. I’m just happy to be involved in all this. I would be happy if I just qualified up there. It’s gonna be tough, there are a lot of good drivers coming” concluded Childers.
PHOTO CREDIT – Childers Provided Photos
