Holley Gaining Momentum During Back Half of MSR Season
HOLLY, Mich. (Aug. 16, 2022) – The recent Bob Frey Classic at Lorain Raceway Park proved for a veteran driver that he is finally starting to come into his own with the Must See Racing Engine Pro Sprint Car Series.
Past series rookie-of-the-year Rick Holley, a native of Nelsonville, Ohio, is coming off a career-best third place finish with Must See Racing. A week and a half ago at Ohio’s Lorain Raceway Park, he started from the pole in the 40-lap feature and led laps early before holding off a late, spirited charge from series point leader and open-wheel veteran Joe Liguori.
The race prior at Michigan’s Berlin Raceway, Holley started from the pole as well and ran in the top two for nearly half the race before fading to fourth at the checkered flag – then a career best before topping it a week later.
His recent run has featured the kind of performances that have opened the eyes of many race fans, as well as Holley himself.
“If not for that yellow for debris just before halfway, I really believe we had a chance to finish second at Berlin,” Holley said, reflecting on his efforts. “My car was really hooked up in that feature and I knew that we had the track position to be able to capitalize on some of the speed that we’ve found recently. We went out the next race at Lorain and did just that, and we ended up on the frontstretch.
“We’ve been gaining on this thing every week, and we’ve got a lot more to get, I think … so expect more finishes like this out of us going down the stretch. But it has a bit of a pleasant surprise, even for me.”
Holley recently started a trend with having fans sign the tail tank of his white No. 85, having provided permanent markers to fans after races at Birch Run (Mich.) Speedway, Berlin and Lorain in recent weeks.
What started as an alternate way for fans to get involved when he ran out of autograph cards turned into something that Holley admits has brought him “a lot of joy” after he climbs from his race car.
“It wasn’t something that I was expecting to do, for sure,” Holley explained. “We just didn’t have enough autograph cards, so I offered to let some of the kids at Birch Run sign my race car instead. It really took on a life of its own after that.
“To get to see how happy a young kid is when they put their name on that tail tank makes what we do worth it, that’s for sure.”
A laugh followed when Holley was asked if the signatures have helped make his sprint car any faster.
“I don’t think it’s responsible for any of our gains, but I like to think so, just to smile about it,” he said.
Prior to this season, Holley had been running a dirt sprint car chassis outfitted with pavement parts and setups with Must See Racing, but during the winter he bought a purpose-built pavement chassis from Steve and Joshua Sexton that was originally campaigned by Frank Neill during the mid-2010s.
Holley said that the change in chassis has made “an incredible difference” in his comfort behind the wheel.
“This car doesn’t flex in the same places that my old dirt car did; it does what you need it to do as a driver for pavement racing,” Holley explained. “The old dirt car was kind of worn out … and when I got in this thing the first night (of the season) at South Boston (Speedway), it was a dream to drive.
“Even though we had steering problems, engine problems and everything else go wrong that night … I could tell the car was going to be good to us, and I think you’re starting to see that now.”
With a third-place finish in his pocket and victory lane in sight, Holley closed by warning the field that he’s coming for more nights on the frontstretch – and he’s doing so sooner, rather than later.
“I hate to say that you’ll see us finishing in the top two soon, because I don’t want to jinx it, but I really believe that we will be,” Holley said, leading to a smile from his son and crew chief, Chance Holley.
“Don’t let him fool you, we know what we have,” Chance added. “We just have to show it from here on out.”
Holley, three-time season winner Bobby Santos, title rivals Liguori and Charlie Schultz, the returning Mike McVetta, and the rest of the Must See Racing Engine Pro Sprint Car Series field will be back in action during the upcoming David D. Mateer Tribute at Pennsylvania’s Jennerstown Speedway.
The event, which will feature the championship-deciding event for the Must See Racing Engine Pro Sprint Car Series, honors the late Mateer, who served as the director of racing for Specialty Tires of America for many years.
Specialty Tires of America manufactures the American Racer tires used on all Must See Racing national and crate sprint car entries throughout the season.
