By Norm Froscher
Florida racing fans may or may not remember Brock Oglesby, the Ocala
youngster who has worked his way up from go karts to Modifieds to
Late Models.They most certainly will note him now, because this youngster, just turned 16, won his first Super Late Model race at Citrus County Speedway, beating in the process, short track ace Wayne Anderson, who even has his own racing school.
Oglesby, now old enough to get a Florida driver’s license, took Anderson to school, beating him to the checkered flag in Citrus County’s monthly Late Model feature last week.
Oh, there were veterans, like second generation driver Anderson, son of Wildwood’s Dickie Anderson in the field.
Some of the others included Mike Bresnahan, winningest driver at Citrus over the last two years; Mike Franklin, former Florida Pro Series champion; Rex Strubble, current Citrus points leader and Rich Pratt, current Florida Pro Series points leader.
There were well-funded Late Models, at least those running on major sponsorships other than just their dad’s.
But in the end it was the white 2003 No. 88 Monte Carlo, carrying pop Jeff’s Oglesby Drywall sponsorship, which carried the day.
No. 88? Yep, Brock’s not exactly a Dale Jarrett fan, but you see, that was the year of his birth.
Chasin’ Dreams is the name of Oglesby’s racing team, going back to when he was just entering competition and then moving on up to the Super Late Model ranks.
He’s still chasing those dreams, but last weekend he grabbed one by the throat and wrestled it into Victory Lane for his very first Late Model triumph.
That was probably Dream No. 1 on the young A student’s list. It was Greg Maddox finally winning that No. 300, or Jeff Gordon winning his fourth Brickyard at Indianapolis.
And, ironically, they all came in the same wonderful weekend.
Young Oglesby has been trying hard for that first Late Model victory for almost two years.
But you know the saying, “first it was one thing, and then another.” He didn’t finish many races this season, for a majority of reasons, mostly mechanical, but sometimes, and more often or not, another driver’s miscue.
“This whole year has been tough, between things breaking and getting crashed it was hard to stay motivated,” young Glesby explains. “After not finishing the last 6 races, I was beginning to wonder, but I knew the bad luck was eventually going to stop.”
Oh, he’s not perfect, but like all racers, he just had a horrendous slump. The difference was, Oglesby’s slump came before he could even taste that memorable first victory.
Oglesby has come up through the ranks under the strict guidance of his dad, Jeff, himself a former racer.
He started racing those go karts at age six and then moved to mini-stocks, where he won the championship at Ocala in 1999. That was followed by advance to modifieds and the last two years to those top-of-the line Late Models.
Early on several young female friends had their moms dress them in the best finery, because they were planning to have their picture taken with Brock at the track, the start of a fan club.
Indeed, a rising racing star at age 12.
“Like many drivers, I love racing and my goal is to be driving in the Busch Series within 10 years and eventually move into Nextel Cup,” Oglesby says. “I know that does not come without a lot of hard work and support and sponsorship and my dad, who’s been able to help me through his business, Oglesby Drywall.”
That’s fine, and while he’s naturally concerned about Brock’s safety, as we shall see, what about Mom Shari?
“She worries every time I’m on the track, I know that, but I really don’t feel it’s all that dangerous and we have the latest in safety equipment,” Brock says.
Along that line, yes, Brock has a specially tailored HANS (Head and Neck Support device) each time he leaves the pits for the track.
“My dad and us ordered it the day after Dale Earnhardt’s fatal wreck at Daytona,” Brock says. “I love it and wouldn’t race without it. Some drivers say it’s hard to get out of the car with it on, but it’s not for me.
“As to me personally, one night I will never forget was the first night I was in an open wheel modified at Ocala. This other car got loose and turned me into the wall and I wound up upside-down on the backstretch. I will never forget that night, but I know it is a part of racing,”
And another night he’ll never forget, came that Saturday at Citrus County Raceway. What was he thinking on the last lap?
“It was the greatest feeling in the world, I’ll never forget it. There are no words to describe it,” Oglesby says.
“I've won races before in go-karts and 4-cylinder cars, but I don’t think it compares with this.”