(Aug 11, 2015) Devin Snell is one of the emerging stars in a rejuvenated Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman Division. On June 13^th Devin got his first-ever feature win and then came back the next week and won it again. Wade Wilson recently sat down with Devin Snell who is right in the thick of the Sportsman championship battle. 

 A Conversation with Devin Snell

 

Wade: Hey Devin, you’ve surprised most everyone this season by winning a couple of Sportsman features and chasing a championship. Are you surprised by your success this year?

Devin: To tell the truth I had pretty high expectations heading into the season. But I must admit I was pretty pumped with that first win at Speedway 660 back in June, after we had some bad luck the first two races. And then to win two in a row was really amazing. But I was kinda thinking this would be a good year because we finished off 2014 by winning the last two races at Petty and Mirimichi. I knew we would have a good car coming into the 2015 season and am pretty happy with the way things have gone so far. Saturday, June 13th, 2015 is a day Devin Snell will remember. It was his first-ever Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman feature win at Speedway 660.

Wade: Tell our fans about your background in racing. How you got started, how long you’ve raced and those kinds of things?

Devin: I started out helping my brother Dwayne who folks will remember from his Street Stock and Sportsman days at 660. But the first racing I ever did was Motorcross. But after a few broken bones and an opportunity to try out a Street Stock I was hooked. I raced in Street Stock for three years and now this is my 3^rd year in a Sportsman.Devin knows his #10 is a good car, but early in a race when he’s in traffic he knows he has to stay cool until the opportunity to come to the front presents itself.

Wade: Your car comes out of the Lonnie Sommerville Racing shop, so we know it’s a good piece. How big a help has Lonnie been in your development as a race car driver?

Devin: Yes I’m very fortunate to be able to work out of his shop and it has brought a lot of opportunities for me in racing that I would never been able to do by myself. Lonnie has won a lot of big races, including two Irving Blending & Packaging 250`s at SpeedWeekend. He`s got a lot of ability, talent and experience. I can always go to Lonnie for advice and he does a great job building and setting up race cars too.Lonnie Sommerville (right) has dedicated his life to his family and racing. Lonnie has helped several young drivers, including Devin Snell, become the rising stars of our sport.  

Wade: The car count was down for a couple of years in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division, but it’s bounced back this year. We’ve got six rookies and a couple of veterans are back, so things have picked up.

Devin: Yes it sure is great to see the car count coming back up and hopefully in the next couple years we`ll get it back to where it was a few years ago when you had to race your way into the feature every Saturday night. The rookies this year are great. The West Wood Estates Bandolero division has really provided an awesome training ground for young drivers.

Wade: How did it feel to get that first-ever feature win earlier this season and what did you think when you won again the next week?

Devin: I was thrilled to get that first win here, because the competition at 660 is the best in our region. If you win a Saturday night Martin`s Home Heating feature at this track, you`ve earned it! The next week I wasn’t sure how things were going to go because I had to start at the back. But surprisingly there is a lot that can happen in these 40 lap races and I was fortunate enough to pick the right line a couple of times and get back out front. Winning those two races really gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.After winning that first career Sportsman feature, Devin was back in the Riverview Ford Victory Lane the very next week. Those two wins in June propelled this young driver up the standings and made him a championship contender. 

Wade: Our fans like the new format that has extended our Sportsman features to 40 laps. How do you feel about that?

Devin: I love it. It`s great because as far as I`m concerned, the more laps the better! I like the long races so I would be happy if I could run 100 laps every week.

Wade: You’ve got the Firecracker 150 coming up this weekend, then Fan Appreciation Night, the Night of Champions and finally the Irving I-24-150 on SpeedWeekend. That’s a lot of intense racing.

Devin: You’re right, things are going to be intense. We`ve got those two 150 lap races and like I said before I love the long races so I can’t wait for them. Plus we`re in a pretty intense championship battle in the Martin`s Home Heating Sportsman division. We`ve got to make sure the car is ready every week, stay focused, race hard and hopefully get a break or two to get the results we want.The competition is intense and the racing is tight in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division. Devin knows he’ll have to be at the top of his game for the rest of the season to contend for a championship and have good outings in the two big races remaining on our schedule.

Wade: You obviously watch the RE/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stocks out on the track. Do you have any thoughts of making a move in that direction in the future, or are you content to stay in Sportsman?

Devin: Yes I would love to move up but so far every race this year I`m lucky if I have two guys coming to work as a pit crew and I definitely need more help to make that jump up to Pro Stock. At the end of last year I ran one of Lonnie`s cars with him and all of his pit crew. So maybe I`ll do that once or twice a year and if everything works out maybe go full time in the next few years. But I`m having a lot of fun in Sportsman and we`ve got a lot of work to do in the next month, so that`s where my focus is right now.Devin’s blue number 10 is usually at or near the front when the laps start to wind down. He’s been one of most consistent Sportsman drivers in 2015 and is looking for a strong finish to his season.

Wade: I know Lonnie Sommerville has been a great mentor for you. Are there any other drivers who you look up to here at 660 or on the big NASCAR stage?

Devin: Yes I’ve done quite a bit of racing with Lonnie in the past few years and learned a lot. Kyle Busch is awesome to watch too. I’ve been to a few races and have seen him run Super Late Models and NASCAR. He always puts on a show for the fans.Lonnie Sommerville is a guy Devin Snell really looks up to. Devin’s car comes out of the LSR shop and Lonnie provides lots of advice and encouragement to Devin.

Wade: It takes some good sponsors to run a competitive Sportsman car at Speedway 660. Who would you like to recognize and thank for getting you to the track every week?

Devin: Lonnie Sommerville Racing, The Sign Shop, Pubs Drive Through Bottle Exchange, Kustom, APM, Lumber Jack’s Subs, Frosty Lodge, Boyle Real-Estate Development, Kings County Performance, JTR, and my Dad Brian! I also want to thank Richard and Anne, from Martin’s Home Heating, who sponsor our division and do a lot for our sport.

Wade: I mentioned all of the pressure-packed races coming up in the next few weeks. What’s it going to take for you to be at the top of your game down the stretch?

Devin: Just be well prepared, stay out of trouble and hopefully be there at the end when it matters most. The 40 lap weekly features give everyone more time to get to the front. In the past you might have forced the issue earlier in the race, but now you’ve got a little more time to try to set someone up for the pass. But no matter how long the race is, when there’s about ten to go it’s time to go and you’ve gotta be in a position to make something happen.Devin is looking forward to a big weekend at Speedway 660. Nothing would make this awesome young driver happier than to end up in Victory Lane in one of our biggest races of the season.

Wade: Thanks for doing this Devin. I really appreciate your time. 2015 has already been a break-out season for you and I know there are lots of fans out there who hope you have a strong finish.

Devin: Thanks Wade and I hope we have some luck in the next few races and it would mean a lot to us to win the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman Championship at 660! I also want to wish Lonnie the best of luck down the stretch too, because he’s got a great shot at the RE/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stock title.