The Creature is Stirring!

Racing is famous for nicknames, from stars on the big stage - 'Kings' like Petty or Kinser - to Delaware racers like 'Peaches' Pearn, or 'Stretch' Silverthorne. In 2009 a unique new nickname was born at Delaware Speedway, and displayed on the side of the # 00 truck. Demar Aggregates Truck division driver Shawn Johns is now known as 'Sasquatch', as the driver was named after the furry mythological creature. "We were joking about it at the shop," Johns explained. "Then we sent the truck away to get lettered, and it came back with 'Sasquatch' on the roof. By that point there was nothing I could do about it, and it stuck."

Johns started racing at Delaware seven years ago, but 2009 was his most successful campaign. He was able to win a pair of features, including a big Labour Day weekend win in front of a packed house at the Speedway. The results led the team to a fifth -place result in the owner's standings for the #00 and for Johns, third in the driver standings. "We had a good season last year overall. There were a few problems, like breaking two rotors, and a tranny one night but overall it was a good season.

The Chev is owned by Chris Riddell who Johns has known for quite some time. "Chris and I first got to know each other when we both were crewing for Scott Lindsay. I had been racing in Kitchener with the Waterloo Regional Kart Club, and Chris approached me about driving the truck for him." Truck owner Riddell has been a staple at Delaware since the late 80's when he first hit the track in an Enduro car. Chris spoke about his love affair with the speedway, "I went with my Dad when I was a kid and then started in the Enduro class. We moved up to a Street Stock in 1991 and then went into the CASCAR Super Series class in 1995. I ran four or five races, but I injured my back, and couldn't race anymore. I really miss driving, but there isn't too much I can do about it."

Chris' extensive knowledge has assisted in making the truck one of the best handling in the class, as Johns explained, "It's the same theory as a car, but a lot tougher to apply. These trucks weight 3600 pounds, which is a lot of weight, but ours works well." Riddell added, "The Trucks have come a long ways, and now we're using more racing parts. Almost none of the components or body panels are stock. About the only things that are stock are the cab and the hood. You really set them up like an old style Street Stock, with the shims in the control arms, and spring rates, and then on race night if we're in the ballpark, we can make more adjustments through air pressure."

Johns also spoke about the amount of recent improvements that have been made throughout the facility. "They've done a lot of things for the fans, which is great. After all, we need to get those fans out, and give them good food while they're here, but I think that they also need to do some work to the track as well. It would be really great to have a second groove in the corners, and that's something that they have to work on. We're not so bad off in the Trucks, because we can make them work in both lanes, but with the late models, a lot of times they get in line and have to bump each other to get by." As for backing of the team, they are supported by AKKO Cement Finishers, Great Lakes Mechanical, Riddell Farms, Fast Track Performance, Goris Electric, Quaker State, Kleen Flo, Larry Knott Fibreglass, and John Saunders Racing Engines, and the crew includes Sean McNaughten, and Troy Edgington, who has been with Riddell since day one.

Johns has thought about climbing the ladder at Delaware, and said, "We would love to move up into a Super Stock. But I also think we have to improve on our performance in the Truck class first before we do that. I think we are a championship team, but there are a lot of tough guys in the class. Paul Fothergil - he's the guy to beat in the class - or Jeff Showler is also really tough." Riddell admitted the team was looking to sell the truck during the off-season and move into a Super Stock, but because it hasn't happened, it looks like the team will be back looking to finish their unfinished business in 2010 in the Truck class. Johns stated simply, "Our goal is a championship." While Riddell backed that statement up, adding, "We haven't won one yet." We'll have to wait and see if 'Sasquatch' and his title aspirations are 'real or fake' in 2010.

Story by Jamie Maudsley
Photos by Maudsley Motorsports