Late model driver Ryan Winchester probably analyzes a racetrack’s dirt surface a bit differently than most. He works as a soil conservationist for the NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service). Winchester has examined dirt — competitively — since his teenage years.
“I soil-judged in high school,” said Winchester, 25. “They dig out a pit and we judge the characteristics of the soil. We look at texture, color, and then there are a lot of classifications based on organic matter, content, rocks, particle sizes. A soil scientist describes the [soil and] whoever is closest [to that description] gets the highest number of points. There are collegiate teams who do this, and I was on one. We competed all over the Southeast, and we made it to the Nationals all three years I was on the team.”
His passion for soil judging resulted in earning a degree in environment agriscience from Tennessee Tech University and then his position at the NRCS.
“My day [at work primarily] consists of helping land owners to solve soil erosion issues,” Winchester said. “[However,] it’s not just erosion issues. I could be working with a livestock owner to rotationally graze their cattle or sheep. The next day I could be working with a row crop farmer with a big ditch in their field. [We would work] on installing some sort of levee or pipe system to stop the erosion and safely get that water out of the field to help their production.”
Winchester raced go-karts from age five to 15. He then progressed to racing a season of crate late models. He stopped racing in anticipation of finding a new CT525 engine, but after two years of waiting, he found a deal on a super late model engine and moved into that class this year. While he lives in the western third of Tennessee, in Palmersville, Tennessee, his car resides in Maryville, Tennessee, in the eastern third.
“It’s a 1,000-mile weekend, if I go race,” said Winchester. “My dad, Dean Winchester, is my crew chief. He does what he can through the week. I get off work Friday afternoon and drive five hours home. I work on whatever needs to be finished up. We load up Saturday morning, and go race. We wash up Sunday morning and then start trucking back.”
Winchester has raced at a variety of Eastern Tennessee tracks this season, including I-75 Raceway outside of Sweetwater, Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tazewell Speedway, and Wartburg Speedway. Each track surface and its preparation is unique to that oval.
“I’m not sure if everybody doesn’t do a little soil science work when they go to the racetrack,” Winchester said. “You see people grab a handful of dirt and get the feel of it. They figure out what a track’s going to do after feeling the dirt enough times.”
Ultimately, Ryan Winchester believes his background in soil science should benefit his efforts once he learns more in his rookie year of super late model racing.
“I haven’t pulled it all together to know exactly what I’m looking for,” said Winchester. “My soil science background may help me understand it … to know what kind of adjustments I need to make and what to do through the night.”
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
