Jason Bass combined three passions in his life — cooking, serving others, and racing. The 20-year retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force is the man behind Dem Nuts. You can find the graphic of his iconic feisty boiled peanut adorning dirt cars he sponsors throughout the Southeast.
Dem Nuts started earlier this year. Friends loved the boiled peanuts that Bass, 43, of Lancaster, South Carolina, made. They suggested he should build it into business venture.
“I don’t make much money off of [Dem Nuts],” said Bass, who earns his primary living as a supervisor at a factory. “I just do it for fun.”
Bass began sponsoring race cars with Jason Gulledge, who now competes in the renegade class at Lancaster Motor Speedway in South Carolina. Less than a year into it, a total of 10 drivers now carry Dem Nuts on their cars. That includes the pictured 604 late model driven by Tom Fiebelkorn, of Lehigh Acres, Florida. Bass hooked up with Fiebelkorn through a group of fans at Lancaster Motor Speedway known as “Swankyville.”
“[Fiebelkorn] raced at the Bristol Dirt Nationals earlier this year,” said Bass. “I set them up with some [smoked Boston] butts while they were camping, because they were there for a week.”
That’s right, Dem Nuts now serves applewood-smoked Boston butts in addition to plain- and Cajun-flavored boiled peanuts. However, Bass enjoys helping others as much as he does cooking.
“My wife would tell you that I would give away all my clothes, if someone needed it,” Bass said. “If I got something that somebody needs, nine times out of 10 I’m going to give it to them. It’s how I was raised. I hope if I was in a position of need and I asked somebody for something, they’d give it to me.”
With racers often competing for peanuts and running on fumes, Jason Bass hopes Dem Nuts helps keep racers going. He urges others to sponsor their favorites — and he says it doesn’t have to break the bank, either.
“[Sponsoring drivers] keeps the sport going,” said Bass. “Every penny counts. You could pay for a driver’s entry … a gallon of gas. Drivers are very appreciative.”
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.
