Is TJ Hicks related to AJ Hicks, four-time AAS Weekly Series champ? Yes, he’s his older brother, and TJ’s seeking to put his name in the record books, too, as he competes in the Save A Lot American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products.
TJ and AJ both grew up watching their father, Terry, race. Eventually, the brothers both went into dirt late models. TJ became one of the first in his area to embrace the Chevrolet 604 crate engine. He even used it to compete in super late models, where he qualified — and then beat — competitors with far more powerful engines.
However, TJ had to step back from the sport. His job in construction takes him all over the country. TJ also has two young girls. But the itch to race never left.
Last summer, he returned to late models by competing at his home track, Willard Speedway, against some of the American All-Stars’ finest.
“I had to come out of the B-man,” TJ, of Grayson, Kentucky, said. “I raced my way in and came from 20th up to sixth at one point. Then I lost my brakes. When I passed Trevor Sise, I was like, ‘He just won $15,000 last weekend. I’m doing alright.’”
Since then, he’s raced when time allowed, finishing as high as second last summer at Willard. It’s been a bit of a learning curve for TJ since he last regularly raced in 2016. He said he used to rely on ride height adjustments to change his car’s handling. Now it’s all load numbers, even for the 2006 Rocket Chassis he wheels. Yes, a 20-year-old car. Surprisingly, his setup isn’t too far off from the baseline his brother uses on a much more modern late model.
“My brother and cousin run Swartz cars,” TJ said. “We put their load numbers on different cars, and it’s pretty close to the same. At the end of the day, they’re all just race cars.”
You can catch TJ Hicks this weekend competing with the Save A Lot American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products. The series visits three tracks this weekend, starting on Thursday, July 2, at Willard Speedway. The tour then moves to Elkins Speedway on Friday, July 3. The weekend ends on Saturday, July 4, at Tyler County Speedway.
“My goal is just to get faster every time I get on track,” TJ humbly said. “That’s what any racer is looking for.”
Outside Groove Note of Transparency: Outside Groove is a sponsor of the American All-Star Series. The American All-Star Series paid for the production of this article. The content is not subject to the approval of the American All-Star Series.
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.
