Dirt late model driver Matt Glanden doesn’t race as often as others, but when he does, he loves entering events with stiff competition. “Iron sharpens iron,” he says, and he’s going to put that theory to the test when he races this weekend with the Save A Lot American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products.
Glanden has raced for 20-plus years. He started in quarter midgets in 2004 and progressed to mod lites in 2007. From 602 late models in 2010 to 604 late models in 2013. Then he moved into steel blocks in 2021 and supers just last year.
“We’ve never raced more than 15 to 20 times a year though,” Matt said. “We’d be a lot better off if we raced at least double that amount.”
Matt admits he could race far more if he competed at tracks closer to his hometown of Denton, Maryland. However, he wanted to face the crème de la crème. Matt raced a super late model against some of the best the sport offers. That dream, though, came to an abrupt halt at Michaels Mercer Raceway when he blew his second engine in July.
With his two burgeoning businesses, Advanced Motorsports and G2 Design, and two young kids, Matt decided to end his super season then and there.
However, since then, he’s found ways to race, thanks in part to his friends. Matt competes with his own car when he can with a limited late model engine he has. Kerry King once loaned him a 430 steel block engine. Now Corey and David Almond put him in one of their pro late models. The Almonds have known Matt since they raced together at Virginia Motor Speedway in 2019.
“For the rest of this year, I honestly don’t know what we’re doing for racing,” Matt says. “It’s day by day right now. If nothing else, we’ll run our limited car wherever we can.”
What is certain is Matt Glanden has the chance to compete with some of the best of the best with the Save A Lot American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products, thanks to the Almonds. Matt intends to hit the Saturday, September 5, show at Natural Bridge Speedway. The American All-Stars will also visit this weekend West Virginia Motor Speedway on Friday, September 4, and Wythe Raceway, on Sunday, September 6. Nevertheless, Glanden’s looking forward to the challenge on Saturday, and remains ever grateful for the kindness of the Almonds, among the many others, who have kept his season alive.
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.
