10 to Go with Andrew Bohn

While at Turkey Derby XL at Wall Speedway we spoke with Andrew Bohn. Bohn is part of a great racing family and he is also a state champion bowler in New Jersey.

When did you get started racing?

Andrew Bohn: I started when I was 14 in a champ kart. I moved up to a Bandelero when I was 15. I won 14 out of 14 races in it. And then after that we were talking about moving me up but then my brothers got into the bigger cars so I kind of got the boot and then I didn’t race again until 2007 when I was 17. I actually drove that car (points to the family modified) with a Crate motor at a Turkey Derby. And then after that I didn’t race again until this past year when I landed a ride in a dirt car fielded by Randall Reid and Reid Sod Farm. So it’s been a bumpy road for me. My family has been racing though. My brother (Danny) races the Southern Tour. They live down south and I still live here with my mom. It’s been a hell of a ride.

Where did you get started?

Bohn: I started here when I was, like I said, 14. And now I’m running a dirt car at New Egypt.

You pretty much listed all the cars you’ve raced throughout your life, but which one is your favorite?

Bohn: Definitely the dirt car. It’s a lot more fun. You don’t have to rely on a spotter. You don’t have to rely on too many changes throughout the night. It puts the driver in the car whereas the asphalt car there’s a lot of maintenance to them and you have to rely on the spotter and tires. And it’s cheaper to run dirt as well. So dirt is definitely more fun for me.

What track would you like to race at the most that you haven’t gotten to yet?

Bohn: I’d like to try Bridgeport (New Jersey). Everyone says Bridgeport is really fast and it’s fun so I’m definitely going to try to get down there this year and run a couple shows there.

What track is your favorite that you’ve raced at?

Bohn: Definitely New Egypt. They say New Egypt is one of the harder dirt tracks to get a feel for because the track is not the same all the way around. They say that people who go to New Egypt from other tracks have a hard time adapting to it.

Do you have any superstitions or routines that you do each week? Any lucky charms?

Bohn: Actually, one of my crew guys always gives me my left glove first. I have to put my left glove on first. So that’s pretty much it. They helped me get in the car and get buckled up and get my HANS on and started handing me my left glove first and that’s how it started.

What is your favorite racing memory?

Bohn: Definitely going to say my first win this year. I started off in the rookie class and my second- no, third time out. So that was definitely the most memorable for me.

How about what was your most embarrassing moment behind the wheel?

Bohn: My most embarrassing was when I drove the asphalt car in 2007. I was like let’s just say a blind squirrel trying to find a nut.

Have you suffered any injuries racing and if so which one was your worst?

Bohn: No injuries. I did flip a champ kart but I didn’t get hurt or anything luckily.

I believe you were a bowler, correct?

Bohn: Yes. I bowled for ten years and I kind of stepped away from that to focus on the racing. Bowling is more of a lifetime sport. I’m just going to ride the wave of racing as long as I can. I can always go back to bowling if anything goes south.

So what’s more fun? Being at the racetrack or at the lanes?

Bohn: Definitely the racetrack. The racetrack is where my heart is. It’s where I grew up. Definitely the racetrack.

Do you have any plans to move down south with the rest of the family?

Bohn: No. I didn’t really have any plans before this because I would obviously want to race, but now that I have the racecar up here I have no plans to go down there any time soon.

 

Source: Rob Blount/LongIslandJam