Jason Pike has love of speed, racing in his blood

There's no mistaking Jason Pike on the dirt tracks.

His blue and yellow Dirt Works modified open-wheel stock car has fluorescent red trim because, as Pike said, "I like to be seen."

Even if the 28-year-old Pahrump native was driving one of those drab black or gray cars, he would be seen.

That's because he ran off 12 straight wins to start the season at Pahrump Valley Speedway in the International Motor Contest Association division. Besides, when one dominates the IMCA circuit as long as Pike has, he gets noticed.

He drives a red Chevy pickup truck with a licence plate that says "RACNJSN." Racing is Pike's life, as he freely admits.

"This is what I love," Pike said. "It gets in your blood and you get addicted to it. When I was on that streak (of 12 straight wins), I couldn't wait to get on the track again."

As enthusiastic as he is about race car driving, his wife of three years, Tanya Pike, matches him. In fact, Tanya, who is owner of Prudential Southwest Realty, keeps scrapbooks charting his triumphs. The first is titled "Racin' Jason, Ready to Rumble."

They knew each other as Pahrump Valley High School students, but didn't start dating until each had graduated. They were formally introduced by Tanya's brother, Leland Hibdon, who works with Jason at Jim Pike Well Drilling and who shares a love of race cars.

But Jason and Tanya don't agree on everything. Jason is a Dale Earnhardt fan, Tanya pulls for Jeff Gordon.

Pike has been racing for 12 years. Not only is he one of the more successful drivers at PVS, he is also one of the more popular. In fact, he is annually voted as the Most Popular Driver at the track, and it's been that way since his 1990 rookie season.

Among Pike's successes at PVS are; Street Stock champion, 1990, when he was also named rookie of the year; street stock champion, 1992; IMCA track champion, 1993-94-95-96-98-99-2000.

The 1995 season was a breakthrough year when Pike made it to the IMCA Supernationals in Boone, Iowa, for the first time. He finished first in his heat, seventh in the "A" feature and 25th place in the main event in which cars started three to a row in 11 rows just like at NASCAR and Indy car events.

It was 1999 when Pike reached his peak on the track and in his personal life. He won the Western Region championship by sweeping dirt track titles at Pahrump, Las Vegas and Mojave in Needles, Calif.

Two days before he started his '99 winning ways, Jason and Tanya welcomed their daughter, Jacey, to the world on Feb. 25.

Pike kicked back in 2000, spending more time around his home and family. He continued to work at Jim Pike Well Drilling, the company his father started in the 1980s which does complete lot development.

It was Jim Pike who introduced Jason to racing. Jim Pike drove car 22. Jason drives No. 23. And, Jim Pike has talked about getting back into racing.

Jason built his father a street stock, but "he wants a pure stock. He doesn't want a hot rod. He wants something slower."

Racing, work and his family keep Pike constantly on the go. He's never going to get rich racing "in the dirt," as he acknowledged.

His biggest purse was the $6,000 he earned when he won the Western Region. Of course, it probably cost twice that much to lug his cars to the various tracks along with fuel and repairs. Winning individual races usually brings a purse of $250.

"It's not a sport to make money, but there are some sponsor awards," Pike said.

Ask him about his racing future and he talks about considering the Craftsman Truck series at some point. Of course, he realizes it would take some incredible luck to land a ride as far as sponsors and financial backers. If he doesn't make it that far, it won't be from lack of racing talent.

"I'm in it to have fun," Pike said. "Sometimes I get down on myself if I don't do well. But now I just want to have fun. If this is the best I can do, that's fine."

His best at this point is being a dominant IMCA racer. He has two identical cars -- one races at Pahrump, the other at Mojave. He is often in his garage at home working on his cars until 10 p.m. on week nights. He is hoping to make it back to Iowa in fall for the Supernationals.

This year is like 1999 in that Pike is extremely busy with his racing schedule. In addition to running a full slate of 36 races at PVS and the races at Mojave, there are races in Bakersfield, Calif., Reno-Fernley, Casa Grande, Ariz., and Phoenix. In fact, during the first week of July he will be racing five times in nine days.

Between that and everything else, it makes for one hectic pace. When Pike considers the alternative, he is grateful for the opportunities.

"The first two months of the year when the economy slowed down, it was really slow at work," Pike said. "I never want to feel that way again."

There's little chance of that happening any time soon. "Racin' Jason" is constantly on the go, doin' it in the dirt with the best of 'em.