Thirteen year old Indian Mound Middle School student Jordan Wendt is going places--fast. He's already been to Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. But he doesn't just drive to his destination. Driving is his destination. Jordan is a racecar driver, speeding to destinations of acclamation and accomplishment at up to 85 miles per hour (depending on the track) behind the wheel of his red Ford Fusion 1/2 scale NASCAR.
"I won two trophies," Jordan, #17, said. His trophies were for finishing third in feature and third in heat at a race in Illinois. He also finished third in points this season out of 15, and was named rookie of the year.
His 42 kidney surgeries keep him from playing football, but he has another dream. "I want to race NASCAR," Jordan said. For that, he will need to keep improving his race and win more competitions. He was never lapped in karting. And, after a successful season this year in Super Cups, in which he finished third in the summer feature race, he will be racing indoors in the winter to keep sharp.
Jordan began by racing Go Karts Jordan has been racing go karts for the past three years at the Sugar River Raceway. His father, Bill Wendt, Jordan's crew chief and spotter, who raced Hobby Stocks at Lake Geneva Raceway, said that someone told him his son had potential to be a good racer.
This year was his first at Super Cups, which has races across the country. Jordan has also driven on the Columbus 151 Speedway, where he got his start in the junior division, and in Rockford, Ill., where he also practices.
Jordan is not the youngest racer on the track. Children as young as eight years old are racers. Each car is equipped with two-way radios and walkie talkies, and fire extinguishers are always at hand. It's not as dangerous as it might seem, and Jordan has never flipped his car.
Jordan enjoys racing behind the wheel and as a spectator. His favorite racer is Matt Kenseth, from Cambridge. While he has dreams of racing in NASCAR, Jordan keeps his goals practical-having fun, meeting people, making every race, winning a race, and getting better with help. As much as he enjoys racing, his favorite thing is being with friends and family.
When asked if he thinks he's more prepared now, having such racing experience, to drive on the streets when he eventually gets his driver's license, Jordan laughs and nods.
Next year, he will race Legends at Madison International Speedway (MIS), behind the wheel of a 1934 Ford Coop. He may also be headed to new racing venues in Iowa. Jordan plans to race 16 Legends races and 16 Super Cups throughout the Midwest.
Jordan is always looking for sponsors. He can be contacted at wendtsracing@yahoo.com. For more information, visit the Web site www.supercupracing.com.
