FORESTVILLE — Designed to promote drivers, nicknames — often assigned by track announcers — are a part of racing.
When Billy Pauch Jr. began his racing career at age 8 in quarter midgets, his nickname would be obvious.
“The Kid’s Kid.”
As the son of a driver who owns more than 700 career wins, including more than 100 at New Egypt Speedway in New Jersey, he instantly became part of Billy “The Kid” Pauch Sr.’s legacy.
But last Friday at Big Diamond Speedway, he might adopt another nickname — “All Business Billy.”
Usually one of the last to arrive at the track, he could spare just a couple of minutes before he
extracted his Kid Racing No. 15 358 modified from the hauler that he drove to the speedway.
“It’s just work,” the Frenchtown, New Jersey, resident and Big Diamond points leader said. “We’re probably one of the farthest ones to come here. I don’t get out of work until 4 (o’clock) and I leave the shop about 5 o’clock.
“I get here at 7:30 and I still think I’m early.”
With his busy schedule, Pauch arrives less than 30 minutes before the car must go on the track for warm-up laps.
That means little time for adjustments. The preparation occurs during the week at the Kid Racing garage.
“I’m there about every night,” he said. “I’ve got so many guys that it would take a while to shout out (all of them), but I’ve got a great bunch of crew guys.”
He needs them because Pauch leads a double life. In addition to working full-time as a financial consultant, he has a varied life in racing since he began racing in quarter-midgets at age 9.
Driving for several team owners, he has competed in five different divisions of race cars this season, including two classes (SpeedSTR, 600cc microsprints) at Action Track USA in Kutztown.
“It’s kind of a hectic time in our world, but we’ll keep working at it,” he said.
Pauch follows the example of his famous father, who has won five track titles at New Egypt as part of a career in several types of race cars.
The elder Pauch does have a strong connection to Schuylkill County because he once drove the Zemco Headers No. 1Z 410 sprint car fielded by Tower City’s John and Pee Wee Zemaitis. Pauch owns a World of Outlaws tour victory in the car.
Pauch Jr., 28, also has driven sprint cars, but he is building his reputation in 2015 in other vehicles.
At Big Diamond, there is the 358 modified. He has 13 career victories at the track, including this year’s George and Georgie Stevenson Memorial. He also won the Modified Challenge Races.
“We set out a goal to run up front in the points and so far it’s been pretty good,” said Pauch, who also has six heat wins. “We’ve been rock steady here all year.”
But Pauch Jr. also remembers the stumbles.
“We struggled here one week and got eighth,” he said. “We ran out of fuel leading here one night, so we gave a couple of wins away this year.”
Wins are important to Pauch, who enjoyed two over the past week.
After winning a 358 modified feature last Saturday at New Egypt, Pauch turned to the Wayne Subaru No. 1 SpeedSTR, an open-wheeled car, the next night at Action Track USA in Kutztown.
Owning the SpeedSTR points lead, Pauch knew a top-five finish in the quarter-mile oval’s final program of the season would give him his second straight track championship.
Instead, with 11 laps remaining in the 75-lap event, Pauch won a backstretch drag race against race leader Tim Buckwalter and took first place to stay, clinching a $5,000 payday.
“I just told Timmy that I think we’re going to run another 30 years together like my old man and (Kenny) Brightbill,” Pauch Jr. said in Victory Lane.
In 30 years, Pauch Jr. might have many more track championships, including his first 358 modified crown at Big Diamond with two solid finishes over the next two Fridays.
“It’d be a great accomplishment,” he said of the Big Diamond title. “It’d be one where you can put a feather in your hat.”
Today’s races
Where: Big Diamond Speedway, Forestville
When: 8:15 p.m. Gates open at 5:45 p.m.
Program: Savage 61 Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram Night for 358 modifieds, sportsmen and roadrunners. Also Pro Shine Auto Detailing Roadrunner Challenge Races.
Admission: General admission, $15; Senior citizens, $13; Active military with identification, children ages 12 and under, free.