Name: Dennis Reno Jr
Year / Make / Model Car: 2013 GARC Chevrolet SS
Number: X2
Class: Pro and super late model
Years Racing: 17 years
Job: Owner of Xtreme Suspension Technology and R.P.M. Also east coast representative and consultant for Swift springs.
1. How did you get into racing?
DR: Dad bought Pop Minor’s car in 1985. I was 5 and remember them waking me up to show me and I was scared I was about to get a whooping cause I broke a piece of glass on the door cause my brothers locked me out of the house. Lol. After I seen it I was hooked! Started working at the shop when I was 13 and haven’t looked back.
2. What would you be doing if you were not driving a race car?
DR: probably racing jet ski’s. Lol. That’s the first thing I ever raced.
3. People who have inspired you the most while you have raced?
DR: My dad for sure. He has consistently pushed me to see my true potential at the shop and track. Jerry Goodwin taught me everything I know about driving and to never stop trying to improve. Bill foster, Jimmy Kitchens and Dave Mader. They have always helped me thru the years guiding me and teaching me. Buster Carden, Ray Newman and Harley Boeve, everything I know from fabricating and set up wise is all because of those guy’s. I’ve been very blessed to have that much talent and skill helping me thru out my racing career.
4. What is the biggest obstacle you are facing in your quest to succeed in racing?
DR: Having good knowledgeable help at the track with me on a consistent basis. Doesn’t matter how good you or your equipment is, If you don’t have some good guy’s at the track with you it’s extremely hard to do everything and drive.
5. What driver are you a fan of?
DR: I like Kyle Busch but really I’m a fan of all drivers that earn what they have and not just handed over to them.
6. Out of all the race cars you have driven, which one was your favorite and why?
DR: Definitely Super Late Models! Nothing better than controlling all that h.p. and putting it into the driver’s hands to control it and still go fast.
7. Pick one : CD player, I pod, 8-Track or Record player, and who do you listen to?
DR: My phone! Lol. Which I guess is an iPod kinda. It all depends on my mood. I like it all. Right now it’s Staind, Shinedown, etc with alot of 90’s thrown in. Really like Chase Rice, Sam Hunt and Dustin Lynch also.
8. What have you been doing during the off season?
DR: Repairing racecars and shocks along witb getting shop cleared out for more room.
9. Is there any other type of race car that you’d like to drive that you haven’t yet?
DR: OH YEAH!! Sprint car, Indy car and any car at Talladega.
10. Your best and worst moment in racing?
DR: My best moment was winning the World Classic in 07. That was when it paid 10k and it was Kason’s first trip to the track. He was just 6 weeks old. Worst would have to be hitting the pit entrance gap at B.I.R. my first year in Late Model with my dad’s favorite car “which we still have”.
11. Any local legends that you admired while coming up in Short Track Racing?
DR: Jerry Goodwin, Jimmy Kitchens, Dave Mader, Buster Carden, Dwayne Middlebrooks.
12. What motivates you to be the best in your racing division?
DR: The trophy! And carrying on the legacy of X2. With racing being my career if I don’t thrive to be the best then I need to find another Job.
13. Favorite smell at the track : race gas or burning rubber?
DR: Racing Gas no question! Nothing better than smelling that after the off season
14. What’s the funniest thing you have ever seen on the race track?
DR: Red Farmer running off the back strecth at Talladega Short Track then fired back up and drove nose first into the drainage ditch.
15. What local driver do you have the most respect for and why?
DR: All of them! The guy’s who race weekly and work a full-time job and still have their cars ready each weekend deserves everyone’s respect. That’s a job in itself.
16. Do you have another sport you enjoy to watch or participate in?
DR: Love college football. I play basketball and golf if I ever find the time.
17. What’s more important … racing for points or racing for the win?
DR: No doubt the WIN!! I don’t points race. I’ll miss a race thru the year so I never have to consider it
18. Your favorite track and why?
DR: Indianapolis Raceway Park. It’s so much like B.I.R. and you can race all over the track. Nashville is a close 2nd.
19. Which describes you best : calculating driver or kamikaze driver?
DR: I’m definitely calculated. That’s the Jerry Goodwin in me.
20. Last Lap, you’re in a side by side dash for the win… who would you want to beat and why?
DR: Jerry Goodwin! I didn’t get to race against him and that would be amazing to race door to door with him for the win.
I want to thank my Mom and Dad for supporting me all these years and being able to provide me with some awesome cars thru the years! And Margaret Smith for pushing me to become a better man at and away from the track. My family for cheering me on regardless of how bad I ran that night. Each and every person that has helped me at the shop and track thru out these past 17 years. And certainly my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing me with the gifts and resources to be able to do what I love and is my passion for a living! Swift springs for being the best spring on the market hands down!! R.P.M and Xtreme Suspension for best race cars and shocks in the world 😉
Thanks Dennis, for providing us with this information, and if anyone else would like to be featured here please contact me at ShortTrackTalk@gmail.com