16 Year-Old Bruce Hibbs Jr. Brings 13 Years of Experience to NASCAR

Written by Arianne Hegeman
November 6. 2007

Think back to what you were doing at the age of 16.  Some of us enjoyed being mischievous.  Smashing mailboxes with baseball bats was a favorite Friday night activity.  Others held weekend pool parties with high school friends. The responsible teens were busying working at the local fast food restaurant; saving for car insurance or a pair of jeans.  A few spent time studying and preparing for college.

Bruce Hibbs Jr., a 16-year old racing phenomenon; is busy putting the teenage stereotype to bed.  He has spent the past decade running full throttle towards the finish line.  Hibbs Jr. has spent time competing on both dirt and asphalt tracks across the nation while mingling with the likes of NASCAR Busch and Nextel Cup series teams.   At the age of 16, Bruce Hibbs Jr. has a plan and it includes a victory lane near you.

Bruce started racing before he could tie his shoes.  “My dad was racing late models in Wisconsin and I started racing go-karts.   It’s in my blood, him and my pop-pop, he raced too.”  The Hibbs family made racing more than just something to do on the weekends; they made it a way of life.  “I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps and drive a race car like he did.  I just followed through with it throughout my childhood and now into my career.” 

The hard work has paid off for Bruce and his family as he prepares for an exciting 2008.

With 13 years of experience already under his belt, Hibbs plans to take his past and build a solid future in NASCAR. “Right now, our goal is to run some of the 2008 Busch East schedule and ARCA too. But eventually, I’d like to see myself in Nextel Cup.”

Hibbs Jr. has already made friends with other up-and-coming stars.  “I look up to my friend Stephen Leicht.  He helps me a lot, gives me advice and is just there to answer questions.”  Bruce has also taken the careers of Nextel Cup drivers and learned from example.   “I like how Tony Stewart drives. I also like Matt Kenseth and enjoyed watching the early success of his career.”  Kenseth and Hibbs both grew up in Wisconsin and represent NASCAR’s success outside of the Southeast.

Like one of his favorite Cup drivers Tony Stewart, Bruce Hibbs Jr. has had success on dirt; the most challenging of all racing surfaces.  “I’ve raced Sprint cars on dirt.  In fact, I won Rookie of the Year at Nationals. That has to be my favorite memory; winning at the Nationals.  It was only my third time in a sprint car.  I was 14 at the time.  I like racing on dirt, but I like asphalt too, it’s a toss up.”

Being around racing all of his life has helped Bruce Hibbs Jr. learn from the lessons that come along with sponsorship and getting that big break into the top tiers.  But his interest in competing in NASCAR has brought along new obstacles that he welcomes with open arms. “Besides sponsorship; getting used to asphalt has been a challenge, Stephen Leicht has helped me with that.  I’m surprised by the weight ratio of the sprint cars compared to an asphalt car.  Sprint cars are really light and have a lot of horsepower; the asphalt cars just don’t take off as quickly as the sprints.  It’s taken some getting used to, but I’m up for the challenge.” 

Hibbs Jr. is very humble and easily acknowledges the people who have helped him fulfill his dreams.  “My dad, he’s been with me every step of the way.  My whole family has supported me.” Bruce is the youngest of four children and is the only boy.  He has three older sisters who had no interest in racing.  But they have all been a part of his success and he looks forward to sharing even more racing memories with them.  “And of course, there is Laurie Reitz, who I met when I was down in Daytona with the ARCA team that I’ve been talking to.  She was taking pictures at the race and took one of me.  We starting talking and we’ve been friends ever since. She’s helped get my name out there”. 

The 2007 off-season will find Bruce Hibbs and Co. preparing for 2008.  A new team is being formed with HL Motorsports and new sponsorship will soon follow.  Race fans will want to watch for Bruce Hibbs, Jr.  It is only a matter of time before his name will be on the hot list. 

For more information on Bruce Hibbs Jr., visitwww.brucehibbsjr.com