The Observer, July 21, 1999

Race driver on fast track to success

Edgewater - Racing is not a full-time job for Edgewater resident Jeremy Fitch, at least not yet. Fitch is working to earn a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida, and is finding that education commands much of his time.
    "I know that I have to have something to fall back on if I decide to quit racing. The best thing you can have is education. I am glad I am in the position that allows me to study and work on my degree," Fitch said.
    "I want to have the mechanical engineering degree because it will help me understand how the race car works and the adjustments that have to be made. The more the driver knows about the car, the better it will perform," Fitch said.
    Fitch may be at an early point in his career, but he has the credentials to go to any level in the sport he loves. He has built and driven cars in several classes, and also spent two and a half years as a driving instructor at the Richard Petty School. His experience with Petty gave him valuable time behind the wheel at Walt Disney World Speedway with the Petty Driving Experience, and also at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) as a driver with the ride along program, recording 23,000 miles this past year at DIS.
    "I learned a lot at the Petty School and gained a lot of experience with the big speedways. When you make the transition from a short track to a big high speed speedway, you realize how different tracks are."
    "Looking out the window at New Smyrna Speedway you can turn your head a little and see about half of the track. When you are at Daytona, the roof gets in the way and you find yourself looking out the left side window. The banking is really steep and you can't see all the way around the corner," Fitch said.
    Fitch is a realist when it comes to racing. He started in the Bomber class at New Smyrna Speedway. His preparation of that ride earned him an award for the best appearing car in that division in 1994. He is currently building a limited late model that will see competition at several speedways in the Central Florida area.
    "When I first started driving I had to run a number I didn't want. A few races into the season I learned my number (11) was available. I wanted that number because my dad had run it for many years," Fitch said.
    "I have seen this sport from many angles. I realize my degree is a smart move, because I will always be able to do something in the sport, even if I'm not driving," Fitch said.
    Asked about his biggest thrill in the sport, Fitch quickly responded, "Winning the Dick Joselin Memorial at Orlando Speedworld. I qualified fourth and started seventh because of the draw. I moved through the field and then led the last 65 laps of the event. That was a thrill because I had Tank Tucker on my back bumper the whole way," Fitch said.
    "I would have to say that my most memorable win would have to be the first win in my bomber car. We worked hard that season and I was learning. The car was old and I was new, so I had to work every week to get better. When I won I learned what a thrill it was to work hard and do well," Fitch said.
    Education and racing go hand-in-hand for this talented driver, but the thing he likes most about the sport is surprising.
    "I like the adrenaline rush you get when you fly into a corner. When you can go in deeper and faster than the other guys there is a feeling you won't believe. Winning is great but going around the corners is the best," Fitch said.
    Fitch is on a fast track for his degree, and his career. His new limited late model is about half finished, and is slated to see action at New Smyrna Speedway, Orlando Speedworld, St. Augustine Speedway, and Lakeland.
    His degree is at the half way point and is taking a lot of time. "I can't work a full time job and then come home and do Calculus III. That is a tough subject and I am glad I can give it my full attention, Fitch said.
    "When I finish my degree I will have the time to work on sponsorship for my race team. I have some sponsors that are very special and have helped me a lot. Pioneer Trail Day School, American Auto and Tire, Mims East Coast Auto Salvage, and Hickling Feed have been very good to me. They are great people," Fitch said.
    Asked about his racing future after he finishes college Fitch said, "I am looking toward the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) circuit, and maybe the Goody's Dash or a Busch Grand National ride," Fitch said.

"Passion for racing drives Fitch into New Smyrna Speedway twin-bill

Edgewater - Limited late model driver Jeremy Fitch said he has always liked to drive.
    While at work, he drives, or discusses the basics of the trade, all day.
    After work, he drives to class at the University of Central Florida and on the weekends, he drives his No. 11 Buick Regal around New Smyrna Speedway's half-mile asphalt oval.
    This Friday he'll compete in the Coca-Cola 125 limited late model race at New Smyrna Speedway.
    "I stay pretty busy. I work every weekend, and a lot of days I get done (at work) and haul butt to the race track and race." said Fitch, a 1994 graduate of New Smyrna Beach High School. Racing cars and being around them is Fitch's choice, but showing other people how to do it is his occupation.
    Fitch, who has been driving late models for two years, is a racing instructor at the Richard Petty Driving Experience racing school at Walt Disney World and Daytona International speedways.
    In an average day, Fitch will take aspiring drivers, or thrill-seekers, into the classroom to watch the school's video before loading them into the van and wheeling them around the track.
    On the track, he'll instruct the students where to go and what line to take before they take turns following the instructors around the track.
    This is the daily operation at Walt Disney World Speewday, but at Daytona International Speedway the drivers can only be passengers with the instructors at about 170 mph.
    He said the job didn't come easy.
    "They called me and wanted me to come in for an interview in the office and they said come back on the weekend with your helmet," Fitch said. "They put me through one of the programs that they do with one of their instructors at an accelerated pace."
    Fitch followed one of the instructors around the track at 135 miles per hour, and was steady enough with the stock car to get the job.
    The work has allowed him opportunities that many don't see.
    He's instructed Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Daunte Culpepper, Bobby Cox, Leonardo De Caprio and Michael J. Fox.
    One of his pupils is battling for the NASCAR Winston Cup points title and is a candidate for Rookie of the Year.
    "Tony Stewart followed me around for a couple of laps last year," Fitch said.
    Stewart may be racing for millions of dollars this Saturday night at the Pepsi 400, but Fitch said he is just as happy to be racing for the $2,000 in prize money that New Smyrna Speedway is offering.
    Fitch's biggest win is the Dick Joselin Memorial he captured last year in Billy Walker's modified at Orlando Speedworld, but the Coca-Cola 125 gives him a chance to perform in front of, perhaps, the biggest crowd and best competition he's faced.
    "They're regularly 100 laps, so this one's a little more exciting," Fitch said.
    His success in the Coca-Cola series races has been moderate. He's registered a top-five and a top-10 finish and blew a motor in another outing.
    Fitch said he hasn't been pleased with the way his car has run since a crash earlier in the year, but the home-track advantage, and more importantly, set-up could come into play.
    "I feel you have a better advantage there because you just know what set-up to run," Fitch said.
    Fitch and his father, Jerry, a former Thundercar champion at New Smyrna Speedway, have constructed the car from the ground up and are in the process of building a new one. Fitch is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering and hopes to apply it to "some type of good living" in racing.
    "I got involved with cars when I was 16 and have wanted a career in, or around, racing every since," he said."

"Motorsports Weekly, May 18, 1994

Fitch Wins First At New Smyrna Speedway

Jeremy Fitch grabbed the lead and raced to his first feature win. With three laps to the checkers, Chuck Vola and Bobby Stevens made contact as the flag, Fitch running in third dove to the grassy area and got by Vola and Stevens."

Jeremy's First Feature Win

    In the bomber feature, rookie Jeremy Fitch employed some skillful moves to miss a front stretch melee, then raced to his first career victory.
    With three laps to the checkers, Bobby Stevens and Chuck Vola made contact at the flag stand and started to slide to the inside wall.
    Fitch, who was running third at the time, calmly avoided the trouble by driving to the grassy area.
    "Everything happened too quick. I didn't have much time to decide where to go," Fitch said. "I was just hoping I'd get by the two cars without them running into me."
    Fitch's good instincts might be genetic.
    His father Jerry is a former thundercar champion, and his uncle Mike is a former FASCAR modified champ now driving late models.

March 21, 1995 The Daily Journal

Fitch took the checkers by six car lengths over Bancroft.
Mike Fitch's nephew, Jeremy, outclassed a 15-car bomber field to score his fifth victory of the season. He took the point on lap three after starting ninth, and had clear sailing to victory lane.

August 1, 1995 The Daily Journal

While Clouser was racing for position with leader Jeremy Fitch on lap nine, Todd Sams tapped Fitch going into the fourth turn. The impact drove Fitch sideways, and collected Mark Manfreidi.