When most 16 year olds are busy with the daily tasks of being a teen and unsure about their future, Walter Thomas III has known his professional life direction since childhood – race car driving.
The racer of oval, late-model stock cars has had a busy summer in North Carolina with the NASCAR Diversity Program/Rev Racing perfecting his craft. Although racing season has recently come to an end, the aspiring “Michael Jordan of racing” has plans to keep himself sharp during the winter using a race simulator and watching film.
Thomas has a lot of people rooting for his success, yet he keeps his focus on maintaining good grades, improving as a racer and not letting unnecessary influences pressure him.
The Recorder was able to catch up with the humble young Thomas during his fall break from studies at Lawrence North High School to see how his NASCAR trip was and how he handles the sport and business of racing.
Recorder: How did you become interested in racecar driving?
Thomas: It’s a three generational thing. It was passed down from my grandfather, Walter Thomas Sr. (who is a photographer for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper), to my dad, Walter Thomas Jr. and now to me. When I was born, my dad wasn’t oval racing, he was drag racing. Those are some of the first memories I have. This is something I’ve always known and something I want to spend the rest of my life doing.
Has your relationship with your granddad and dad grown because you share their passion?
We definitely spend a lot of time together (laughs). We go to the track and spend time at the shop. Our relationship was great before, but it’s at its peak right now. I can tell it brings joy to my granddad that his son and grandson have carried on his love of racing.
By Indiana law you are just now eligible to receive a driver’s license. What was it like learning how to drive as a child?
It wasn’t that bad, especially once I got the right people around me who gave me good pointers to help me out on the track. I remember a story my dad told me. When I was four, I had a go-kart-like car. I turned a few laps in that and kept hitting the wall. He thought me driving was a bad idea, but as the day went on, I improved. He said, “This boy might be able to make a career out of this.”
Other than your family, who has helped you in your career?
A good friend of mine, Larry Cleveland, gave me a lot of pointers when I was racing on Quarter Midgets and Bandoleros. Now I get most of my help from John Watson and Jeff Watson – they’re father and son. They are the ones who set up the car, and make sure the car is running well and up to par. Max Siegel’s Rev Racing. There are many others, but those three helped me tremendously.
You’ve driven various types of cars that have varying types of speed. Would you say you’ve gained more skill because you’ve driven different cars?
Some wouldn’t say, but (to me) driving different cars helps out a lot when you’re moving up the ranks. Some people go from a Quart Midget to the late models. It depends on how fast of a learner you are. I think it helps because horsepower gradually goes up with every car. I’d like to think it’s made me a better driver and the practices transfer over.
Tell us how you spent your summer.
I went to North Carolina with my older brother and spent my summer there with NASCAR Diversity’s Rev Racing, the Summer Shootout series and INEX Legends cars, which is a development car for kids and adults. I learned more about preparing for my late model car and I also got to travel with them when they had their Stock Car Race At Canaan. So I went to Florida and Virginia Beach. It was so much fun. I’ll definitely remember this for the rest of my life.
The NASCAR Diversity racing program works to close racial gaps in the sport of racing. How do you feel about knowing there are few race car drivers that look like you?
It definitely should be a lot farther than it is, but when it comes down to it and when I get on the track, I don’t think about it like that. It doesn’t matter what color you are. The goal is to get on the track and be first.
Who are your racing idols?
Wendell Scott; Willy T. Ribbs, who I actually got to meet a few years ago; and Carl Edwards.
While most people view racing as a sport, there is a large business aspect to it. Racing is also very expensive to participate in. Tell me about the financial hurdles involved in racing.
(Finances) has been a struggle over the years. I don’t know how we’ve made it this far. I remember there was a time when I wanted to play football and my dad couldn’t sign me up. Money was going to racing. And now to see how for we’ve gotten, I mean I have a $25,000 plus car. But the struggle shows when you get on the track. We don’t have the best equipment – it does make a difference. The guys who do are usually up front winning. The biggest thing on my mind when I’m on the track is, “if I tear this car up, that’s it. I’m out for the year.” Racers who don’t care about money or have oodles of money, can tear a car up and be back the next week.
In racing, being severely injured or killed is always a possibility. How do you deal with the realities of this part of racing?
People ask me if I’m scared and I say “no, not really.” I understand it could happen, but if you walk in the middle of the street without paying attention, a car could kill you that way. It doesn’t bother me.
You are currently a junior in high school. What are your future plans?
If I don’t get into Trucker Nationwide by the time I graduate high school, I plan to attend Winston-Salem State University. It’s a Historical Black College/University that has a program in motor sports management. I’m happy I’d get to go to school for something I actually want to learn. (laughs.)
When you’re not racing, what do you do for fun?
I’m a normal teenager. I like to play video games and hang out with my friends. Most of the time, I work on my race car. I don’t have a “job,” but racing is my job.
How would you encourage more African-Americans to get into racing?
It’s something different. But it’s like before Tiger Woods golfed or before Venus and Serena Williams played tennis, Blacks weren’t that interested. (Blacks) don’t have anybody (Black) to root for in racing. But just because it’s different, don’t count it out. If you take the time to look into it, you may find you have more in common with racing than you think. I hope one day I can be an inspiration to the Black community.
For more information, visit Walterthomasracing.com. You can also follow Walt Thomas III via social media at Twitter @WT3racing, Facebook @WT3racing, and Instagram @WalterThomas45.
