Cherry Hill's Tom Hessert enjoys racing close to home

By SUSAN LULGJURAJ
Press of Atlantic City

MILLVILLE - Tom Hessert III liked the idea of spending time at home this week. With his competitive racing schedule, he doesn't always get the chance to sleep in his own bed.

But it didn't mean the 22-year-old was taking the week off. He was just racing close to home for a change.

Hessert, a Cherry Hill native, is a full-time driver on the ARCA RE/MAX series that goes to a number of different tracks around the country.
This weekend's stop is the inaugural Loud Energy Drink 150 at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, which is the last spectator event of the season for the Millville track.

NJMP is just a quick drive for the budding racer.

"It's always nice to race close to home," said Hessert, who expects lots of family and friends to watch Sunday's competition. "Before that, the closest race was Pocono (Speedway). It's great for New Jersey to have a nice track like that."

Hessert, who used to race in the United States Auto Club sprint- and midget-car series, is tied for sixth in the ARCA RE/MAX series points with 3,505.

He has six top-10 finishes this season and hopes to break into the top five on his home track.
Qualifying is set for 2:15 p.m. today, but if weather cancels the event, the cars will line up based on points for Sunday's race, which starts at 1 p.m.

Before Tuesday's testing, Hessert drove the Thunderbolt racetrack (2.3 miles) during its opening week. He and his father, Tom Hessert Jr., wanted to get a look at their new home course.

Hessert Jr. enjoyed the track, which reminded him of when he raced road courses. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona in the International Motor Sports Association Camel Lights and GTS 2 divisions three times and has three wins in the 12 hours of Sebring.

"Tom drove there on opening day and he loved it. I loved it," said 57-year-old Hessert Jr. "I'm a little over the hill. It's fun watching him drive. I appreciate Millville very much."

The younger Hessert isn't a novice when it comes to road courses, though he is a rookie on the ARCA series.
He rode with his father in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2003 and 2004. His father, who is at the track with him almost every weekend, isn't his teammate any longer, but still offers plenty of help.

"As a dad, you want to make sure he is safe," the older Hessert said. "I want to make sure he is wearing his daddy items, which are his safety items, properly all the time. I go mostly for his safety and to make sure he has someone to be with and talk to, if necessary."

It was the older Hessert's racing days that got his son an opportunity to drive in ARCA.

Andy Belmont and Hessert Jr., raced in the same circles and grew up near each other. Belmont, whose wife owns the No. 1 Maaco Auto Painting Ford driven by Hessert, grew up in Langhorne, Pa.

But it wasn't the name that got him the ride. It was the younger Hessert's driving skills.

"Some guys have trouble (in stock cars), but he just has tremendous car control," Belmont said. "We tested him a couple of times and the first time he sat in the car I said, 'He got it.'"

Belmont has high hopes for Hessert, who took sixth place at Daytona, the first race of the season, and led for 21 laps.

Belmont doesn't expect Hessert to stick around the ARCA RE/MAX series too long.

"At some point he will get there (to NASCAR)," Belmont said. "He is that good. If he doesn't get picked, I will be surprised."

E-mail Susan Lulgjuraj:
slulgjuraj@pressofac.com