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July 12, 2007

Adams enjoying return to racing

By Cheryl Licklider Staff Writer

At the end of last season, factory stock veteran Kenny Adams abandoned his untimely retirement from racing to accept a position on the successful Platinum Motorsports team.

Adams left racing a little over a year and a half ago to concentrate on his young family. However when Mark Smith contacted him to race, Adams eagerly accepted the offer.

Adams said it feels good to be back behind the wheel of a stock car again and contends Platinum offered him a deal that was just too good to pass up.

The racing bug bit this young competitor while he was serving as the tire groover on the crew of Joe Adams, his older brother. Accord-ing to Adams, once he hot lapped his brother’s car, he was hooked.

Adams began competing on the Garfield County Fairgrounds high banks when he was 17 in the mini stock division. The next year, he built a factory stock with his dad, the legendary street stocker Willis Adams.

“Even though my dad didn’t win a lot of races, I think my brothers and I inherited our driving ability from him,” said Adams. “My brothers Joe, Willis and Cleo are all good drivers, and we’ve won a lot of races. I don’t think we could live without racing. It is an important part of our lives.”

All four brothers are members of the Platinum Motorsports racing team that owns eight different cars piloted by seven drivers. Platinum has become a force to be reckoned with at Enid Speedway Park. In addition to being competitive in all five of the track’s divisions, they now build race car chassis and have their own in-house race vinyl business, Crazy Graphics.

“With eight cars we get a lot of practice and get everything down to an art,” said Adams. “We do most of the work in the shop on Mondays and Thursdays. It is a blast racing with all of my friends and brothers.”

Adams has had an extremely successful run this year aboard his No. 5 car. He has put the car in the winner’s circle five times and currently heads up the second half points chase.

“This car is awesome,” said Adams. “We built this Wilrub chassis for Joe two years ago and bought it back when Lance Sessions decided to sell it. I’m really glad we got this car back.

“It works well no matter what we do to it. With Joe and Kenny Morris setting it up, it is really easy to drive.”

This young driver attributes his success in the sport to the mentoring and guidance he has received from his big brother Joe.

“I would be a lost puppy dog without Joe, he has taught me everything I know about racing,” said Adams.

“I’m having a great time out here this season. When the green flag drops, I get excited, and it is a real adrenaline rush. I just try to use my head and look out for the cars in front of me.”

Adams enjoys chasing checkered flags with the goal of finishing good and not wrecking the car.

“I will race as long as I can,” said Adams. “I don’t think I could be doing it now without Platinum. I want to thank everyone who helps me.”

Platinum Motorsports crew members include Kenny Morris, Joe Adams, Michael Smith, Mark Smith, Justin Scott, Troy Martin and Kenny Morris.



Licklider is the News & Eagle motor sports writer.

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