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| LATE MODEL DRIVER MATT PIERCY (SHERRI STEARNS PHOTO) |
Piercy’s result getting better at HMS
By Tom Gillispie
Matt Piercy, who turned 20 on July
21, says this season has been a struggle at Hickory Motor Speedway.
He won some poles in Late Model last
year, and he says that “we were close (to wins), but we didn't seal the deal.
Unfortunately, we’ve been more off this year than last year.”
Even with his struggles this season,
he’s sixth in Late Model points. But it hasn’t been easy.
“We started the season slow, three
races in a row with bad races. And it takes awhile to recover,” Piercy said.
“I think we’re back on the right
track. We’re sixth in points, and that’s probably where we’ll end up. I think
the best we can end up is fourth. But, at the end of the day, it’s not about
points racing; it’s about getting up front and winning.”
Later this month, Piercy will enter
his third year as an engineering student at UNC Charlotte.
“It’s going pretty good,” Piercy said
of college. “It offers its fair share of challenges. Some of the material is
pretty complicated. You just have to put your head down and learn the stuff.”
Piercy, a St. Stephens High grad,
says he’s learned a good bit on the track as well.
“To be honest with you, I’ve learned
more helping other people, helping with other people's cars,” he said. “I’ll
drive other's cars and test them. The biggest thing I can do is testing other
people’s cars, shaking them down. That’s making me a better driver, and it can
help make your car better based on other people’s cars.”
Piercy says he has good chemistry
with crew chief Charlie Sigmon, who was his Limited crew chief as well. He says
they’re trying to get a little bit better at a time.
“Hickory changes so much (on race
day) that you just want to get the car close,” he said. “You don't want big
swings in setup. You want to go from running fifth or sixth to third, then
battle for wins.”
The worst thing, perhaps, is that
Piercy remembers two seasons ago, when he posted nine poles and four victories
in the Limited Late Model. He hasn’t done nearly as well in Late Model, and
perhaps he’s measuring everything against that season.
“The competition at Hickory is better
than it’s been in years,” he said. “One-10th difference (in qualifying) is the
difference in starting third and (starting) 13th. We’ve worked hard to get better,
and we’ve done that.”
Part of that competition at Hickory
is Josh Berry, who passed up HMS Saturday to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series
debut at Iowa Speedway.
“I think he finished 12th. It was cool that somebody you race
against can do that,” Piercy said. “He’s definitely got his ‘A’ game at
Hickory. To see somebody you race against every week get an opportunity like
that, you’re proud of them and hope someday you can do the same thing.
“But you need the right situation and
the right equipment.”
Piercy says he has good equipment,
and the high point for his season has been the last few weeks.
“We’re back on track with the setup,”
said Piercy, who finished fifth last Saturday. “It’s a process. We want to get
better at qualifying, then get a win.”
Maybe it’s
coming.
Contact: I can be reached at tgilli52@gmail.com or nc3022@yahoo.com. Also, my Twitter handle is EDITORatWORK.
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