Ricky Weiss
An in-depth look at the career of Ricky Weiss reveals a progression of improvement that has ultimately landed this Dirt Late Model driver in his current status of being a serious threat to win just about every race he enters and as a contender for a national touring series championship. Currently second in the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series standings, the 2019 Rookie of the Year on that tour picked up his first two series wins earlier this year to further advance what is becoming an impressive racing resumé.
While he may not have picked up as many wins as he would have liked in 2020, Weiss has been the model of consistency throughout the WoO Late Models campaign as well as in the non-tour races in which he has competed. To demonstrate that point, the native of Headingly, Manitoba, Canada had one stretch during June and July in which he scored eleven consecutive top-10 finishes.
Further proof of the Team Zero Race Cars-supplied operation’s solid season can be found not only in the two wins scored but also in their 17 top-5 and 26 top-10 results compiled so far. Weiss attributes much of that success to the improvement his team has shown on one particular type of track condition.
“Yeah, we’ve been consistent,” Weiss told InsideDirtRacing.com. “We started off real good for a couple of months then we just got off track a little bit trying some stuff and testing a little. We went back to square one and regrouped and got back to being consistent. We’ve really been picking up our game on these dirty race tracks, these crummy race tracks, where we really struggled last year. We’re a lot more confident rolling up to these places knowing that when it gets crummy we can compete and be right there.”
Like everyone else, Weiss and his team felt the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the shutdowns that resulted from it. The lack of racing for several weeks then the limited return that saw some major events canceled or their purses reduced has hurt some.
“Those shutdowns effected us quite a bit,” the 31-year-old driver admitted. “In this whole racing deal we’ve been racing for less payout at a lot of places, and it’s harder. We don’t have five guys, but we’ve been working real hard, and then they throw in some Tuesday night races then a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and another Tuesday. It definitely took its toll throughout the year and everybody got tired, but then we got running good again and that definitely helps to pick up a team.”
After a number of months in which the Weiss team worked out of a shop near that of Scott Bloomquist in Mooresburg, TN, the No. 7 crew has moved to Bulls Gap, TN on the property of the Volunteer Speedway. The WoO Late Models regular praises track owner Landon Stallard for his efforts with that facility which opened the door for the move.
“We’ve been working out of Bulls Gap at the Volunteer Speedway,” Weiss explained. “Landon is a real nice guy and everybody over there. They’re putting together a parts store and they’re trying to get people over there to buy parts. I think it’s really going to be good for the track and he’s been working real hard on the track and he’s got that thing smooth as glass. They’re racing there just about every weekend.”
Ricky Weiss is currently second in the WoO Late Models standings
Rumors have been centered on Weiss and his plans for 2021 with some even speculating that he will be building his own cars. The 2018 winner of the crown jewel North-South 100 was noncommittal when asked.
But he was quick to state his appreciation for Team Zero leaders Scott Bloomquist and Cody Sommer.
“I don’t have a comment to say about that yet,” Weiss insisted. “We plan on doing some stuff next year but we don’t know exactly what we’re doing. I just want to work with a great group of guys. You know, Scott’s been great to us and Cody and everybody at Team Zero. They taught us a lot and I’ll never be able to thank them enough but we’ve got some great people behind us and our car has been really consistent all year.”
Weiss wants very much to hold onto his current ranking in the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series standings as the season enters its stretch run with two upcoming races this weekend at Pennsylvania’s Thunder Mountain Speedway. While catching leader Brandon Sheppard would be unlikely, the multiple-time Wissota National Champion very much wants to hold onto his current place while adding more victories.
“If we can finish second in World of Outlaws points, obviously that’s one better than last year, and pick up a couple of big wins here. We were close at Eldora and I felt like we had something. If we can just stay consistent and pick up a win or two, I feel like that would be a great year.”
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