Tommy Hicks tuning on a the car of Eric Wells earlier this season
A familiar face that was seen by numerous folks in the Smoky Mountain Speedway pit area during last weekend’s Southern All Stars event was that of crew chief Tommy Hicks. The veteran mechanic who worked with Scott Bloomquist for several years and most recently with World of Outlaws Late Models regular Eric Wells was there to lend a hand to eventual race winner Chris Madden.
Hicks recently decided to step away from the full-time grind of Dirt Late Model racing with a touring series in favor of spending some time at home in a more relaxed atmosphere.
So what has he been doing now that he isn’t on the road so often?
“I’ve just been hanging out,” Hicks declared in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “I’m helping a guy that’s got a small fab shop there at the house. I’ve been helping him and doing a few things for myself and just enjoying life for a change.”
Even though Hicks is enjoying his time away, he believes there could very well come a time in which he gets back into the sport on a more regular basis.
“I can see me being back at some point, but not on the level that I was on,” the crew chief explained. “I just can’t do that no more.”
Hicks has been working as somewhat of a free agent over the past few weeks, helping various drivers and teams who ask for his guidance. Last weekend was an example as he tuned on the new Longhorn Chassis driven to victory by Madden at the Maryville, Tenn. track.
“That’s what I’ve been doing,” Hicks said of his new status. “I went to 411 with Jesse Helton a couple of weeks ago and really had fun with his Sportsman car. I talked to Chris and Ronnie Crooks(of Penske Shocks) this morning and they said they were coming here so I thought I’d come and hang out and turn a few wrenches. But I’m enjoying life now and things are a lot better.”
Even with technology on race cars changing rapidly, Hicks believes he has not fallen too far behind after having taken some time off.
“To a point you can, especially with the shocks and the way their changing now,” he admitted. “If you miss a little time you’ll kind of get off a little bit. But it’s still a basic thing, it’s got four shocks and four tires. You can catch up pretty quick.”
Hicks chatting with Ray Cook prior to a race at Volunteer Speedway
Ultimately, it was the hard life of being on the road almost constantly that caused Hicks to slow his pace down for a bit.
“I’ve lived out of a suitcase since 2000. I just got tired of it. I was on the road doing this and working in Kentucky and only coming home a couple of days every two months. My wife was on the road with me last year, but now she’s back home. My mom is getting a little age and I just came to the conclusion one morning that I wanted to go home. I just needed a break.”
