Jeremy Clements: DRIVEN

By Michelle Petroff, Team Press Release, July 11, 2005

SPARTANBURG, SC (July 11, 2005) – There are very few people in racing about whom you hear nothing negative. Jeremy Clements is part of that rare breed. With his bright eyes, willing smile and easy-going demeanor, Clements, 20, of Spartanburg, SC, has been a breath of fresh air for the motorsports scene. Reminiscent of Richard Petty, young Clements was born with racing in his blood but has excelled through the ranks from 4-cylinders at his local dirt track all of the way to a career start in the NASCAR Busch Series at the tender age of 18. He has always been and has remained a down-to-earth, personable fan favorite. In spite of his success, Jeremy has not been without his share of challenges and heartache.

On July 24, 2004, Jeremy and his #51 dirt late model racing team traveled to 311 Speedway in North Carolina for another weekend of dirt racing which was commonly used to supplement his limited ARCA RE/MAX pavement schedule. While on the track, a bizarre incident took place that would rewrite his destiny.

A part malfunction caused the steel driveshaft to break loose and pierce through the cockpit of Jeremy’s car tearing through his right hand. Jeremy was rushed to nearby Wake-Forest Baptist hospital for emergency surgery. The outlook was grave as he had lost a significant amount of blood and there was extensive damage to the blood supply, tendons, bones and tissue in his hand as well as fractures to his arm and wrist. Over the next few weeks, Jeremy went through multiple operations, a bout of pneumonia and excruciating pain but with the support of his family, he pulled through and amazed the medical staff with his unexplained progress. Now fast-forward 50 weeks to the day of the tragedy. The 20-year-old with steely determination has undergone eight-plus reconstructive operations, hundreds of hours of intensive physical therapy and an emotional nightmare but he’s back on track! Thanks to unwavering faith, the determination to drive and very supportive friends and family, Jeremy Clements pulled in to North Carolina’s Thunder Valley Speedway on July 9th to turn his first laps in nearly a year. His hand is not yet 100% healed but he successfully completed a test session in his dirt late model only 13 days after doctors cleared him to race.

“When I come back, I’m not coming back to ride around and get laps, I want to race for a win,” declared Jeremy. “I’m basically starting over. But, my goal is to start over and be better than I was.”

Watch out for the young man with an iron-will because he’s bound to keep his word. While Jeremy is looking forward to making a few starts with his #51 dirt late model to build endurance, his goals have remain unchanged – to win races and make it in NASCAR. For the 2005 season, Jeremy plans to race without a set schedule and, rightfully so, since he has already shattered the expectations and schedules outlined by his team of physicians. He hopes to soon tackle the dirt late model ranks before returning to the pavement world with the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

Jeremy Clements – now THAT is driven…

Jeremy’s website – http://www.jeremyclementsracing.com – is reignited with the latest special features and news and will contain additional information on his return to the racing scene as it becomes available.