Jeremy Clements gets the job done

Every once in a while a true, natural born talent comes along. Someone who, even though they may have grown up in a racing family, has the true, God-given talent that comes natural, like a seventh sense. Of course no matter who you are it’s all about laps, laps, laps, but every now and then a young driver comes around that has the “gift”, or the “magic touch” on a steering wheel and who you just know will reach the upper echelons of auto racing. One such talent who will more than likely go to the top is Jeremy Clements.

Jeremy Clements, all of 19 years of age, comes from a long time racing family entrenched in dirt racing history. When his grandfather started Cements Automotive-House of Power back in 1957 that set the stage for the Clements family to span generations in racing. All these years later the company is still a powerhouse in the southeast with the second generation running the business and the third generation also involved as well as Jeremy Clements representing the family on racetracks all across the country.

So what makes Jeremy Clements a natural?

“Well, when one considers his long career in racing even though he is still a teenager. Winning in go karts beginning at age eight, Clements then moved on to Stock 4 Cylinders and Modified 4 Cylinders, winning races and championships along the way. By 2002 Clements made his move up to dirt Late Models where he captured the imagination and attention of the dirt Late Model industry by winning five features at Cherokee Speedway and two main events each at Carolina Speedway and Thunder Valley Speedway. The Spartanburg, SC young gun had arrived, and arrived in a big way! “

2002 was also pivotal in that Clements also made his first ARCA start.

Make no mistake, Jeremy Clements is headed for the big time and to get there has shown his versatility by competing in a variety of series and events on both dirt and asphalt. When 2003 rolled around the wins continued on dirt and he also found time to compete in such events as Southern Allstars asphalt events, ARCA and the Busch Series Pikes Peak race.

With 2004 now upon him he has already been out a couple times and looks ahead to this season as one of opportunity to further his career, experience and win totals.

“We’re just going to pick and choose the bigger events that we think we can do well in,” stated Clements in revealing his 2004 plans. “We’re not going to run any particular series or anything, just take it week by week I guess, the bigger events.”

“We’ll probably do a lot of traveling. We’ve already been to Alabama and Atomic but I think we’ll be doing a lot of traveling each week. The big thing is my Dad being able to get off if he doesn’t have many motors promised to get out that week then we can leave early. That’s the biggest part of it.”

Jeremy Clements’ family is an integral part of his racing program, career and future. The son of Tony and Maria Clements, both driving forces behind his career choice, Jeremy also has the support of his brother, Jason, and sister, Jennifer. The family works at Clements Automotive-House of Power, which also includes his uncles, Gary and Glenn.

“They have had a great impact on my career,” commented Clements when asked about his family and the incredible support they give him. “They help me out so much and support me in everything I do. If ever I need anything they are there. But the support is the big thing. You have to have that support. And if your family didn’t like what you were doing it would be kind of hard to do it. But they like it and really support me.”

With an eye cast towards asphalt racing Clements, who oversees the day to day work on his dirt Late Model operation, depends on his capable older brother Jason, 26, to head up his asphalt program.

“He’s more involved in the asphalt program and getting a lot of that stuff lined up and looking for sponsors. He’s like the team manager of the asphalt stuff.”

While still on the subject of family it is brought up that his family, going back to his grandfather, have been long time supporters of racing in six different decades and even though they are in business it’s no secret that the Clements family and businesses have been long time supporters and advocates of the sport through helping drivers, tracks and series over the decades.

“I definitely take pride in it,” responded Clements. “I think it’s neat that my grandfather did all that stuff and started all that in the past. Now my Dad and my two uncles are running it and I hope I can do as much as they all have. They have helped so many people out and have done so much for the sport.”

Jeremy Clements, it is readily apparent, really loves dirt Late Model racing. During his rookie season he not only won nine features at three tracks but captured the point championship at Cherokee Speedway, one of the south’s most competitive and challenging tracks.

“It felt great,” said Clements. “We were just starting out and were struggling and didn’t have a clue what we were getting into with the Late Models, but it felt awesome. We won our seventh time out and beat (Mike) Duvall and all the locals that were at Cherokee that night. But it was just awesome to win that early.”

Did he realize what it means to beat drivers of the caliber of Mike Duvall, Jeff Cooke and all the others that frequent Cherokee?

“I used to watch them when I was little, guys like Duvall, Ricky Weeks, (Dennis) Rambo (Franklin), it was awesome to race with them and awesome to beat them,” explained Clements. “Just because they have been racing and winning for as long as I’ve been alive I guess (laughs). I’ll never forget about it.”

Clements has been getting the best on-track experience one could hope for, especially having started his dirt Late Model career running up against some of the toughest competitors not only in the southeast, but the country. The competition in his region, led by National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame member Mike Duvall, is among some of the toughest in the country.

“I look down here and whether it be Chris Madden or Jeff Cooke, any of them, like Rambo, Duvall, they can run with Billy Moyer and Scott Bloomquist and on any given day they can win,” said Clements. “We definitely have good competition down here and there is no doubt in my mind they are some of the best in dirt racing. I think so.”

Last season Clements drove in a wide variety of events, especially on asphalt. He was quizzed on whether or not racing in different forms of cars and series and tracks gave him a better scope of experience that can be applied across the board.

“I think it definitely does,” replied Clements. “I think I can learn more about racing by running different types of cars. I just love racing. We hope to run some ARCA. I enjoy it a lot. It’s definitely a whole different deal, the cars, the driving, how you have to represent yourself. I love it but it’s a whole new ballgame and something I have to get used to, like how the cars act, how they need to be adjusted. There is a lot of stuff I have to learn. The bad thing about asphalt racing is its all about money, it’s a money game.”

In his six career ARCA RE/MAX Series starts since the 2002 season Clements’ best career finish so far has been a third at Lowe’s Motor Speedway twice in 2003. Also in ‘03 Clements has runs at Daytona International Speedway where he finished 34 th and Nashville Superspeedway where he crossed the line 35 th . Other highlights include a seventh at Atlanta Motor Speedway and 17 th at Talladega Superspeedway in 2002. Among his best qualifying runs thus far include a fourth fast time at Daytona (‘03), sixth at Talladega (‘02) and ninth at Nashville (‘03).

He is only 19 now, but Clements was asked that, given a perfect world, where would he like to see himself by the time he is 25.

“Oh, definitely in Nextel Cup I hope and still racing Late Models on the side,” revealed Clements. “I hope if I can make it to Nextel Cup I can be like Kenny Schrader or Tony Stewart and do the Late Model stuff too. I definitely think Late Model racing is more fun but I hope that can happen.”

As far as this season goes with his dirt Late Model program, Clements will have sponsorship support from House of Power, Barry Wright Race Cars, Appling Boring Company, Starrette Trucking, AFCO, 1 Stop Convenience Store, Gilkey Lumber, Treadwell’s Racing Stuff, Scott Performance Wires, VP Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire, Carolina Driveline, Ron Jovi Decals and other generous product sponsors.

Clements’ chassis of choice is Barry Wright Race Cars.

“They are definitely real good race cars,” commented Clements. “There is a lot more we have to learn about them with daytime racing and on the real slick tracks. They’re good. We get some input from them sometimes, but my Dad is the one who sets the cars up for us, but they are always talking back and forth. If he finds something that helps he’ll let us know and we’ll do the same.”

As for his immediate goals for the 2004 season, Clements’ response reveals how grounded in reality he is.

“I think if I can just win a Southern Allstars race or a World of Outlaws, or any of those series races, that would be great,” answered the well-mannered, well-spoken young man. “I’d like to win one or two of them and be competitive. Like this past weekend at Atomic we struggled a lot with the set up with the car. Just to be competitive and win as many as we can. We only won four or five last year. We almost won an Xtreme race. But if we can keep all that up I guess I’d consider it a good year.”

Talented, respectful, intelligent, well-spoken, well-mannered, grounded in reality and able to get the job done.

Meet Jeremy Clements, future superstar, winner, champion.

His story has just begun!