Gladstone Teen Ready For Next Racing Challenge

 

Ives will take part in the American Racing Club of America's, or ARCA, Midwest Tour this summer, and he will be possibly testing himself in the racing development portion of the even bigger ARCA Menards Racing Series.

"We're going to run a limited race season on the Midwest Tour," said Jordan's big brother Ben, who is organizing the races. "We'll try a couple of tracks, really give it our all, and focus on finishing each race. And as far as the Menards Series, that's basically a step down from the NASCAR Nationwide Series. There's opportunities to run with an ARCA team there under the NASCAR Driver Development program."

Ben Ives says they won't be throwing young Jordan to the wolves right away.

"It's to let Jordan try a few tracks and possibly doing some racing with the Driver Development Team," he said. "We're not going to put him in one of those big cars and say, 'there ya, go...go have fun'. But we have confidence in his racing skills and his understanding of a car.

"I feel that he has a special gift."

For his part, Jordan Ives just loves to get behind the wheel.

"I've been racing since I was five years old," he said. "I started out on the dirt bike on the ice, and just worked my way up to sprint cars, and then up to late-models."

Jordan Ives says that win last spring in Norway was big for his career.

"I felt confident there, after that race," he said. "I was pretty happy, going out for my first race and winning, and just having fun and hanging out with everyone."

But Jordan's high-flying season took a painful turn not that long after the win.

"When I was loading my car up, the winch came unhooked on my trailer door," he said. "When I was opening it, I tripped backwards and it fell on my leg and broke it. I've got a titanium rod from my knee down to my ankle. It still hurts a bit when I walk on it."

Ives slowly healed, though, and had the chance to go to Miami and North Carolina to watch NASCAR races and to meet with some of the biggest names in the industry. He even got to get behind the wheel and take a spin on that big track.

The Radio Results Network will be promoting Jordan Ives throughout the summer, both on the five RRN radio stations, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. There will also be public appearances designed to introduce more people to this young man.

"The Radio Results Network, I would say, is the premier broadcasting station in our area," Ben Ives said. "We've got an awesome opportunity to work alongside you guys and they're gonna help sponsor us and get our name out there. We're excited to be a part of the RRN team."

Jordan's first ARCA Midwest Tour race will be on May 4th and 5th at the Madison International Speedway. His first race here in the U.P. will be on May 17th in the 113-lap race at Norway Speedway.

"I am a little bit nervous," he admitted. "But I'm excited to go out there and test a big car like what NASCAR racers have raced. It's going to be awesome, I think."

In the meantime, Jordan Ives is concentrating on being a ninth grader in Gladstone, Michigan. And passing his driver's education classes. And what about a new car?

"We're currently searching for like a 1993 Ford Escort," Ben Ives joked. "Something really ugly." And Jordan's response? "No! I don't want that!"

Yep, he may be getting bigger in racing, but Jordan Ives is still just a typical kid.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see videos of both Ives' boys on camera, some photos, and listen to our long-form interview.