Ricky Weeks: Quotes from Fellow Competitors, Team Members and More on His Career and NDLMHOF Induction

Ricky Weeks: Quotes from Fellow Competitors, Team Members and More on His Career and NDLMHOF Induction

Collected by Rhonda Beck, 2023-2024

Rutherfordton, N.C.'s Ricky Weeks will be inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 10, 2024. This list will be updated, but for now, here is a collection of quotes about Ricky and his career from people who have known him, worked with him and competed against him:

Joey Chapman, current Carolina Clash Series Director

JC: “When I heard the news, I called Ricky to congratulate him. It goes to show you how good a racer he is that the world recognizes it. That Ricky’s one of these guys who has never run the Lucas or World of Outlaws or Hav a Tampa. He always worked a job. He still works the same job he started with when he was 16 years old with Parton Lumber Company. But he raced and for them to recognize him and what a great racer he was, is a huge honor and well-deserved.”

Lennie Buff, an owner of Cherokee Speedway

LB: “When you talk about the greatest drivers from the south, Ricky Weeks is always among the top names. Ricky has 7 late model track championships with well over 100 wins, including some of the largest races at the time. Ricky was inducted into the Cherokee Hall of Fame in 2010 and as a competitor, he was always one of the nicest guys in the pits.”

Tony Hammett, motorsports photographer, member of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame

TH: “Ricky Weeks is the epitome of what a great regional racer should be.  He was a hard-working "blue collar" racer who always worked full-time and who didn't travel extensively but was very dominant at the venues he raced at near his home. His many track championships at Cherokee speak to that, but he travelled enough to score five consecutive titles with the Carolina Clash and is still the second winningest driver in their history.  He was not to be taken lightly when the national tours came to town, and he bested them more than once.  I call him a friend and am proud to do so and this guy I always kidded about being able to go "grizzly bear hunting with just a switch," is so very deserving of the NDLMHoF induction!”

 Debbie Scott Farr Rash, daughter of super late model driver and NDLMHOF member Billy Scott

DSFR: “Dad thought a great deal of Ricky.” She also said that her dad said, “I was toward the end of my career when Ricky started his booming career, and he is one of the best around.” 

Kipp Thompson Voice of The Fayetteville Motor Speedway Host of The Voice of Victory Lane Podcast

KT: “On Behalf of The Voice of Victory Lane Podcast we want to congratulate Ricky Weeks on being inducted into The National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in the class of 2024. I have fond memories of seeing him absolutely fly around Cherokee Speedway way back in the day when it was much bigger than what it currently is today. I grew up watching him run with The Carolina Clash Super Late Models where he is a 5-time series champion. Some of those days included watching him running in the Hav-A-Tampa dirt series. He has captured many wins during his career including the 2003 Shrine Race at Carolina Speedway, a race that is up next on the schedule for the Clash Series August 9th. Of course, I always loved seeing him race at my home track, The Fayetteville Motor Speedway. Congratulations to Ricky Weeks, a guy that pulled an old Nova out of the woods that would be the beginning of nearly a 40-year career that stacks up with some of the best names in the sport of dirt racing.”

 Steve Hendren, owner of Hendren Racing Engines, former late model driver

SH: “I met Ricky Weeks in 1995 when we moved our family business to Rutherfordton, North Carolina. At that time, I was also racing Super Late Models, and Ricky was one of the few competitors that I raced against, who always offered advice and answered questions when asked. This of course is the sign of a true racer in my opinion. I had the pleasure of racing against him in the Carolina Clash series for multiple years, until my dad and I decided to start building GM Crate Engines, and I began racing Crate Late Models.

“I was also fortunate enough to have a business relationship with Ricky. Over the years we have built several 604 crate engines and CT525 engines for Ricky. He was always amazing to work with, and always helped our engine program by giving perfect on track feedback to us on new innovations. He would never blink twice when asked to try something new and helped our program tremendously. Again, the sign of a true racer.

“On a personal level I am very lucky to call Ricky Weeks and his wonderful wife Myra, my friends. I am so happy for Ricky's induction into the National Dirt Late Model Hall Of Fame! He is very deserving of this, and his on track and off track reputation speaks to this fact. He is the true epitome of what a racer should be!”

Barry Wright, chassis builder and car owner, worked with Ricky during his career

BW: “Oh, he was a good man to work with. We had a lot of good times and he always listened. That’s one thing I will say about him—he listened, and he wanted to do it. And that’s what it is. You gotta want to do it.”

Roger Lucas, super late model driver, winner of the first Carolina Clash race in 2000

RL: “Yeah, Ricky. I raced a number of years with him. He ran top, very good and even other series, not just the Carolina Clash. Ran against him, in front of him and behind him, most of the time behind him it seemed like. And but never had any trouble with him. Very clean racer, you know. Great guy.”

Gray Parton, super late model driver, 2023 Carolina Clash Rookie of the Year, his family at Parton Lumber sponsored Ricky for much of his career

GP: “Oh yeah. I mean, that’s a huge honor. There’s a ton of people that race and very few get that. All through his racing he was very competitive and was the man to beat. I don’t know how many races he’s won, but when he was in his prime, it didn’t matter who came to Cherokee Speedway--he was the car to beat. That’s just how it was for years. He was a great racer and he’s helped me a lot, just the little bit that I’ve been racing. He’s a good guy. I’ve known him my whole life. He’s worked at the mill for as long as I can remember and, yeah, it’s just great having people like him around.”

Carson Ferguson, super late model driver on the Lucas Dirt tour, Southern Nationals champion

CF: “When I first started in the 525s--I think it was 2014--I got to run a few races and got to run with Ricky. Whenever I’d go watch Chris (Ferguson) and he was one that you always watched. You knew there was a lot of history behind that number, just his whole team and how they carried themselves through the Carolinas. It’s pretty cool to be at a big event like this and see him be able to get the recognition he deserves for the career he’s had. He’s one that had a career that everyone can hope for in theirs. So just congratulations to him and his family.”

Phyllis Warlick Smith. She and her husband, Ikey, were sponsors of Ricky and she took photographs

PWS: “Well, Ikey and I are very proud of him. That’s really an accomplishment. He’s going to be in good company with all the other people who have followed ahead of him in the Hall of Fame. But we just think a lot of that family.  They’re more than just friends, they’re almost like family, you know, because Myra and Reilly, we’ve known them for so long.

 “I remember being at Friendship and Ricky broke the track record. And I remember they have this big scoreboard and I took a picture of the score and it was a long time before that record was ever broken. And I broke a leg in two places at my knee in 2009, well, actually 2008. I fell off a ladder the day after Christmas, so I did not get around very well for a couple of years. When he won the race at Friendship, I wanted to go down and take pictures in the winners circle. I had a time getting out of the stands and actually the guy that was flagging, saw what I was doing and that I was struggling. He got out of the flagstand and helped me get down because you really had to kinda jump over a big piece of concrete and then go across the track to get over there. But that was kind of neat to be able to capture you know, his score that he broke a track record.”

Michael Brown, super late model driver, 2021 Carolina Clash Champion

MB: “Yeah, he was just always a super nice guy. Always seemed that I didn’t have much dealings with him, but he always seemed to be the type of guy that would pretty much help anybody. Always respected that man and paid close attention to him. And hope and pray that if one of these days if I stay in it long enough, I can have the same feedback from other people that I helped and that people looked up to me. So that’s pretty cool and it’s cool to see him get that honor. He definitely deserves it.”

Luke Roffers, super late model driver, 2012 Carolina Clash Champion

LR: “When I first started running some Clash races back in 2009, Ricky was the guy winning all the races. He was the man to beat for sure. I remember him as a tough competitor, a guy that fought hard for every spot on the track. What I liked about Ricky is he was always a respectful competitor as long as you showed respect to him. He was definitely one of the guys that I always looked up to.”

Jeri Ivey, wife of Petey Ivey and mother of Trent Ivey, super late model drivers

JI: We’re very proud of him. First of all, Petey and Trent both have raced with Ricky. And Myra, she’s been a permanent fixture at the races and has been super nice to us always. And I think one time when Trent won at Charlotte, Ricky had very nice things to say about Trent and his driving abilities. We’ve always thought of them as friends in the racing community because they’ve always been super nice.”

Billy Hicks, former super late model driver and current car owner for the 79, run by Donald McIntosh

BH: “Well yeah, me and him run together many a year and he would always be a guy that would give you anything. Me and him drove a lot alike. I remember a story one time at Wytheville, Va., the Wytheville racetrack. He come in late. They had trouble with the truck, and he said, ‘Billy, what do I need? This, that and the other.’ And then he goes out and he outqualifies me. So we’ve always been very close helping each other and I just think the world of him, him and his family. He’s taken in these girls and helped raise them and it means a lot that he’s the right kind of person. The Carolina guys, we all pull together. It seems like and he’s just one of the gems in North Carolina racing and South Carolina racing. When I first started racing, we went to Gaffney a lot and became friends because of racing together and that’s how I’ve known him a bunch. And now he comments on Facebook on things we do and stuff and still keeps up with us. So he’s just a nice guy.”

John Henderson, super late model driver

JH: “So I have a little history with Ricky. As a kid growing up watching racing, he was one of the premier drivers around home. So it was kind of cool when I went to run for Mr. Jack Starrette, Ricky drove for him kind of the same time. So I got to hang out a little bit with Ricky and it was pretty good. We had a good experience with Ricky kind of growing up watching him race and then getting to race with him some. Around the Carolinas there was nobody no better when I was growing up, so it was fun to watch.”

Lance Brasington, super late model and limited late model racer

LB: “Yeah, congratulations. I remember whenever I was my son’s age watching him race, so I got to race against him. It’s been probably ten years ago before he kinda quit racing supers, whenever I was just starting out. Nobody ever has anything bad to say about him. He’s a very clean racer and he’s won a lot of races, so he deserves to be there.”

Wesley Page, owner of WP Racing Shocks and Longhorn by WP

WP: “Well, I think there’s a lot of people like Ricky that be it family, work, just whatever circumstances, they’re not in a position to go chase a Lucas Oil or a World of Outlaw and lot of times they get overlooked. I know for me growing up, Ricky’s been one of the guys to beat in our area. I mean, his records speak for themselves of what all he’s accomplished. It’s just neat to see him get recognized.

Chris Ferguson, super late model driver, 2009 Carolina Clash Rookie of the Year

CF: “Well, it’s an honor to be able to be on the same racetrack as Ricky, and I thought a lot of him, always still do. It was amazing that I was able to grow up and watch him win a lot of races and then get to compete against him. Really truthfully, the first handful of years I raced, he was still winning a ton of races. So it was fun  to compete against him, not only in general but also while he was still one of the baddest dudes in the Carolinas. He always raced me with respect and we respected each other, just liked racing with him and Jeff Smith and them other guys, So congratulations, I’m glad to see him get put in and he’s definitely deserving of it.”

Adam Yarbrough, super late model driver, current points leader for the 2024 Carolina Clash season

AY: “I was fortunate enough, I got to race with Ricky, a couple two three years or so and I’m happy for Ricky. And I had a lot of fun; me and him raced good together. We had a race at Harris, ran side by side most of the whole race. And I’m very happy for Ricky.”

Zack Mitchell, super late model driver, 2017 Carolina Clash Champion, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 Ultimate Super Late Model Series Champion

ZM: “Oh, absolutely. I grew up as a kid watching Ricky and a lot of the other ones race and it’s very well-deserved.”

Willie Milliken, super late model driver, 2023 Ultimate Super Late Models Southeast champion

WM: “Well, Ricky Weeks, I mean, he is an icon. I mean, me and Ricky’s friends. I look up to him; he’s an icon. and I’ve always enjoy talking to Ricky and he’s one of the best in the business when he was racing and I mean, he can still do it. But yeah, I think that’s an honor.”

Brian Ledbetter, super late model driver

BL: “Well, I’m glad to hear Ricky made it in there. He’s a really good fellow. He helped me a lot whenever we run the Clash years ago and he deserves to be in there.”

Dennis Stines, member of the Gaston County Shrine Club, Shrine 100 organizer

DS: “Well, he’s been a great friend with Duane Goins and our Shrine crowd and we’re looking forward to him going into the Hall of Fame.”

Zack Smith, crew member, employee of Longhorn by Wesley Page, son of Jeff Smith

ZS: “I remember him racing a little bit when I was younger going racing with dad. I know him and dad battled it out for the Clash championship for quite a few years. He won five in a row and then dad broke the streak. He was the first one to break the streak.”

Anthony Sanders, super late model driver

AS: “Yeah, that’s pretty neat for Ricky. In the Carolinas he was one of the best to beat, in the 2000’s and 1999s. Watching him race with Doug (Sanders) all those years at Cherokee and places. That was pretty neat for Ricky. I’m glad for him.”

Kevin Wray, former announcer and current official at Cherokee Speedway, owner of Wrayz Wrapz

KW: “He is one heck of a good guy. Glad to call him not only my neighbor but my friend. O yeah—and a dang good racecar driver.”

Jordan Koehler, super late model driver

JK: “Him and my daddy raced together some and my brothers actually got his old car from when he retired. So I did know him pretty good. I got a little late start, so I didn’t get to know those guys really good but they’re really good heroes, especially the Carolina guys.”

Jason Walls, Mid-East Racing Series Director

JW: “I’ve known Ricky for a long time from racing, to helping others on supers and just being a fan back then. I’ve known Ricky for a long time I was always respected Ricky a lot. I don’t think you could have really had a better champion to represent the series as well as he did. He represented the Clash very well. He represented himself well, his sponsors well. It’s hard to think of Ricky Weeks and to not think of Parton Lumber. And all these years, I think he’s been a very big asset to the entire super late model community. I’m tickled to death to see him go into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, I think that’s really big for not only him, but for this whole area, to have another driver in the hall of fame. But yeah, I think he really set the bar high for both the weekly super racing at Cherokee and then when he transitioned more to the touring side, he picked up at other racetracks and really took off and he made a lot of racers better in this area.”

Ben Watkins, super late model driver, 2015 and 2023 Carolina Clash Champion

BW: “Yeah, I mean, that’s really cool, like you say, seeing him race. In my book he’s been one of the legends that’s came along as well. I watched him and seen him race growing up, just hearing the name. It’s really cool for him to be getting in there.”