CRESWELL – A pair of sevens proved to be the lucky charm for Brad Hicks, who recently won his first season points title at Coos Bay Speedway.
“I had a back injury and I hadn’t even raced in eight years. I had no thoughts of going for a points championship,” the 37-year-old Creswell resident said.
“Then we started the year with a victory, so we decided to go for it.”
That first title is always special, but this one holds extra significance for Hicks and his entire family.
His wife Kayla’s grandfather, Johnny Simmons, who’s in the Cottage Grove Speedway Hall of Fame, died this past February, so to honor him, Hicks decided to run Simmons’ No. 77 instead of his customary No. 5 on his Ford Ranger.
“Going into a new year with the Covid, and having a new number, trying to work with my sponsors – not only represent my sponsors, but there was more stress trying to make sure we could compete – but our team did really well. We gave out 150 hats and autographs on Fan Appreciation Night,” said Hicks, who won the Mini-Outlaw open division.
It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing to the finish line – “We had to switch out motors one night,” he said – but Hicks’ points title was anticlimactic.
“I just had to start the race and not have any catastrophic failures,” he said.
“One thing about Covid – I have a 4-year-old (Bentley) and a 1½-year-old (Bricen) – I’ve had a great time at home with the family,” Hicks said. “Recently, Bentley was out in the shop with me and I told him I needed a flat-head screwdriver. A couple minutes later he came back with one.
“That was kind of a proud dad moment.”
The Year 2020 has been a nightmarish one for most of us. Hicks took a lemon and made lemonade.
“When I started the season I said this year is for Grandpa. So yes, it felt great getting back in the car and winning the championship. I couldn’t do it without my family and sponsors – Mac and Team AAMCO, Cindy Sew It, Industrial Finishes & Systems, Inc., Steel House construction – and all the fans.”
