BURNING DESIRE

Now 17 years old and a senior at Corbin High School, Brock is behind the wheel and doing well.

Racing in the Ken-Ten Pro Late Model Series, Brock won his first race Saturday night. And to make things special, his first win came on his home track at Corbin Speedway in front of packed house of local fans.

The victory pushed Brock into second place in the series standing with 133 points behind Sammy Sanders of Bowling Green, who has 148 points. He is eight points ahead of Davey Coble of Nashville.

“I was in the right spot at the right time,” said Brock of his recent win. “I would have like to have finished the race.”

Brock was running fourth when a caution flag came out after the leaders slammed into one another. Brock escaped and went on to win after 44 laps. The race was called due to rain and a wet track.

“We had a good car and the race was coming to us,” said Brock. “We usually turn it on around lap 50. We thought the other guys were pressing a little too early and we were riding back and coasting. We knew 100 laps was a long race.”

It was all a part of Brock’s plan. “You’ve got to have a plan with any race whether it is four laps, 20 or a 100. You have to have a game plan from the green to the checkered.”

“You want to keep yourself within striking distance then when its time to turn it on your tires are good, your car is good and you haven’t used everything up and then you can go,” Brock said.

He has finished in the top ten seven of the eight races and has been in the top 5 six times.

Brock has always shown an interest in racing.

“Dad has always had a race team and I have been around it my whole life and I’ve enjoyed it,” said Brock. “I love the speed and the competition with older men and kids your age.”

Josh has lofty goals, very realistic for a young man of his talent. “I would like to become a professional late model driver, asphalt or dirt, then if I get better go big time,” he said. He says NASCAR is a long shot but something that is reachable.

He currently races in the Late Model series of the Ken-Ten, Battle of the Bluegrass, an open wheel dirt series and the Corbin Speedway Late Model Series.

There are a lot of people behind the scenes that make drivers what they are today. “It takes a lot of volunteers,” said his dad, Steven. “Bennie Parker prepares his race cars then he has friends and family that goes with him week in and week out. Some of these races are three, four or five hours away.”

“We don’t race every weekend at Corbin,” the elder Brock said. “It takes a lot of volunteers and good help to do it.”

You might find Brock racing the #17 car at Bristol, Tazwell, Nashville, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Hickory (NC), and Florence (SC). Or wherever the series is scheduled. He races in the local series as well and is currently fifth.

He will be in Nashville August 15 for the Ken-Ten Series then back to Corbin, September 5. He will finish out the series September 26 at the Kentucky Motor Speedway in Whitesville.

Brock said he uses the #17 because that was the number his dad used when he started racing in 2000. “It’s a family thing now,” he said.

The three series are only the beginning for Brock, whose season starts in March and will last until December. “He also goes to some of the bigger shows,” said dad.

Just like in any sport, practices makes perfect and Brock does it seven days a week. “From Monday mornings to Friday night loading the truck for a trip,” Brock said. “It takes dedication. You might work 12 hours one day and one hour another day, but you have to work at it all the time. You might have to go the track at night time to practice.”

Josh feels he has some of the best support in the world. “I have the best parents to back me up, whether I am good, bad, right or wrong. They are always there for me,” he said.

Walking into the pit area Saturday night, it didn’t take long to find Josh and his family under the big red “Brock” tent tailgating.

“He has a lot of friends, grandparents, aunts and uncles, great-aunts and uncles that come out to support him,” said his dad. “He even had his 68-year-old great-great-uncle there Saturday night, it was the first time he had ever been to a race track.”

Brock’s mother, Melinda, is his biggest fan, but mom has her limits as well. Good grades or no racing. “I have to keep up my grades or I don’t get to race,” he said. “He’s got to have those A’s and B’s,” said dad. “That’s the rule.”

Brock said local drivers Bennie Parker and Roger Parker are his heroes along with Dale Earnhardt, Sr. “But I really look up to my dad and Bennie Parker for my inspiration,” he said.

However, he wants to have his own style and do his own thing. “I want to be myself, Josh Brock,” he said.

Saturday night’s win was a milestone for the Corbin teenager; it was his 51^st checkered flag. “Before he turned 17, he got his 50^th checkered flag,” said Steven Brock, “And, Saturday night made his 51^st.”

“He started racing when he was 12 years old and has had a high-profile, prolific career,” dad said.

Three words describe Brock’s racing career in his YouTube video, Will, Determination, Win. The eight-minute video shows his will to succeed, his determination to be the best and his desire to win.