Jimmy Fairbanks Racing

Meet our Team:

Fairbanks Racing Team

Dirt Late Model #61

Chassis: (2007) Bernheisel Lazer

Motor: DuraTech Racing Engines

Driver: Jimmy Fairbanks Jr

Age: 30 (April 3, 1977)
Occupation: Tool & Die Technician, Shop Floor Manager, New Part Designer
Place of Employment: A&A Manufacturing (9 years)
Racing Experience: 11 years (1 - Bomber, 2 - Street Stock, 8 - Late Model)
Hometown: Coopersville, Michigan

Jimmy has been racing since the summer of 1995. His first race was a 100 lap enduro, on pavement, at Galesburg Speedway (MI). In 1996 he started out his dirt racing career in bombers at Thunderbird Raceway. The following year he moved up to the Street Stock class and obtained the "Rookie of the Year" award at Thunderbird Raceway. He continued racing Street Stocks for the first half of 1998, then bought and ran a SuperPro for the last 6 weeks of the (1998) season. In 1999 he bought his first Dirt Late Model chassis and ran it the full season at Merritt Speedway (MI). Jimmy has been running Dirt Late Models for the last 8 seasons at many differnt tracks including:

I-96 Speedway (MI)
Thunderbird Raceway (MI)
Winston Motor Speedway (MI)
Crystal Motor Speedway (MI)
Merritt Speedway (MI)
Eldora Speedway (OH)
Crown Point Speedway (IN)
Oakshade Raceway (OH)
Gas City/ I-69 Speedway (IN)
Hartford Speedway (MI)
Limaland Speedway (OH)

Few know that prior to racing cars, Jimmy BMX raced, for several years during grade school and Junior High. He competed statewide in Michigan, regionally, and even competed in the Nationals twice. Jimmy stopped BMX racing at 13 so he could start working part time jobs after school. Jimmy got the "racing bug" from his Grandpa Thomas, who raced at Wiskey Ridge (MI) back in the day. When Grandpa Thomas quit racing himself, he began building street stocks and hired local (Muskegon, MI) guys to run them for him at Thunderbird, Winston and I-96. Throughout Jimmy's childhood, he attended many of the races his Grandpa's cars competed in. However; he was not allowed to buy a race car or drive one until he graduated - Grandma & Grandpa's orders! He kept that promise and didn't buy a car or race until the summer after he graduated.

Between work at A&A, work on the race car, and racing Jimmy doesn't have much time for other hobbies. Racing is his passion and he enjoys every moment he gets on the race track! He is proud of the fact that he owns every piece of equipment he runs, and it is his blood-sweat-tears and penny pinching that puts it on the track every week. He comes home from work, and goes straight into the garage every night. His dedication shows in all that he has managed to accomplish throughout his career so far.

Career Highlights:

1997: Street Stock ~ Cheverolet Camaro
- 4th in Street Stock points (Thunderbird Raceway)
- "Rookie of the Year" award
1998: Street Stock ~ Buick Regal and Super Pro ~ Rayburn Chassis
- 10th in Street Stock points (Thunderbird Raceway) with only competing 1/2 season
1999: Late Model ~ Competition Chassis
- Attended Mastersbilt Racing School/Seminar
2000: Late Model ~ (1998) Mastersbilt Chassis
- Attended Cleveland Speedway (Ray Cook/ Dale McDowell) Racing School
2001: Late Model ~ (1998) Mastersbilt Chassis
- 2 wins, 8 Top-5's, 5 Top-10's
- 2nd in Late Model Points (Thunderbird Raceway)
- Won Season Championship Race
2002: Late Model ~ (1998) Mastersbilt Chassis
- Qualified for every A-main at I-96 Speedway (1st year on 1/2 mile track)
- Competed in six ALMS events
- Ran both Late Models and Open Modifieds at the Annual "Corn Harvest 350", finishing 4th in both features
2003: Late Model ~ (2003) Mastersbilt Chassis
- 11th in Late Model points (Crystal Motor Speedway)
2004: Late Model ~ (2003) Mastersbilt Chassis
- Won "Great Lakes Nationals" Late Model event (Crystal Motor Speedway)
- 2nd in Late Model points (Thunderbird Raceway)
- 7th in Late Model points (I-96 Speedway)
- 5 wins, 7 Top-5's, 9 Top-10's
2005: Late Model ~ (2005) Bernheisel Lazer Chassis
- Won "Great Lakes Nationals" Late Model event (Crystal Motor Speeway)
  - ONLY back-to-back 2 time winner of this event
- Awarded "Sportsman of the Year" honors by fellow I-96 Speedway competitors
- 6th in Late Model points (I-96 Speedway)
- 1st Michigan win for a Bernheisel Lazer Chassis
- 3 wins, 8 Top-5's, 8 Top-10's
- In only 8 visits to Crown Point Speedway, finished 25th in points (out of 130 LM's)
2006: Late Model ~ (2005) Bernheisel Lazer Chassis
- Qualified 85th for the 12th Annual Eldora DREAM
- 2 Fast Time Awards, 2 Heat Wins
- 3 Top-5's, 8 Top-10's
- 8 different tracks, in 3 different states

Team Manager: Gina Fairbanks (AKA - The Bus Driver)

I am Jimmy's "other half" and my job for the team is to keep our sponsors up to date on the team happenings, to maintain this website, wash the race car, and to drive the hauler....are ya, scared yet?!?!

I have been a part, in some form or another, of Jimmy's racing since his first race. Outside of racing, I try to spend time with my family and my horses, when I'm not doing projects around the house.

Jimmy and I graduated together from Coopersville High School. We have 1 dog, a Miniature American Eskimo, and 1 "evil" cat, they are our "kids". We enjoy our nieces and nephew when they visit, but also enjoy returning them to their parents. Usually on long race weekends the cat gets a large amount of food and water left in his bowls and the dog gets to visit "Grandma's" house. They are pretty self-sufficient kids, which works well for our constantly on-the-go lifestyle right now.

Crew: John Krusinsky (AKA - Dodge Mod Guy)

John has been a HUGE help in the 2007 season. John has been able to help us out both at the track and at the garage this year. It is good having the help during the week, it has taken alot of stress off Jimmy.

John drove the #5K Dodge car in the Great Lakes Outlaw Modifieds last season. He has since bought a late model and is slowly getting that put together. He hopes to be racing by the end of the season. John brings a great racing knowledge to the team. When Jimmy and John can sit in the garage and dissect the previous weekends set-up and understand each other it helps immensly.

Crew: Dean Huizenga (AKA - Guidance Counselor)

Dean is a fellow Dirt Late Model racer, he pilots the #9, GAS Racing, late model. Dean and his wife Kate are our travel partners, we rarely show up at a track without both the #61 and the #9. However; if we do, which ever one isn't racing will be crewing for the one racing. When both, Jimmy and Dean, are racing they still help each other out and compare notes and set-up information. Dean also runs a Bernheisel Lazer chassis, so the ability to compare set-up information, theories, and ideas is great.

Age: 26 (November 5, 1979)
Racing Experience: 8 years (5 - Street Stock, 3 - Late Model)
Hometown: Belmont, Michigan
Career Highlights:
- 2002 Corn Harvest 350 Street Stock Winner
- 2 Street Stock feature wins
- 2004 Crystal Motor Speedway "Most Improved LM Driver"
- 1 Late Model feature win, 3 Late Model B-main wins, 1 Late Model Heat Race win

Crew: Aharon Risthouse (AKA - Water Boy)

Aahron trys to make as many races as he can throughout the season. When Aahron gets a chance to get to a race he is a huge help in the pits. As he says "hand me a wrench and tell me what needs to be done". Aahron has helped us for the past 4 seasons throughout his senior year of high school and his college courses.

Crew: Kyle Maycroft (AKA - Party Boy)

Kyle is my brother-in-law. He and my little sister try to make it to the races as often as possible. He is another one that you just have to hand the wrenches to and tell him what needs to be done. Though they can usually only make it to the track about once a month or so, they really enjoy the time they get to spend there. Kyle doesn't like to sit still, so he's constantly looking for something to do or something to help with.

Little Crew: Jossilyn & Conner Maycroft

Peanut and Bubba, as they are referred to, are our littlest helpers. They are my 7 year old niece and 3 year old nephew. They love getting the chance to come watch Uncle Jimmy race! Bubba is always grabbing the wrenches, after the guys put them down, and trying to work on the car. Peanut loves to ride on Uncle Jimmy's car when they have kids rides. She is his loudest fan when he's racing and Bubba just loves to watch racecars!

Thank you to each of you for your help throughout the years!! Good night or bad, your help will always be appreciated!