Bryson Nichols has spent a lot of time on the road this summer. Residing in Virginia, he and his family made the trip to Charlotte for the Cook Out Summer Shootout and Atlanta's Thursday Thunder every single week. He loves racing and would be fighting to break his way into racing if he wasn't.
Hometown: Hampton, Virginia
Car Number: 80
Division: Outlaws
Race Team: Team Gordon Racing
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Driver: Kyle Larson
Favorite Colors: Black and Yellow
1. What made you get into racing?
I watched some of my family members do it and I thought it was super cool so I decided I wanted to start racing too.
2. What is your favorite thing about racing?
Speed. I love being on the track and going as fast as I can.
3. What made you choose the number on your car?
My Pawpaw he works on race cars and both of his numbers for his racing were 8 and 0 and I wanted to use his number but also be unique so I decided to put them together and go with 80.
4. What is your favorite track to race at and why?
I really just like any track that I can race at because I think they are all great and I could not just pick one to be my favorite.
5. What has been your favorite memory since you started racing?
Probably when I won my second ever Bandits race at Charlotte after moving up from Beginners because I was able to prove myself in a higher division.
6. If you were not racing what do you think you’d be doing?
Trying to get into a race car. I love racing and racing is a huge part of my life and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Or going pro in I-racing cause that’s at least still somewhat racing.
7. What are your long-term goals for racing?
Well first I just wanna finish off this season strong. And then later in my life I want to try and get into the [NASCAR] Cup Series because that would just be awesome.
8. Who is your biggest inspiration in racing?
Kyle Larson, he is my favorite driver and I would love to be as good as him someday.
9. How has racing changed your life?
It has definitely taught me to be a better sport. I was not the best at that when I was younger and I would get mad at people for no reason, and now when people beat me I just give everyone a handshake and tell them good job and just walk away without getting mad.
10. What has been your favorite win that you have ever gotten?
This year, Round 5 of the Cookout Summer Shootout, I won by 0.10 thousandths of a second after coming back from 5th. That was just a really cool comeback and it paid off in the end.
11. With racing at both Atlanta and Charlotte this summer, what do you think has made you get more wins at Atlanta?
I usually try not to think about how many wins I have. I just get in my car and drive and hope for the best and try not to worry about everything else.
12. What would it mean to you to win a championship this year?
It would give me a great sense of accomplishment, it would definitely be something that I would look forward to and it would be something that I would remember for the rest of my life and it would be really nice. I live really far away from here and it has taken a ton of time and effort to make it here so that would definitely make me feel like all my hard work was paying off.
13. What was your biggest challenge moving up from Beginners to Bandits?
The competition was tougher. I think it helped me to be able to actually use the driving style that I wanted to.
14. Why do you have a bee on your car?
Bumblebee has been my nickname since I was a baby and my Grandmother gave it to me. She used to sing me the Bumblebee song and so I guess the nickname just stuck.
15. Is it challenging for you to race against your teammates from your racing team?
No, it is much better racing against my own teammates. Because on restarts you don’t get pile driven when they’re behind you and they race you cleaner. Your teammates don’t wreck you on restarts so yeah I would say I like that better than not having a teammate on the race track. There is a mutual respect for each other on the track. We drive each other the way we would want to be driven.