There is INEX racing in Alaska, and Trenton Dillard is one of the many Legend Car drivers who frequently races at Alaska Raceway Park. He not only competes on ovals, but loves road course racing and has traveled to the continental United States to places like New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, and his favorite, Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Outfield Road Course. He's been racing since he was three, when he climbed aboard a snow machine. While Dillard doesn't know his long-term goals for auto racing, what he loves at the moment is making memories with his father.
Hometown: Wasila, AK
Division: Young Lions
Car Number: 34
Team: Robert Gayton Racing
1. How did you get your start in racing?
I started snow machine racing, racing motocross and all of that. We raced snow machine racing since I was three years old until we had to stop for some family stuff, then we did some motocross stuff and we were pretty good at that. Finally, we got into a Bandolero and started racing out of state.
2. How did you decide on the number 34?
I’ve grown up racing with the number. My dad started racing with the 34 and he passed it to me.
3. What did you take from snow machine racing to get into Legend Car racing?
I don’t know really, that’s a tough one. Snow machine racing just really taught me the love of racing.
4. What are the differences between racing in Alaska versus racing in the continental U.S.?
It’s so much different. There’s so many different cars, different people, more things to do. At home, we just have one paved-oval track, Alaska Raceway Park, and a few dirt tracks. Besides that, there’s nothing else. There’s no road courses, we have to go out of state to race road courses.
5. What was your first experience like racing outside of Alaska?
It was pretty cool. I definitely felt out of my element. The first race I raced out of state was Nationals at the Bullring. I got slaughtered.
6. If you had to pick one motorsports event to win in the world, what would it be?
Honestly, I would have to say the 24 Hours of Le Mans. You can’t beat that in road course racing.
7. What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?
Learning how the cars drive and all of that. We aren’t real mechanics, we’ve gotten help from so many people. The learning curve of working on theses cars are the largest setback in my opinion.
8. What are the biggest challenges you face racing where you are?
Racing all those people that have so much more experience and seat time. We only get 10 races a season on oval, so we get barely any seat time here.
9. Which do you prefer, Ovals or Road Courses?
I always like road courses more because you get to shift gear. There’s more going on driving wise. On oval, you get more action because it’s tight racing, but I think it’s more fun to be shifting through gears and all of that.
10. How are you able to adapt your driving style when you go from driving a Legend to a Late Model in the same night?
It’s completely different. When I first got into a Late Model, I was pretty fast. The Legend is super touchy, while the Late Model has a lot more give. You can slam on the gas and not really worry about it. Legend you have to be smooth with the gas, smooth with your turns. A Late Model you can just throw it around.
11. What is your favorite track to race at?
My favorite track for road course would be Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was the first road course I ever learned on.
12. What are your long-term career goals?
I haven’t thought about it too much. I’m mainly doing it because it gives me memories with me and my dad. It’s something I will always remember.
13. Who is your role model in racing?
My dad and Robert Gayton. They help me so much on the car and with my driving.
14. What are some of your interests outside of racing?
I play hockey, hang out with my friends, ride my snow machines, snowboard, and I like to have bonfires because that’s pretty much all we can do. We live life.
15. What lessons have you learned outside the track that you apply to your racing?
You have to take it one step at a time. If something goes wrong, get back up and keep going. If something breaks, fix it and go to the next heat, feature and figure it out. You get in a wreck, go work on the car. Sometimes it might run worse, sometimes it might run better. That’s racing. We do it because we love it.