MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Last winter, Daryn Pittman went dormant.
“I didn’t have much to talk about,” Pittman said in an interview earlier this year.
He didn’t want to conceal himself from the world and be slow to answer texts, but the struggle discovering his identity apart from full-time racing was real.
A business venture that would have structured the backend of his life fell through in January. Subconsciously, the 43-year-old was timid in his search for driving opportunities because he no longer wanted to race to foot the bills.
These last three months of the year compared to the first three months are now pleasantly different.
This weekend, Pittman competes in his 23rd consecutive Williams Grove National Open with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and there is plenty to discuss.
Pittman and his wife, Mandy, are four months into business ownership of Ultra Shield Race Products in Flint, Texas. They are filling out their new home south of the Red River, seeing their new life with clarity and peace.
“From my standpoint, I couldn’t be happier with this situation I’ve put myself in,” Pittman said in a recent interview.
And if there happened to be a hunch that Pittman’s 2013 World of Outlaws champion ability had expired along with his full-time racing desires, that belief dissolved Sept. 9-11.
With his new part-time ride, the Swindell SpeedLab No. 39, Pittman stomped the field on the Night Before the Tuscarora 50 sanctioned by the All Star Circuit of Champions at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway.
The previous night, he never performed off the podium, qualifying third of 45 cars, placing third in his heat and third in the 30-lap main event.
“It is extremely satisfying,” Pittman said directly after his first win as a part-time racer. “I’ve known all along, even though the last few years have been a little bit frustrating, that if I get a car I’m comfortable with … I can compete with the best of them.
“Maybe I have a smaller window with what I need in a car than maybe some of these other guys who will drive the hell out of it no matter how their car feels, but I’m confident when I’m comfortable I can keep and win any race in the country,” Pittman added. “It’s taken us a little longer to get there but when I have been comfortable we have been extremely competitive and competed for wins.”
Before Tuscarora 50 weekend, Pittman failed to qualify for more main events (five) than finishes inside the top 10 (three) in 13 races. Those times, however, built rapport with crew chief Kevin Swindell.
“I’ve enjoyed it tremendously,” Pittman said. “I can probably speak for both of us: I didn’t know how it was all going to work when we signed up together to go race. I don’t mean that from a negative standpoint. Neither of us knew each other very well at all. … We grew up in different eras.”
At some point, the Swindells and a future National Sprint Car Hall of Famer had to gel.
That takes us to this weekend’s National Open, one of two original sprint car Crown Jewels that Pittman remains eager to win.
“The National Open is still a big race for me, one I want to be involved with for quite some time to come,” Pittman said. “We’ve been awfully close.”
The $75,000-to-win event could be Pittman’s last until next year.
He wants to race Lawton (Okla.) Speedway and Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, with the World of Outlaws Oct. 29 and 30, respectively. But that might not be logistically possible considering the Swindell’s are headquartered in Charlotte.
Either way, Pittman’s discovery of his new identity will keep him happily occupied.
“I’ve enjoyed being a fan on weekends and catching the end to some races when we have time,” he said. “And spend more time with family, not being out on the road.
“Still have a lot to learn with the business,” Pittman said. “Pretty backed up on most of our products, our seats.
“I enjoy it,” Pittman said. “I enjoy it a lot.”