Drivers to Watch 2016: Hurst hungry to prove himself doing double duty in IMCA cars

Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series on Eastern Iowa Drivers to Watch for 2016. These three drivers are racers who compete in multiple cars and at several tracks and are poised to have a successful season. Last year's contenders for Driver of the Year, including winner Justin Kay, Nathan Ballard and Tony Olson, were not eligible because of their high profile in the area. Part 1 was on Alburnett driver Brody Willett. Part 2 is on Dubuque's Jeremiah Hurst. Part 3 will be released Wednesday.

DUBUQUE — After 20 years, Jeremiah Hurst still gets excited about climbing into a racecar.

He's not a boastful person, and often carries himself in an understated manner. But ask him how much he's looking forward to 2016 and all it has to offer, and his eyes light up.

Maybe that's because he's won a ton of races around the area in the last few years. Maybe it's because his equipment is new and fresh. Or maybe it's because he's returning to an IMCA Late Model for Ken Roberts, in addition to his own IMCA Modified.

The prospect of double-duty has him as excited for a racing season as he's ever been. Even after two decades behind the wheel, the feeling of having something to prove is powerful.

'I really think I'm up for the challenge. I'm really excited,' Hurst said. 'I feel like I still have a lot to prove in Late Model racing, and I never really got the opportunity that I have now. The help and the technology that I can get now, I'm looking forward to Late Model racing just as much as Modified racing. I'm really looking forward to it.

'I've got to keep an open mind and I'll be able to adapt to where they are now. Hopefully everything will work out. I hope it does. I'm thinking I can adapt. I've been racing long enough to where I'm sure I can adapt to it.'

Hurst was last in a Late Model in 2013, and has a pair of IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series wins to his credit. But it's been in his Modified the last two years where fellow racers and fans have sat up and taken notice of his performance.

Some guys like to fly under the radar and some love the attention that comes with being a driver everyone has to account for. Hurst doesn't really care much if he's the one in the limelight each night at Farley Speedway, Dubuque Speedway or anywhere else.

But he does care about the respect he's earned among everyone, as well as what the fans in the stands think of the effort he puts into his cars.

'Hopefully when they see me pull in, they know they've got to step up their game. And I like that,' Hurst said. 'I like the guys that really bring it when they're racing. Justin Kay is one of them. Ray Guss, Brian Harris — a lot of them.

'I like racing and putting on a show. Hopefully that's how people look at me, that when I walk away from racing people say 'Hurst was fun to watch.' That would be fine with me.'

Hurst's double duty this season has made plenty around Eastern Iowa take notice, in no small part because of who he's racing with. His own Modified program was a winning one the last few years, and the Late Model he'll be in is owned by Ken Roberts, who also owns Ray Guss Jr.'s Late Model.

He's unsure how often he'll run both on the same night, but Deery Brothers and Hawkeye Dirt Tour shows are on the docket, as well as weekly racing for the Late Model at West Liberty Raceway.

Regardless of how often or where he runs, Hurst is most excited about how competitive he feels he can be in both cars given the equipment and help he'll have. It's a time in racing unmatched by other seasons and other opportunities, he said.

'Modified really comes down to a good driver — they don't have the perfect shocks or super high dollar stuff. Modifieds are one hell of a time driving. That's why I love Modifieds. Late Models, you've got to be right on, on everything. It's tough to race Late Models,' Hurst said. 'There have been years I've been hard on myself, because I always used to have to do it all on my own. I always did my own thing on the setups and put a lot on myself to try to do well. Now I've got help and can concentrate on racing.'

Help, equipment and hunger — all three things belong to Hurst headed into the 2016 season, and that's something that he hopes forces people to account for him.

And on top of that, he's still in love with climbing in his racecars and give folks wearing No. 41 gear something to cheer for.

'I'm going to try every night to win and put on a show. I'm pretty hungry right now. I still think I've got stuff to prove in a Late Model that I never got the opportunity to show,' Hurst said. 'I hope it goes well because I'm excited about it.

'It's all my family's every done, and all we ever do is breathe, eat and sleep racing. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have racing, to tell you the truth. I love it.'

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com