Toddville’s Cristian Grady finds a home racing in dirt

VINTON — You might think car jargon would come naturally to Cristian Grady, but he’s worked hard to understand the lingo.

Even though the second-generation racecar driver spent his seven years in the Air Force building bombs and missiles while traveling the world, the Toddville native doesn’t consider himself a “car guy.”

“The military helped me with teamwork and attention to detail,” Grady said. “I’ve gone through this whole car myself and really learned a lot.”

Even though Hawkeye Downs is where his father Scott raced during his career and where Cristian got his start during his senior year at Alburnett in 2010, Grady fell in love with dirt-track racing last season after trying it just once.

“I bought this (2005 Chevy Cavalier) from Dallas Chandler as a street car and then had Advantage Chassis put a cage in it,” Grady said. “Now we’re on our 21st race this year.”

The 29-year-old had hoped to contend for the points championships at Independence on Saturdays and Benton County on Sundays, but also has found himself in contention at Columbus Junction on Fridays.

“If I have I chance to win, I’m always going to take it,” Grady said. “But if I have to wreck myself or someone else, I’m not going to do it. I take care of my equipment the best I can and try to be there every week.”

Being there every week has been challenging in 2021 for the Local 89 Iron Worker.

Grady not only works full-time and has two boys, 6-year-old Odin and 4-year-old Orion, but his girlfriend Raven Moore is pregnant.

“She’s been the real rock in this whole thing,” Grady said. “I’ve wanted to quit a few times trying to race three nights a week, but she’s the one that keeps me going.

“This past week I didn’t even come inside other than to eat and sleep because I had a hole in the frame and had to fix it. She’s always pushing me to get it done, because she knows I’m good at it and it’s what I enjoy.”

As for attention to detail, on top of learning the ins and outs of his car, Grady tries to plan his strategy on the track depending on knowledge of his surroundings.

“Right when I get into staging I look to see who is around me and what my best plan of action is,” Grady said. “During the parade lap I try to focus on what they usually do and try to plan my first few laps like that. Then, you just go with the wind after that.”

Although he’s admittedly still learning how to not overdrive his sport compact, Grady tries to remember one phrase of car jargon from a racecar-driving friend of his fathers.

“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast,” Grady said. “We’re just experimenting and trying to get the hang of it.”

Sunday night at Benton County Speedway, Grady finished third in the A feature behind Ashley Reuman of Hills and Adam Gates of Marion and maintains a tie for second place in the Sport Compact points chase with Logan Clausen of Atkins, three points behind William Michel of Columbus Junction.

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