One Hundred Wins Before He Could Drive: The Randy Tolsma Story
12 March 1998
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 12, 1998) -- Randy Tolsma, driver of the IWX Motor Freight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chevrolet, started winning races at a very early age.In fact, by the time he reached legal driving age, he already had won over 100 races and three-track championships. He started racing go-karts he was 9 years old. Winning has been a way of life for the 31-year-old professional race driver from Meridian, Idaho.
After many successful seasons of racing open-wheel cars in the Northwest, then Midwest, Tolsma set his sights on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series late in 1996. And, true to his successful roots, Tolsma scored his career first NASCAR win in only his 13th start in the series. That was Oct. 12, 1997 in Bakersfield, Calif. at Mesa Marin Speedway.
"This is a big day," said Tolsma following that win. "About one year ago, Steve Coulter (Xpress Motorsports team owner) offered my wife and I and opportunity to be successful. He said, 'I think a lot of you and I think you deserve that opportunity'. We started a team without much knowledge and tried to do what we thought was right. When you have times like this^it makes all that hard work pay off."
On and off the track Tolsma has a history of doing things right. In 1992 he started a program known as "A Day with the Racers". The program brings children who are in treatment for or survivors of cancer together with race drivers for a day of fun, food and racing. The first such day was held in Boise, Idaho and though not an original goal for the event, the first A Day With the Racers event raised enough money to help support family/youth activities at the Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise.
As the geography of his racing career spread, so did his original concept. Randy and wife Tiffanie have staged similar events in Sacramento, Calif. and Indianapolis, Ind. Future events are planned.
The "A Day With the Racers" program exemplifies the character of Tolsma. A trait that has also seen him rewarded four times in his career with "Most Popular Driver" awards voted on by fans. That is an accomplishment for a guy who also wins races and championships.
"Unlike being regarded for a bold move on the track, those awards were given to me, I guess, for the kind of person I am. Although they happened years ago in Idaho, they still provide me a great sense of pride," Tolsma said.
Randy Tolsma should have pride in the winning form he has shown on and off the track. He is a rising star in NASCAR and realizes the responsibility that comes with that. The challenges ahead grow with each success and Tolsma expects some huge challenges in the future.
But, Randy Tolsma can handle a challenge; after all, he did win over 100 races before he even had his license to drive.
IWX Motor Freight is a Springfield, Mo. based trucking firm having a fleet of 400 trucks. IWX serves 48 states and annually the trucks will log more than 98 million miles.
