SHOP TALK with Nick Gebben
Standale Lumber Sportsman Championship Contender

by Brian Nelson

   Ask anyone on pit road which current Berlin Raceway driver is most likely to compete some day at the higher levels of racing, and one name will keep popping up: Nick Gebben.

   "He's the total package," said one driver.  "Looks, speaking ability, relationships, and racing talent - the kid's got it all."

   That said, finding success in any of racing's big leagues requires a lot more than a good smile and great driving skills. No matter how well-connected a racer may be, he still needs to prove he can win. While some racers have quickly jumped from Berlin's junior class (Standale Lumber Sportsman) in search of success in Engine Pro Super Stock or Coors Light Late Model cars, Nick Gebben says he's in no hurry.

   "Ambition without patience can ruin a driver," said Nick. "You just need to develop skills. There's a lot to learn in the Sportsman division: who to run with, where to pass, how to handle a heavy race car in traffic."

   Nick gets his wisdom from the man who sired his passion for speed: his father, former ASA Touring Series owner Bud Gebben.

   Bud, who has raced mini-champ cars (small Indy-style racers) throughout the Midwest, bought his son a go-cart racer when Nick was 11 years old. Instantly, Nick was hooked, and began competing regularly at Ravenna Motor Park.  

In 1999, Gebben, then 12, finished the season second in the Brigg's Junior 2 A class of go-carts. He was also treated with a rare opportunity to test a NASCAR Craftsman Truck at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

   "I was staying with Nick Shidler, who was the crew chief for Kenny Irwin's dad, and got the chance to climb inside the race truck," Nick said.  "It was pretty cool, but it felt very different from my light-weight go cart!"

   While his father's ASA team was on TV and winning national championships, Nick was winning behind the wheel of his go-cart. In 2000, he won one season championship and shared another in two classes at Ravenna, and came back in 2001 to clinch yet another go-carting season championship.

   By the time 2002 rolled around, the 15-year-old Gebben had become one of Ravenna Motor Park's elite drivers, and began to consider what his next step up might be. His father purchased a Sportsman race truck, previously driven by Billy Shotko, and prepared for Nick to make his Berlin Raceway debut. Since Berlin officials would not allow anyone under 16 years old to set foot on pit road, Nick would continue to race go-carts until his 16th birthday. Meanwhile, the Gebbens asked another Nick - Nick Shotko - to race and set up the Sportsman truck until Gebben came of age. Shotko took the truck to victory lane twice before Nick Gebben raced it for the first time.

   Gebben turned 16 on August 2, 2002, and used the final month of Berlin's Sportsman season to prepare for his rookie year. During those final weeks, Nick qualified for five feature races and won two heat races.

   Expectations were high as the 2003 season drew close. Nick started the season with a surprisingly strong fourth-place feature finish, but missed week two while suffering from food poisoning.

    "If it hadn't been for some bad Mexican food, I would have finished near the top of the points," Nick said.

   Even though he missed one night of competition, Gebben finished sixth in Sportsman points with two feature wins, eight top five finishes, 16 top 10s, and the Rookie of the Year trophy.  

   Through the first nine events of the 2004 season, Nick sits third in Sportsman points and sports one feature win.

   "Yeah that win felt good," said Nick. "Terry Van Haitsma started out winning three races in a row, and we broke the streak. We needed to know we could run with him...that he's not untouchable."
 
   But the competition in the Standale Lumber Sportsman class remains strong.

   "We've got some good competitors who put up quite a fight," said Nick. "You really have to keep your head out of the clouds. (Dave) Lake and (Lee) VanDyk are good hard racers. The reason they win is because they're smart drivers who have respect for their competition."

   While Nick remains focused on contending for a track championship, he is keenly aware of his possibilities.  This is the first racing season in many years for which his father is not fielding an ASA Touring series team. After winning several championships, Bud Gebben sold his race cars and nearly all of his shop equipment due to a lack of sponsorship support for the ASA, and to focus on developing Nick. Bud has also purchased an ASA Late Model series car and is competing at select events through the 2004 season.  

   "Brian (Campbell) is doing a good job driving the Late Model car," said Bud. "We may run a couple more dates this year, but only if it doesn't interfere with Brian's Berlin races."  Campbell is currently third in Berlin Late Model points.  

   "I'd love to get back into the National Tour - if opportunities and sponsorships come together," Gebben said.

   Nick's father has indicated a desire for Nick to eventually drive an ASA Touring Series car, but admits the uncertain future of ASA may prompt him to consider another series.

   "Nick may run a couple races (in the ASA Late Model car) where rules are similar...like Spartan Raceway and Calhoun County Raceway," Bud said, "but we're going to have to wait and see what develops."

   Though Nick Gebben"s future may be fuzzy, few doubt that this 17-year-old will eventually find himself racing among the sport's elite drivers. For now, the young gun behind the wheel of the No. 4 Sportsman truck is having the time of his life walking the road to racing glory one step at a time.