Local auto racer has ‘need for speed’

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

Truth be told, most teenagers don’t have a clue what they’re doing tomorrow, let alone for the rest of their lives. But Parkway eighth-grader Cooper Clouse isn’t exactly your typical teenager.

Since he was just 5 years old, Cooper has known exactly what he wants to do, and his career course began behind the wheel of a go-kart at that age. “We recognized early on that he seemed to have a gift,” Jeff Clouse said of his son.

Cooper and his supporters have been honing his talents on racetracks around the nation. For nearly a decade, the young racer has been buckling up and satisfying his need for speed, participating in approximately 3,000 races over that time.

But it took only one race for Clouse to receive his first checkered flag. “Then, when he was 6 years old, we got him into quarter-midgets, and he raced those until 2010,” his father said, adding, “and he actually won the heavy AA national championship in quarter-midgets.”

By now, Cooper is considered a seasoned midget car racer, and a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack. His latest race, the Rumble in the Fort, put him up against Tony Stewart — yep, that Tony Stewart. Racing against the three-time NASCAR champion would undoubtedly cause some kids to hit Pit Row — and stay there — but for Cooper, it was just another day at the “office.”

“I was nervous a little bit, mainly because I’m not used to that much power in a race car, and then being in front of as many big names there,” Cooper said. “But there’s a risk every time you race. The fear is basically with you all the time, but I can usually write it off once I get used to it.”

Apparently, fear was not a factor for Cooper during the Rumble in the Fort, and he led the race from laps 26-49. But as things often times go in the race world, Clouse ran into a bit of trouble and crashed on the white flag lap (the last lap of the race), which resulted in a seventh-place finish.

While it wasn’t the finish he had hoped for, Clouse’s family is certainly proud of his accomplishments and his maturity on the track. “Cooper, your dad and I have spent the last nine years of your life not only trying our best to nurture your talent and passion for racing, but to also build sustainable character in you,” Cooper’s mother, Missy, wrote on her son’s Facebook page. “Tonight, you showed more class and character than any parent or fan could ask for!”

Unfortunately, Cooper has taken it on the chin more than once, from not only his peers, but competitors as well. Through it all, Clouse has held his head high and manages to display professionalism far beyond his years. “I get made fun of sometimes for not playing football,” Cooper said, adding, “I think kids only say that because they have no idea what I do. I just ignore them and move on.”

And he moves on quickly. During racing season, Cooper is involved in some type of race just about every weekend. His busy career has meant significant sacrifices for the Clouse family, who remain the young racing phenom’s biggest supporters.

“My parents have sacrificed so much for me to be where I am right now,” Cooper said. “Doing what I do is not cheap, but my parents support me because they know I love it. I really appreciate what they do for me, and I definitely appreciate my sponsor, Burtch Seed, for backing me.”

Even with a sponsor, the financial demands of the sport, as well as a huge time commitment, can be overwhelming at times. It’s a labor of love, though, for the Clouse family. “There’s just so much time involved, and then throw in the maintenance and building, and the travel,” Jeff Clouse said. “But the good thing is Cooper is really good at what he does, and he could tear a car apart and put it back together himself. He’s just very mechanically inclined. I have no doubt he could pretty much run it on his own.”

For now, Cooper is enjoying some down time before racing season picks back up in March, at which time it will be full speed ahead for Cooper Clouse Racing.

“I’m planning on just going as far as I can by the time I graduate from high school,” Clouse said. “I hope to be running sprint cars nationally or working on a ride to go even bigger than that.”

If history is any indication, Cooper is well on his way. In 2010, he became one of the youngest competitors to race midget cars (similar to sprint cars, but smaller). Competing in the 2012 USAC Midwest Ignite Midget Series, he was involved in 29 races in the series, which concluded in September of last year. He finished second in points in the dirt series, and also finished second in the pavement series. Another highlight was his appearance as a featured midget driver in the April 2012 issue of Sprint Car & Midget Magazine.

Racing at speeds of well over 100 mph does have its share of downfalls, and Cooper has sustained his share of injuries, including some concussions and broken arms. “But really, it’s become old hat to him,” Jeff Clouse said. “This past summer he had his first flip in a midget. He was able to get back in the race and came back and finished fifth with a torn out racecar. Yeah, he’s pretty much an enigma in what he does,” he added.

Meanwhile, Cooper is looking forward to the next four years of high school and perfecting his talent on the race track, and in the classroom. He’s also looking forward to someday making a living doing what he loves.

“It’s what I want to do, and I want to be the best, and someday make a living doing what I love,” he said.