For many Hanover area sports fans, Justin Adams' name is synonymous with wrestling.
However, one of the leading grapplers in New Oxford High history spends his days now around another sport which has become his profession.
As director of Kasey Kahne Racing's sprint car operation, Adams directs supplies and instruction for Kahne's four World of Outlaws super sprint teams from his office in Charlotte, N.C.
In addition, Adams serves on the road as crew chief for one of those teams featuring driver Paul McMahan.
"He has a lot of input with our car," Red Lion's Cody Darrah said. "He has a good base. We always end up leaning on him and his notes to get me through the night.
"He has a lot on his plate."
However, Adams has earned that responsibility through his work for several sprint car teams, beginning with fellow New Oxford resident and former driver Steve Siegel. He has also worked with current Kings Royal champion Tyler Walker and was employed several years by Karl Kinser before he left the sport in 2004.
Meanwhile, Adams' brother, Jarrod, who also was a New Oxford wrestling standout, also worked with sprint car teams and became friends with Kahne.
"In fact, Jarrod married his sister," Justin Adams said, noting Jarrod now works in the financial investment business in Charlotte.
Therefore, when Kahne's Sprint Cup career was blossoming and he needed a leader for his sprint car teams near the end of the 2004 season, he hired Justin Adams.
"It's an advantage for all four teams because we can all pull information off the others, if one car is faster than the others. The guys come and you help each other out a little bit.
"The disadvantage for me is, you know, when the guys have problems or anything, I'm always the guy they come to, so, some nights, it gets stressful not being able to solely focus on the car I'm working on, but everybody else's car too."
However, Adams will not get a break this weekend, even with his extensive background working for race teams at Williams Grove Speedway, a track he knows well.
"You come to Williams Grove and the competition level's so high," he said, "Not racing there every week, I'm at a disadvantage. There are 10 or 12 (local) cars here and they have an Outlaws-type caliber car."
He added, "At KKR, we've tended to struggle at Williams Grove."
The task was complicated when Kasey Kahne Racing driver Joey Saldana was injured last weekend at Eldora Speedway in Ohio.
"It's really hard on the guys that work with Joey. That's their guy. They've developed a relationship with him," Adams said. "But it's nice we're a bigger company that we can pull another driver (Brad Sweet) that can fill in for him."
Some of the preparation for this weekend's Summer Nationals at Williams Grove occurred early Thursday morning, part to avoid working during the hottest portion of the day.
However, during a season on the road, the Outlaws' visit means Adams and his own family also get a chance to return to the Hanover area and to familiar faces.
"The summer race, we always come back, relax, go swimming and have a cookout," he said, "The spring and fall races (at Williams Grove), we're kind of in and out."
However, one of the leading grapplers in New Oxford High history spends his days now around another sport which has become his profession.
As director of Kasey Kahne Racing's sprint car operation, Adams directs supplies and instruction for Kahne's four World of Outlaws super sprint teams from his office in Charlotte, N.C.
In addition, Adams serves on the road as crew chief for one of those teams featuring driver Paul McMahan.
"He has a lot of input with our car," Red Lion's Cody Darrah said. "He has a good base. We always end up leaning on him and his notes to get me through the night.
"He has a lot on his plate."
However, Adams has earned that responsibility through his work for several sprint car teams, beginning with fellow New Oxford resident and former driver Steve Siegel. He has also worked with current Kings Royal champion Tyler Walker and was employed several years by Karl Kinser before he left the sport in 2004.
Meanwhile, Adams' brother, Jarrod, who also was a New Oxford wrestling standout, also worked with sprint car teams and became friends with Kahne.
"In fact, Jarrod married his sister," Justin Adams said, noting Jarrod now works in the financial investment business in Charlotte.
Therefore, when Kahne's Sprint Cup career was blossoming and he needed a leader for his sprint car teams near the end of the 2004 season, he hired Justin Adams.
"It's an advantage for all four teams because we can all pull information off the others, if one car is faster than the others. The guys come and you help each other out a little bit.
"The disadvantage for me is, you know, when the guys have problems or anything, I'm always the guy they come to, so, some nights, it gets stressful not being able to solely focus on the car I'm working on, but everybody else's car too."
However, Adams will not get a break this weekend, even with his extensive background working for race teams at Williams Grove Speedway, a track he knows well.
"You come to Williams Grove and the competition level's so high," he said, "Not racing there every week, I'm at a disadvantage. There are 10 or 12 (local) cars here and they have an Outlaws-type caliber car."
He added, "At KKR, we've tended to struggle at Williams Grove."
The task was complicated when Kasey Kahne Racing driver Joey Saldana was injured last weekend at Eldora Speedway in Ohio.
"It's really hard on the guys that work with Joey. That's their guy. They've developed a relationship with him," Adams said. "But it's nice we're a bigger company that we can pull another driver (Brad Sweet) that can fill in for him."
Some of the preparation for this weekend's Summer Nationals at Williams Grove occurred early Thursday morning, part to avoid working during the hottest portion of the day.
However, during a season on the road, the Outlaws' visit means Adams and his own family also get a chance to return to the Hanover area and to familiar faces.
"The summer race, we always come back, relax, go swimming and have a cookout," he said, "The spring and fall races (at Williams Grove), we're kind of in and out."
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