Sims rides backup car to first podium in ASA31May2010Source: Ben Leeson The Sault Star..

Posted By BEN LEESON, THE SAULT STAR Jordan Sims has a backup car so fast, it's quickly becoming the go-to ride for the Sault Ste. Marie stock car driver. Sims piloted the No. 99 Ford, a stand-in for the car he wrecked last month, to a second-place finish in American Speed Association Late Model Northern Series action at Grundy County Speedway in Grundy County, Ill., Sunday. It was the 19-year-old's first podium finish since he made his ASA debut in 2008. Sims finished the 125-lap feature between a pair of established late model drivers, race winner Robbie Pyle and third-place finisher Eddie Hoffman. " Yeah, they're veterans, for sure," said the son of Barrie and Debbie Sims, who studies sports administration at Laurentian University. "I'm really happy I was able to run with them. "We had a fast car and we were really heating up the tires at the end. The last 25 laps, we pretty much used up the car holding onto second, because Hoffman was coming up fast." The backup car has now helped Sims post three of his four best performances on the ASA circuit. Last year, he made one of two fourth-place finishes in the same vehicle. And this year, he drove it to fifth in his most recent race, on May 1. "So I can't complain at all," Sims said. Sims got his start in stock cars at Laird International Raceway in 2004, driving in the stock four division as a 14-year-old. Switching to open-wheel action, he won LIR's modified track championship in both 2005 and 2006. A year later, Sims raced in the Thunder Roadster division in the Summer Shootout at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He returned to local tracks for occasional races, such as the Randy Dewitt Memorial Invitational at Kinross Speedpark, which he finished in fourth place. Then it was on to the ASA late models, beginning as a part-timer in 2008 and increasing to a full schedule in 2009. "This year, I think it's just being more comfortable in the car and also because of the crew," Sims said. "They're been able to find a better setup this year." Sims' next late mode race is June 26, at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Mich.