(Interview) Behind the Wheel with Lonnie Sommerville: A Champion's Journey and Generous Spirit
Action shot of #23 Lonnie Sommerville racing #1 Ryan Messer - Photo Courtesy of: Tanya Everett Photography
[Author Note: The Interview is actually quite a bit longer - I will add another ‘article’ sharing the audio]
March 1st, 2024
Born into Racing Royalty
In the heart of New Brunswick, Canada, Lonnie Sommerville was born into a family deeply entrenched in the world of stock car racing. His father, the esteemed Bill Sommerville, was not only a legend on the track but also a guiding light in Lonnie's own racing journey. From an early age, Lonnie was immersed in the sights and sounds of the racing world, igniting a passion that would shape his destiny.
The Early Days at Speedway 660
For Lonnie, Speedway 660 was home. From his formative years as a budding racer to his triumphant returns as a seasoned veteran, Speedway 660 served as the backdrop for many of Lonnie's most memorable moments. The passionate fans, the fierce competition, and the sense of camaraderie among fellow drivers all contributed to the magic of this iconic track.
Chasing Victory on the PASS North Series and Beyond
As Lonnie's skills behind the wheel continued to evolve, he set his sights on conquering the PASS North series. With each race, he honed his craft, pushing himself to the limit in pursuit of victory. Over the years, Lonnie's talent behind the wheel has taken him to some of racing's most iconic venues, his impressive resume boasts victories in the PASS North series, with 55 appearances in the fiercely competitive series, Sommerville proved himself to be a formidable force on the track. His victory in 2011, coupled with 10 top-5 finishes in 14 races, was good enough for a runner-up 2nd place in the season points standings. He also has 53 races in the ECI Pro Stock Tour, where he has won one of the most prestigious races, the Scotia Speedworld annual 250 - now Summer Clash 250.
Family First: Balancing Racing and Home Life
While Lonnie's passion for racing burns brightly, his commitment to his family burns even brighter. For him, racing isn't just a career; it's a way of life—one that he shares with his family. Despite the demands of his racing schedule, Lonnie always makes time for what matters most: quality time with his loved ones.
A Legacy of Mentorship and Support
Throughout his racing career, Lonnie has also served as a mentor, a friend, a helper, and a source of inspiration for aspiring drivers. Whether it's sharing advice in the pits or lending a helping hand to fellow racers, Lonnie's generosity knows no bounds. His status here extends far beyond the track, leaving lasting impressions on many who have had the privilege of knowing him.
Looking to the Future
As Lonnie prepares for the challenges that lie ahead, he does so with the same tenacity and determination that have defined his racing career. With each lap turned and each race won, he continues to inspire those around him, proving that with passion, perseverance, and a steadfast commitment to family values, anything is possible.
Interview
Lonnie, your generosity and willingness to help other drivers are well-known within the racing community. Could you share with us some of the ways in which you support and mentor other drivers, and what motivates you to provide assistance to your fellow competitors?
The way I how educated and learned, my knowledge in racing, was being mentored by the Fraser’s when I started racing in the 90’s. Obviously back when I started, I became friends with Scott, and was always down around there - you know, learning fabricating skills. I was always putting effort in, and the more effort I put in, the more effort they put on. And I guess I just kinda carried it on. I’ve said it before - we need this sport to keep growing, and be here long after any of us, because the sport is bigger than all of us. I guess you realize that as you get older. I just like helping people - anyone who will help themselves, I will help them. So anybody who is willing to learn, or eager to learn, or wanting to learn, then I am all over it, and I will share my knowledge as best as I can. Whether it be from the driving aspect, or set-up, or whatever.
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s my business, to help people, crew-chief people, and what not. So obviously you have to be very supportive of racers. But I think that reputation helps my business.
You've achieved success in multiple racing series, including the PASS North Series and the ECI Pro Stock Tour. Could you walk us through some of the highlights of your career in these series and what they mean to you?
The year we ran second in PASS was a great year. Obviously Johnny (Clark) had a year that nobody ever has, he had an even better year than we did. I remember, looking back, the points really accumulated, we would’ve won the championship years previous to that - multiple years previous to that, just Johnny had a better years than we did, but we had a great year, and a lot of fun.
Probably one of my favourite races, and I’ve never been able to see any video on, it was 2010, the World Crown 300 at Gresham (Motorsports Park), and we ran 3rd in that. Like - it’s Chase Elliot’s, and [Yeah, because that was considered a Crown Jewel race, right? Like: The Winchester, All American, Snowball Derby, and World Crown?] Yup, it was one of the big ones, and we went to it. Just the whole event was awesome, and the facility was second to none, it was the nicest facility I’ve ever been to. We tested that week - they gave you a garage area to test in, and they had a service plate that you’d have at a race shop that you scale your car on. It was a pretty good, full deal. At time they had all that, because that’s when NASCAR cut back at the testing at the tracks, so they were doing a lot of trucks and nationwide and stuff were doing a lot of testing at those places - like Gresham, and New Smyrna. Obviously it worked out in our favour to get to use all that stuff.
The racing landscape has evolved significantly over the years. How do you see the future of stock car racing, particularly in our region?
Honestly, it’s - I wouldn’t say worrisome, but it’s concerning, because of the expense of it. It’s definitely a game changer, and you don’t see people staying in it as long. People start racing sooner, and younger, and they’re out of it way earlier. There’s a lot of kids that show potential to be superstars at the local level, that are already out by 21 - some of these kids never get the opportunity because they can’t afford to get into a Sportsman, or a Pro Stock.
As both a driver and a race car builder, you have a unique perspective on the sport. How do you approach race car preparation and setup, and what are some of the key factors that contribute to success on the track?
I struggle with time for my own stuff, because I’m so busy at the shop with customer stuff. I don’t think there’s a cap on the hours that you can work on a race car from week to week, because there’s always something that you can do to make something better. It might not make the race car better, but it will make things better at the race track easier. Whether you make something better for the pit box, or some better pit equipment, or whatever it is, there is endless hours to put in. It’s hard for a plumber, or an electrician, who’s working 50 hours a week, to put that effort into their own car on nights and weekends, and get volunteers to do it, and produce the same end result.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the future of your racing career? Are there any particular races or achievements that you're aiming for in the coming years?
The IWK 250 is one that I haven’t put an effort into a lot, I haven’t run many of them. That’s the one that will give me the triple crown, which obviously has been done now [Yeah, because you have the 250 win at Speedway 660 and Scotia Speedworld, which, with the IWK 250, is the ‘Golden Crown’, right?] Yup, so obviously that one would be one that for sure, before I close my career, I would really love to have on there. [Do you have the one at Centre for Speed, the Atlantic Championship?] Yup, I have 2 of those. And then 2 in Fredericton, and the CAT 250. [Yeah, so you kind of have an unofficial golden crown] Yeah, it’s still a 250.
The Mike Stevens I would love to win, just because it’s Mike Stevens. My first Pro Stock car was Mike’s first Pro Stock car, I actually traded their Pro Stock for my Sportsman car. So that one, and the IWK would be right up on the list. And then I’ve always wanted to do the Redbud 400 in Indiana. Obviously the Oxford 250 is way up there, it’s just one of those events that’s such an effort to put in. I feel like what Cole has done there the past couple of years, to not race there every week, is amazing.
In the world of stock car racing, Lonnie Sommerville stands as a fixture, filled with lots of races, lots of strong finishes, wins, and a lot of friendship, and unwavering dedication. As long as there are tracks to race on and fans to cheer him on, Lonnie it seems will continue to chase his racing dreams, leaving a legacy that will endure for generations to come, in the literal sense for all those who he has helped.
