To say that dirt track stock car racing attracts a diverse group of drivers would be an understatement. Come race time, individuals from all walks of life climb behind the wheel. Once the green flag waves, each driver shares one thing in common: A desire to cross the finish line first.
For driver Zach Hensley, such commonality is especially significant. Born with femoral hypoplasia, a condition that causes femur bones to develop incorrectly, Hensley has never been able to walk. Although Hensley’s condition sets him apart, it has never slowed him down.
For as long as he can remember, Hensley has been drawn to cars. An experienced mechanic who always enjoyed working on older vehicles, Hensley first began racing a custom-designed modified racecar in 2008. Ever since then, Hensley has been hooked.
“I love racing,” said Hensley. “Different tracks present different challenges. As a driver, there is so much going on. It’s just a lot of fun.”
Unlike most modified cars that require drivers to accelerate and brake with their feet, Hensley’s vehicle is completely hand-controlled. While steering the car with his right hand, Hensley accelerates and brakes with his left hand.
“The car is a bit complicated,” explained Hensley. “To accelerate, I turn a device similar to a motorcycle throttle. To brake, I push the entire devise forward. On a dry-slick track like Cortez, I accelerate and brake at the same time. It requires a lot of multitasking.”
To fellow drivers familiar with the difficulty of racing modifieds, Hensley’s ability to pilot a car using only his hands is especially impressive.
“It amazes me how smooth (Hensley) is,” said fellow modified driver Zane Devilbiss. “He’s better than most of us out here. “He’s an inspiration to all of us.”
Much more than just an inspiration, however, Hensley has proven himself to be a capable driver who can win on any given night. Named the Wyoming Rookie of the Year in 2008, Hensley has multiple career wins to his credit.
Although Hensley did not record a win last weekend at Fairgrounds Motor Speedway, his driving was impressive. On Saturday, he hung tough in an extremely competitive A-Main and eventually finished fifth.
Away from the track, Hensley faces some uncommon challenges, yet he is not all that different from every other racer. He accelerates fast, turns beautifully and races to win. Hensley embraces the sport of dirt track racing and in return, the sport places him on common ground.
Such is the beauty of an inspirational driver and such is the beauty of dirt track racing.
