It's a family tradition
Fifteen-year-old Joey Granatelli making his own mark in racing community
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Photo courtesy of Granatelli Motor Sports ROUGH RIDER- Joey Granatelli, an eighth-grade student at Chaparral Middle School in Moorpark, navigates his off-road vehicle during a practice run in Gorman in July 2007.

Joey Granatelli doesn't have his driver's license. Yet the 15-year-old Moorpark resident can handle a car better than most commuters on the 101 Freeway.

The eighth-grader at Chaparral Middle School is quickly mastering the Championship OffRoad Racing (CORR) series for drivers under 16, winning several races and acting like his need for speed is routine.

"I like competing against people," Granatelli said. "And I like jumping my car. I love to get air. It feels like you're on top of the world."

Coming from a prestigious racing family has certainly helped the youngster's acclimation process. Granatelli's father, J.R., owns Granatelli Motor Sports Inc., which specializes in building high-performance auto parts.

But the elder Granatelli, whose godfather is racing legend Mario Andretti, said his son has had to work hard to succeed in the sport.

Joey Granatelli

"Racing could be Joey's life, but the only way he can get better and be the best is to practice," J.R. Granatelli said. "Natural talent will only get you so far. . . .

"The odds of Joey making it (in NASCAR or Indy Racing League) are slim to none, but they're still better than 99 percent of guys out there."

Joey Granatelli has been on a tear in his young racing career.

The young driver swept the Eastern Swing CORR Championship by winning three difficult races on an alldirt track in Dallas Sept. 21-23.

Among 75 drivers, Granatelli earned a spot in the final 25 and won the first 30lap race that Friday. Because he finished first, Granatelli had to start last during the second race on a reconfigured course but still won. On Sunday, he completed the trifecta, starting last on an altered course again- and winning again.

Part of Granatelli's success in Texas was studying other drivers' habits after winning the first race.

"I remember how they drive by color or number," he said. "Before the race, I walk around and see everyone's car and then I remember how they are going to drive, whether they are going to take the outside or the inside."

Two years ago, Granatelli also won the Peddle Beach Classic and was a Go-Kart champion in 2005 and Go-Kart runner-up in 2006.

But Granatelli never saw a race or course he didn't like. When asked what his favorite race has been, he said: "Every single race. They're all my favorite."

When he's not on the racetrack or in the garage fixing cars, Granatelli enjoys water skiing and surfing. He's also looking forward to beginning high school at Moorpark High, and, of course, getting his driver's license.

Granatelli's second season in CORR begins today at the Pomona Fairgrounds.

"I feel that this year, I'll be higher in the ranks," he said. "I think I'm going to do better this year than last. I understand how tracks are going to be and what the dirt will be like, muddy or really dry.

"Every race, I learn something new, like how to turn the car better or how to carry out my speed."

But even he acknowledges not everything goes perfectly in racing.

"The tough stuff is when my engine breaks down," Granatelli said. "Then me and my dad have to fix it. And even if I crash or something bad happens, I think positive, like next time I won't try to do that or I'll do it that way instead.

"I just love competition, that's my main thing."