Moore, who has been racing in the AMS-sponsored series since he was 13, said he was introduced to the sport by his brother, Dwayne, who currently works for NASCAR’s Ginn Racing as the rear tire carrier on Mark Martin’s No. 01 Army team.
“I wanted to be in some part of racing, and that’s when I decided I wanted to race,” the younger Moore said.
Together with parents Danny and Leighann Moore, the No. 21-car driver has been a summer fixture at AMS, as well as in victory lane.
In 2004 Moore earned the Thursday Thunder Bandolero Young Guns championship and was named the most popular Bandolero driver. The next year he was the Thursday Thunder and Georgia State Bandolero Outlaw champion.
While the driver/mechanic Moore is responsible for much of his car’s upkeep, he has plenty of help from his family. Moore’s father is the crew chief and his mother is the time keeper and team’s business manager. His brother also helps with crew chief responsibilities whenever possible.
“I know I’m lucky to have the family involvement that I do,” Moore said.
After three races this season, he sits in fifth position in Thursday Thunder’s Legends division.
Moore attributed some of this season’s struggles to the absence of a main sponsor to help equip the car with new tires and an improved engine.
“But we’re making it work,” he said.
Despite the early season struggles for the No. 21 car, Moore said he tries to remain calm before and during the race rather than worry about points standing.
“I just stay relaxed and not get too tight or too tense. I want to keep focused on what I have to do to stay up front,” he said.
Moore then quickly added driving with emotion can help as well.
“Sometimes the madder I drive the better. Maybe it takes someone to hit me on the racetrack to get me focused during the race,” he said.
Moore has used that concentration on the track since his first Thursday Thunder race in 2002.
“Everyone would ask me if I was nervous before the race,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I was nervous. I was more excited than anything.”
That first-race excitement has grown in Moore, who said he dreams of pursuing a career in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup circuit.
“My goal would be to make it to NASCAR. I would be driving and doing what I love,” he said. “Plus, I’d get paid to have fun, and that’s even better.”
For now, though, Moore just wants to focus on this Thursday Thunder season and returning to the top spot in Legends division.
“If someone makes a mistake, I’m going to capitalize on it,” he said. “You’ve just got to be ready for anything out there.”
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