---

Worsham Hopes Following in Old Man’s Modifieds Footsteps Means Reaching Victory Lane on Friday Night

By Chuck Corder

Like most boys, Ryan Worsham grew up idolizing his father.

And for good reason. Richard Worsham was an accomplished driver for 15 years at Five Flags Speedway and along the Gulf Coast.

In 2002, a year before he hung up his fire suit, the elder Worsham won the Modifieds track title in Pensacola.

On Friday, nearly 15 years after his father’s memorable championship, 16-year-old Ryan Worsham will follow in his father’s footsteps when the Modifieds of Mayhem series runs for the first time this season in Pensacola.

“I wouldn’t wanna do this with anybody else,� the younger Worsham said. “I love working with my dad. That’s what we do. Some kids throw the football with their fathers. We’re in the shop until 9 o’clock, 10 o’clock at night, working on the car.�

Father and son have worked together on full-bodied racecars since 2013. Ryan, now a freshman at Niceville High School, started running a Butler U-Pull-It Bombers car at the tender age of 13.

In his rookie season, the baby-faced hotshoe wowed fans and his fellow drivers by winning three times and finishing a close second at the Snowball Derby.

“We should’ve won it, but that’s part of racing,� Richard Worsham said. “I remember having to sign a waiver for him to just drive that year. He’s never looked back.�

Thanks to the help of key sponsors, such as Bob Wilson of Boost Mobile of Pensacola, Ryan has quickly climbed through the ranks.

He spent last year driving in the Beef “O� Brady’s Pro Trucks division, finishing second four times — twice to short-track king Bubba Pollard and twice to perennial contender Steven Davis. Ryan also competed a few times on dirt with the Southern Vintage Racing Association cars to sharpen his sliding skills.

In his first three races with the Modifieds of Mayhem this year, Ryan has steadily gained ground, improving from a respectable seventh in his inaugural feature to a sixth to a third at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in his most recent run.

“I didn’t think it would come this fast,� Ryan said. “We had motor problems at the beginning, but once we fixed those, things have clicked and everything is working to our advantage.

“It’s one of the hardest cars to drive — a big motor and no tires. You’ve gotta have lots of patience.�

The Mods of Mayhem, whose Pensacola debut was rained out last month, will race a 40-lap doubleheader Friday night with a top-eight redraw after the first 40 lapper.

The Faith Chapel Super Stocks (25 laps), The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen (25) and Butler U-Pull-It Bombers (20) round out the Friday schedule, which begins at 8 p.m.

Gates open at 4 p.m. and admission is as follows: $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, military and students; $5 for children, ages 6-11; and free for kids 5 and under.

“(Modifieds) are a lot different than anything I’ve driven,� said Ryan, who got his start in go-karts and was one of the nation’s top drivers from ages 8 to 12 before he began his short-track ascent. “Plus, with the open wheels you have to watch the moves you make a lot closer and how you pass people.�

Thankfully, if the rookie has any questions, there’s a veteran under the same roof always willing to offer his expertise.

“Racing Modifieds, this is full-grown-man driving,� said Richard Worsham, who owns Southern Services, a floor restoration business in Niceville. “With these unlimited motors, all 700 and 800 horsepower riding on 8-inch tires, they’re the real deal. I think he’s learning it takes a lotta patience. He’s done a phenomenal job at that.

“It was always his dream to drive what ‘Daddy’ drove and he’s exceeding my expectations. Seeing him run these long races against guys I used to run with, it’s really special. It’s not an easy job. Mama (Kim) and me do a lotta praying.�

That isn’t to say the two don’t always meet eye-to-eye, though, when they hit the racetrack.

The two will voice their often-differing opinions on how the car should be set up or a particular line to take, butting heads until tempers reach a rolling boil.

That’s when crew chief Scott Johnson becomes the voice of reason.

“Scott’s great,� Ryan Worsham said. “He helps me a lot. He keeps me calm. My dad will say, ‘When I drove it, it was this way.’ And, I’ll say, ‘That was 10 years ago.’ Then, Scott’s there to say, ‘You’re both wrong. We’re doing it this way.’ �

Johnson also crewed for Richard Worsham when he was driving, so Ryan has 30-plus years of racing guiding him toward his first, elusive Modifieds checkered flag.

He and dad both hope it comes Friday night.

“I don’t mean to sound arrogant or anything, but if we’re gonna do it, we’re gonna do it to win,� Richard Worsham said. “I’ve seen his drive and determination and willingness to do what it takes to run up front.

“He gives up a lot of his own time to work on the car. He spends a lotta time with me in the shop. It’s nice we can do it together.�

Back to News