Speed Week: From Down Under, Paul Stubber finds American dirt to his liking

Rocky Ragusa
·5 min read
Paul Stubber (31) races Tommy Sheppard Jr. (6) recently at Fairbury Speedway. Stubber, from Australia, has found a liking to racing late models in America.
Paul Stubber (31) races Tommy Sheppard Jr. (6) recently at Fairbury Speedway. Stubber, from Australia, has found a liking to racing late models in America.

“When I start something, I want to do the best that I can,” says Paul Stubber, a successful businessman and an accomplished racer from Bunbury, Australia.

Outside of a two-year period when travel restrictions due to COVID-19 kept his racing team in the land down under, Stubber and his team has been making the journey to the United States since 2015.

Paul Stubber is a successful businessman and an accomplished racer from Bunbury, Australia. He says he enjoys competing at Fairbury Speedway.
Paul Stubber is a successful businessman and an accomplished racer from Bunbury, Australia. He says he enjoys competing at Fairbury Speedway.

Stubber, 63, began racing in his early 30s after starting his business career. A need for speed has found Stubber, a championship-caliber driver on dirt and pavement, racing sprint cars, road-course racing, endurance races, touring cars, sport cars and, now, dirt late model racing.

“In all my years of motor racing, the thing I enjoyed the most was for eight years, my brother and I raced together,” said Stubber. “We did endurance racing throughout Europe, four-hour to 24-hour races. We raced at many of the famous Formula One tracks like LeMans, Siverstone, Nurburgring and Belgium. That was fabulous.

“Our team had great results. Toward the end I was invited to be the team's lead driver. That was pretty special.”

Traveling across Europe from Australia during that time span, Stubber became weary of the long treks and looked for a new form of racing excitement.

“We would fly to Europe 4-5 times a year. I got on the plane in 2014 and said, 'I'm not enjoying this,'” Stubber said.

“My bloody longtime friend, Ron Pine, had a late model. He told me I should come and drive these. The engineering, steering, suspension and how well refined they are, I was impressed. We went to Mark Richards at Rocket Chassis, bought one, and haven’t stopped coming back.”

Paul Stubber has been racing late models for eight years.
Paul Stubber has been racing late models for eight years.

In his eight years behind the wheel of his late model, Stubber has won a Gold Cup championship, Western Australia Late Model title and numerous feature wins.

“The racing in Australia is nowhere as intense as it is here”, Stubber said. “I have got to be honest, every track that we go to, whether it’s a Friday night local show or a Summer National race, for us every night is to get into the 'A' main. The quality and intensity of the guys and racing, because of their familiarity of the tracks and the amount of racing they do, just makes us work harder.”

Racing on the Summer Nationals, World of Outlaws, Lucas Oil circuits and various tracks throughout the Midwest, Stubber lists Fairbury Speedway as his favorite.

“Most certainly. The shape of the track, the staff and fans come out to make us welcome,” Stubber said. “My PDC experience was phenomenal. Fairbury is all about great racing. We are here to race, make no mistake about it.

“I will be making a few more starts before we get Kye Blight in the car. Kye is the best Australia has to wheel a car. He will race at Eldora, the PDC and a few Outlaw shows.

“We have invested in more gear because we want to do it for a few more years,” Stubber added. “We don’t mind getting the checkbook out and getting this business going. Mark Richards, Steve Baker and their team have been fabulous to work with. Andy Durham builds us really good engines. Corrosion X, Accu-Force Dynos and Testers, VP Racing Fuels, Bar 31, Palice Property Group and Panel Worx are a few of the sponsors that we invest in. The welcome and enjoyment we get from the people encourages us to stick around.”

Friday Racing

Farmer City Raceway

It will be Fan Appreciation Night as all adults will be admitted for $5. A display of fireworks, a full show and the Vintage Racing of Illinois series will return. Hot laps kick off at 6:30, qualifying is at 7 with racing to follow.

Tommy Sheppard Jr. took his third late model win at Farmer City. Trevor Neville (modified), Timmy Dick (pro late), Braiden Keller, who claimed his first-ever feature win in the stock car class, and Austin Seets in the B-Mods were also winners.

Grundy County Speedway

The track will hold the Carter Memorial Mid-Season Championship with drivers receiving double points. Late models will be featured in a 50-lap clash. Sportsman (30 laps), street stocks (30 laps), pure stocks (25 laps) and the Midwest Super Cups will also be on the card. Stands open at 4 p.m. and the racing will begin at 7.

Kankakee County Speedway

The modifieds will battle for $1,200 this week as veterans will be admitted for half price. Five other divisions will also be in action as the green flag waves at 7:30 p.m. Matt Hammond (pro late model), Jamie Lomax (modified), Cody Clubb (stock car), Deece Schwartz (pro mod), David Hurst (factory stock) and Cameron Maty (4-cylinder) were last week’s winners.

Saturday Racing

Fairbury Speedway

The track will hold a $5 Fan Appreciation Night. First Responders will be recognized and receive free admission. It will be a FALS Cup/Alkota “Keep it Clean” series” night of racing action in five divisions that will be presented by Knapp Kitchen and CK Power. Gates open at 2 p.m., hot laps will start at 5:50 and racing is at 7. For more info call the track phone at (815) 692-3222.

Macon Speedway

The Firecracker 40 will see the Big 10 pro late models and Big 10 modifieds in 40-lap events. Racing will also be held in the pro mods, stock cars, hornet and micro classes. Gates open at 5 p.m., practice is at 6 and racing goes off at 7.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Rocky Ragusa Speed Week Paul Stubber finds American dirt to his liking