At 9 years old, Grafton resident TJ Shaffer already making name for himself on the race tracks

At 9 years old, Grafton resident TJ Shaffer is already something special behind the wheel. Shaffer has been making his name known competing on dirt and asphalt tracks. He has finished in the top five in national points in five of six six divisions, showing consistency across multiple classes of dirt and pavement. Shaffer is one of 16 national age-group champions. "I just enjoy getting on the track, to go very fast and racing," said Shaffer, 4-foot-5 and 100 pounds. "It's fun afterwards, getting to hang out with my friends and the chance to meet new people." He's the son of Lorain Raceway Park Modified and Grand National champion Tigh Shaffer and has been collecting trophies and checkered flags across the country in Quarter Midgets (ages 6-9) in several National NASCAR Youth Series events, including races at Las Vegas, Kansas and Charlotte. Shaffer started competing locally when he was 4. He earned his first national victory at Kansas Motor Speedway when he was 7. Shaffer was a Jr. 160 Dirt Track NASCAR Youth Series national age-group champion for 6-9. He qualified for the prestigious BC39 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July — one of only 18 drivers to make the 39-lap dirt track event. He finished in the top 10 in a car he does not regularly race — winged junior sprint. During his first NASCAR Youth Series Dirt National (Abraham Lincoln Quarter Midget Association) race weekend in May in Middletown, Illinois, Shaffer won all three events across three classes, defeating 30-plus competitors. The races range from 15 to 35 laps. "My grandpa and my dad raced for a long time," said Shaffer, a fourth-generation driver. "It's fun because you're going fast and racing cars. I just like the speed and all the friendships that I've developed. When I'm on the race course I'm singing songs in my head. The songs help to keep me calm and motivated." A third-grader at Buckeye Elementary School in Medina County, Shaffer also competes in padded flag football and wrestling. He advanced to the elementary school state wrestling tournament last winter for the 85-pound weight class, splitting four matches in the age 8-9 category. He continues to create standout racing moments at major events, with eight national wins already. He's a multiple winner of the Buckeye Indoor Nationals. Shaffer is preparing for the 41st annual Hyper Racing Tulsa Shootout in Oklahoma the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. It's the biggest midget dirt sprint race of the year. He will be driving the Storms House Car (jr. sprint division) against more than 100 drivers. He is also entered in the family-owned 600 micro in a field of 180-plus competitors that feature some of the best in the country from ages 9 to 21. Included in Shaffer's fields are the sons of Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson and other NASCAR drivers. Shaffer competed the Tulsa Shootout event two years ago and won the C main event. He was one of the youngest to ever win an event. He was recognized at the NASCAR Youth Series Banquet in Indianapolis on Friday for his accomplishments. "The race strategy varies depending on how many laps we're racing," said Shaffer. "If there are only like five laps to go, I'm going to try and work up to the front as quickly as I can. If there are 25 laps left, I'm just going to slowly try to work myself up to the front." Shaffer first started in Go Karts on an asphalt track at Midvale Speedway in New Philadelphia. He raced at Sandusky Speedway and won the hy-miler. "He's very smart," said Tigh Shaffer. "His memory is incredible. If someone passes him a certain way he remembers that the next time out and tries to protect that side. When you're doing a six-second lap (roughly 120 feet in length) things are happening so fast. You have to be so alert. That's rolled over into his wrestling because his coaches say that he's so alert all the time." Shaffer's asphalt races at NASCAR events are typically competed in parking lot venues so that no one gains a home-track advantage. "This forces the driver to adapt and TJ usually adapts very quickly," said Tigh. "We race against people with a lot of money. Before that people were going to these national tracks practicing up to 10-20 times. That's why they changed it up and moved from a track to a parking lot." Contact Paul Heyse at (440) 329-7135 at ctsports@chroniclet.com.