1/31/2023
Owosso Speedway
Driver Profile: James Gokee Jr.
James Gokee Jr.
01/31/2023
Written By: Destiney Biston
Moving on to one of our infamous truck drivers, James Gokee Jr.! James has been racing for 22 years now, out of Owosso, MI. While he races as #74 in the Truck division, he has also raced in 4 cylinders, Street Stocks, and Dirt Modifieds in the past. He has won two Street Stock championship in 2014, a Truck championship in 2022, a Friday Night championship, a Sunday Slugfest, and had 11 feature wins in a row with three different trucks in 2022.
Gokee is a fifth-generation driver who is entering his family's 68th year in motorsports. Since his family has been racing since 1955, he has grown up completely immersed in the sport. At just three years old, he was racing snowmobiles, and started racing karts at eight for a total of three years. During that time, he was a driver for UNOH and was a part of the MIRA series at one point.
His favorite part of racing is the fact that he can let all of his life problems go for a few hours and race with his family, including his dad and grandpa. Racing with family members is not hard, and they don't harbor hard feelings if they lose to one another. Gokee knows that racing is a letdown, and "if you can't handle it, then it isn't for you." If you keep getting beat, then do more homework in the shop.
Even during the off-season, Gokee is still working hard in racing. If he isn't preparing for the next season, he is running the Winter Mini Wedge series with Dale Spencer. Gokee has more support than one could imagine on race nights. He said his race crew consists of roughly 16 people, not to mention all of his sponsors. His sponsors include R and R Auto Salvage, Horgers Automotive, Kondel Farms, Rons Machining Service, Showcase Auto Sales, Handcrafted Culinary, Bucks Pest Solutions, Jalenes Custom Creations, Jims, We Buy Junk Cars, Gaffner Towing, Shift Shop Transmissions, and The Winter Mini Wedge Series.
Owosso Speedway is Gokee's favorite track, with Corrigan Oil Speedway following close behind. Gokee likes the fact that Corrigan Oil Speedway takes skill to have a good run, not just a big motor with a new chassis. At Owosso Speedway, he loves that it is in his hometown, and he can see his friends and family cheering him on every weekend.
Gokee can't wait to get back to Owosso Speedway for the 2023 race season. He thinks that the changes in asphalt racing are making the biggest impact in a long time and that everyone is a part of creating history in Owosso/Ovid. He is excited to be a part of such a phenomenal opportunity as we head into what will be the start of our own legacy.
Submitted By: Destiney Biston
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