RPW Exclusive: Tommy Baldwin & The Next Generation Of Baldwin Racers

Column By: STEPHEN DURHAM / RPW – MOORESVILLE, NC – The racing family community is a blend of passion, dedication, and camaraderie, where the bonds grow stronger with every race that goes by.

This bond is even stronger when it comes within your own family, with multiple generations of drivers.

In the racing world, there’s been dozens of families who have passed that torch of racing passion onto the next generation. These past couple of years, it’s been the Baldwin family passing the torch from Tommy Baldwin down to his sons Jack and Luke Baldwin.

For Tommy Baldwin, he got the itch for racing like many others, when he was younger, when his dad got into racing in the 70s. His family owned a gas station and repair shop that he worked at when he was younger, that they still own, still going over 50 years later.

“As I grew up, I started working, pumping gas for our customers, changing oil, then I gravitated towards the racecar and started helping out at a young age,” Baldwin explains, “started helping out, learning at an early age, learned pretty quickly, and now here we are.”

Through the years, Baldwin got himself involved with NASCAR, becoming a familiar face within the NASCAR garage in different series, working with drivers such as Dick Trickle, Ward Burton, Kasey Kahne, and others.

“I’ve been really fortunate enough to have great people around me to win a lot of races in my career, crew chiefing wins, a lot of modified wins, have had great opportunities to win,” Baldwin says “obviously winning the Daytona 500 is everyone’s dream, not many people get to do that, not many get to say they’ve done that.”

Baldwin says though, winning races and championships with the modifieds is right on up there with crew chiefing drivers to NASCAR wins.

“Winning the modified races and championships are just as good, because they are back to your roots,” Baldwin says.

The next generation of Baldwin racers have been rising through the ranks, Jack Baldwin, the oldest at 21, and Luke Baldwin at 18 have become strong competitors on the SMART Modified and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Tommy has taken what he has learned over the years, to help develop his sons into competitive and successful wheelmen early on in their careers.

“Just trying to teach them the right things, the right way. They will struggle a little bit here and there, but they are learning right? They are learning how to be good race car drivers” a proud Baldwin explains, “They race people clean, because you race people with how you want to be raced, and there’s some learning curves, but we will all get over that.”

Luke Baldwin, the defending champion of the SMART Modified Tour, says it’s pretty special to have his dad as a mentor.

“It means a ton to me, its really cool to hear from others the things he’s done for them, and the opportunities he’s given others over the years,” Luke Baldwin says, “I’m very lucky to have him in my corner, to make me a better man, and racecar driver.”

“I literally couldn’t ask for any more than what he’s provided me. He has taught me everything including working on race cars, driving, and media training,” Jack Baldwin says, “it’s also added pressure with how successful my dad has been. I have always been expected to perform.”

Luke Baldwin, at 18 years old has already earned a championship to his name and is competing this year on the Whelen Modified Tour, while also racing on the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series for NASCAR driver Ryan Preece. This weekend at Martinsville Speedway, Luke will make his NASCAR Truck Series debut as well. Meanwhile, Jack Baldwin is competing in his rookie season with the SMART tour, and is turning heads with the early season speed.

“Luke is a respected race car driver already at a young age. He’s doing all the right things” Baldwin explains, “Jack is older, but has less racing experience, but he’s learning already, and he is getting there for sure.”

Luke Baldwin will make his NASCAR Truck Series debut with Thorsport Racing, and says this is quite the opportunity.

“This is a dream come true for me. I’ve watched the truck series on TV my whole life, and it’s honestly been my favorite series to watch,” Luke Baldwin explains, “to get the opportunity to make my debut is incredible, and hopefully the start of a long career.”

For Jack Baldwin, he is in his rookie season with the SMART Modified Tour, and has shown speed early in the season, as he’s been battling up in the top 5 early in the season.

“I honestly think we are capable of winning the Championship. We got off to a rough start but there’s a lot of time to come back and we definitely have the speed to do it,” a confident Jack Baldwin says.

For Tommy, it has been quite the ride already these last couple of years seeing his sons develop and become so successful.

“It’s been 2-3 years, to where we have progressed, it’s pretty scary how fast it has moved along,” Baldwin says, “in this business, there is a small window to have the chance to accomplish the things that need to be accomplished, so we are trying to take advantage of it. Both of them have really busy schedules, so I am trying to get them as much race time as possible, and to try to keep getting better every day.”

Baldwin says everything they do with racing contributes to everyday life lessons and wants his sons to understand that.

“The hard work you put in, is what you get out of it in return. The thought process of how you go about your daily life, business, and how you race the car is pretty much how you can contribute it to the rest of your life and to other things,” Baldwin explains, “hopefully they can take it all in, learn enough as we’re going, and digest it all, because it’s all happening pretty quickly, and making them better people for it.”

For the Baldwin boys, it’s been a pretty special journey so far in their young racing careers, and they’ve enjoyed every bit of it.

“I’ve had the time of my life as a racecar driver, but I also love spending days in the shop with my dad, and learning from him every step of the way,” Luke says.

Despite having less racing experience, Jack says having his brother and dad right there, pushes him to do better.

“I’ve definitely picked up a drive to work harder and be greater,” Jack says, “That’s probably the most important thing is my drive to win and succeed.”

Luke Baldwin will have a busy weekend ahead, racing at Martinsville Friday with the NASCAR truck series, then onto Thompson Saturday/Sunday for the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series and Whelen Modified Tour with the Icebreaker. Jack Baldwin’s next race will be at Orange County next weekend. Make sure to follow Tommy Baldwin Racing, Luke Baldwin Racing, and Jack Baldwin Racing on Facebook for all their updates through their season!