Cypher hoping to get a win before end of the season

By Ed Turner For the News & Messenger
Published: July 25, 2008

Tyler Cypher is having a good rookie season in U-Cars at Old Dominion Speedway. The 15-year-old Stafford driver has nine top 10s and four top fives, including a third. Despite missing two races, he is also fifth in points.
“I’m really happy about being fifth in points,” said Cypher, a rising sophomore at North Stafford High. “I’m just trying to do my best out there and to have fun.”
Cypher is the youngest stock car driver who races every Saturday at ODS this season. And his confidence has been boasted by a string of good finishes, particularly his third place finish on June 21st. He also has two fourths.
“Getting that third was my most exciting race,” Cypher said. “Getting out of that car and seeing my number on the scoreboard, I was so happy. It felt awesome.”
Coming into the season, Cypher’s goal was mainly to bring his car home in one piece. In his first four races, he wanted to stay out of way of other drivers and learn the track and a good line.
But things changed. And in Cypher’s last five races, he has notched four top fives, passing his expectations.
“Knowing I’m a rookie, I can’t do nothing but feel proud when I look back at my finishing orders, especially finishing in front of older, more experienced drivers,” he said. “That encourages me a little.
“And everybody in the U-Car division has been helping me succeed. They’re all really great.”
Cypher has been a race fan since he was a boy. He used to cheer for ODS legend Danny Fair. Cypher and his friend and neighbor, Amber Abrams, used to ride up to Old Dominion Speedway and watch the races and dream of racing on the oval.
After Abrams starting racing, Cypher helped work on her team. He then saved up his money and with his parents’ help put together his racecar. Rocky Farley Auto Repair also worked on the roll cage.
Cypher is especially grateful to his parents. “I would not have been able to race without my dad and my mom,” he said. “They helped me a 100 percent of the way.”
Before his first race, Cypher practiced with his race car in his grandmother’s field, learning the clutch and how to handle the car. At 15, he not only didn’t have a license but he’d also never driven a car. However, he soon learned.
Like any rookie driver, he was nervous his first race. He started fifth behind his friend Amber. When the race started, he followed his line, even though it was a bit scary if he let himself think that it was his first time out. But it was also exciting. 
He did well and snagged a sixth place finish.
“Pulling in at the end after getting a sixth, I was just so happy,” Cypher said. “It was so awesome that I had raced.”
Cypher’s goal for the remainder of the season is staying in the top five in points and just maybe getting a win.
“I’m hoping I can get a win this season,” he said. “But I still want to keep my car in one piece. I mainly try to race clean and just have fun.”