Hometown: West Springfield, PA
Residence: Pittsboro, IN
DOB: 8/23/83
Hobbies: Music, Working on race cars
Heroes: Chubb Frank, Darrell Abbott
Family: Wife: Laura
Son: Layne
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Biography
​Jimmy Light was not born into a racing family, but knew at a very young age it was what he wanted to do. In his hometown of West Springfield, PA at the age of 6, he was holding the handle bars of a mini Suzuki 50cc. Before long, he was competing and jumping ramps taller than he was at local dirt tracks showing no fear of going fast.
When most kids were playing with their friends or trying out for sports at the age of 13, Light was dreaming of race cars. His Grandpa bought him his first go-kart, and he put it to good use winning several feature events along with a track Championship in 2002.
In the summer of 2004, Light jumped at the opportunity to move to the Midwest and work at a race shop where he would learn the basics of building and working on open wheel cars. Light’s first year with the USAC National Ford Focus series was a success. He scored 3 top 5 finishes and 10 top 10’s, all while playing the part of driver, crew chief, and mechanic.
In 2005, Light teamed up with former ARDC Champion, John Givens. The pair scored 2 Ford Focus feature wins, 6 top 5’s and 16 top 10’s. Light also scored 2 top 5’s and 5 top 10’s in his full size dirt midget at selected USAC and BMARA events.
Light proved to be a versatile driver, jumping into the seat of a dirt sprint car this time in 2006. In only a few races, Light adapted to the new car and fast speeds, and was battling for a win with the toughest competitors at I-69 Gas City Speedway.
2007 was a stand out year for Light where he captured 3 sprint car victories at Lawrenceburg Speedway, including the popular “Dick Gaines Memorial.” Light and Jon Stanbrough were the only two repeat winners at the Lawrenceburg Speedway in 2007.
In 2008, Light was crowed the Lawrenceburg Speedway Track Champion. It wasn’t an easy title to capture with the construction of the new Lawrenceburg Speedway. The season started off at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, IN until the construction was complete. Lawrenceburg was a completely different track from the previous 2007 race season, but Light still showed he was the one to beat.
In 2009 Light was forced to move back home to re-group after his racing hauler was stolen from his race shop on Gasoline Alley. He was able to do a little racing back home in Pennsylvania earning his first wing sprint car win at Mercer Raceway Park in 2012. For three years he and his wife, Laura lived in PA to help with the family business, Horsepower Inc., and in 2012 they opened their own branch, Horsepower Indy in Indianapolis. The business keeps them busy, almost too busy for racing, but they try to make as many as they can locally in Indiana.
Light’s talent, hard work, and personality have brought him the early success he has achieved. He has a natural talent of knowing the mechanics of a race car, and has a captivating passion for racing. His straight forward, out going personality has made him several fans along the way. Light hopes to continue his success in racing and his goal is to make it to as many races as he can and continue winning.