PEARL RIVER -- Ronnie Osmer can trade paint with the best of them. A natural at an early age, Osmer started driver a go-kart at his home in Pearl River.
“When he was 5-years-old, a kid came down with a big adult cart and challenged him to a race,” his father, Clifford Osmer, said. “I said, ‘give him about half a lap heads start and then go catch him,’ and he passed him in one lap and my wife was like, ‘go ahead!’”
With mom’s approval, Osmer left the makeshift kart track in his yard to compete at real tracks around the Southeast.
“In the first year, he won a few races and we were having fun,” his dad remembered. “by the second year he won a championship, then by the third year he won a Louisiana state championship, Alabama state championship … he just showed he can drive!”
His ability eventually earned him a spot in the ARCA series, a stock car racing league considered a feeder in NASCAR.
At 15, Ronnie became the second youngest driver to start a race.
“It’s just you in a race car and 42 other competitors and y’all are battling it out to checkered flag to get a nice shiny trophy,” Ronnie said.
Ronnie is just like any other high school senior, but unlike most seniors, Ronnie Osmer will be behind the wheel racing at one of the most iconic speedways in America: Daytona International.
At the beginning of the year, the 18-year-old tested for a speedway license at Daytona. He got the certification and the next day his racing team, Max Force Racing out of Mobile, told Ronnie they wanted him to race in the ARCA Series Lucas Oil 300.
The kid who idolized Dale Earnhart Sr. and Junior would race on the same track they succeeded on for the first time in his career.
“Before the green flag drops, I’m going to be full of nerves, going crazy, thinking ‘I can’t believe I’m actually on Daytona! Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming!’” Osmer said. “But as soon as that green flag drops it’s going to be another race where it’s foot to the floor and I’m battling for first.”
A dream coming true for the natural from Pearl River.
THE RACE
Ronnie Osmer has gone through the highs and lows of racing.
The Pearl River native went through one of the lows this past weekend. Osmer’s first race at Daytona International Speedway for the ARCA Series Lucas Oil 300 ended after lap 24.
“Very upsetting moment. The car was running fine, we were keeping up with people. I got to my stall and there was oil all over the place, there was a small fire in my car,” Ronnie told Eyewitness News. “We were unable to get the car back on the track.”
A foot-and-a-half pipe from a bumper ripped through his No. 99 car and went right into the fuel tank, taking out the fuel and oil line in the process. Ronnie was in no danger from the cage of the stock car, but the damage to his vehicle forced him out of the race and into a 39th place finish.
A disappointing fire super speedway start of the Pope John Paul II senior who has dreams of racing on the NASCAR circuit some day, but Osmer took plenty away from the opportunity few 18-year-olds get.
“We knew from the start we didn’t have the car to run with the front runners,” Ronnie said. “We were there for experience – to learn – and to have a good time. That’s what we accomplished.”
Osmer is still seeking marketing sponsors for 2018 so he can take part in mor ARCA series races, including the race at Talladega in April.
Osmer says racing at that super speedway would be the highlight of his young and bright racing career.