When Jim Cihy climbs behind the wheel of a race car on weekends, it's a welcomed bit of stress relief from what can be a rather intense work schedule.
"I've raced on and off since I was a kid," said Cihy, who turns 50 the first week of April. "I just love to do it."
Cihy is a lieutenant with the Warsaw Police Department. Factor in frequently teaching CCW (concealed and carry weapons) classes and working on his B Modified, there isn't a lot of down time.
Which is fine with Cihy, who said recently that he is ready to fire up his No. 99 for another season at Lucas Oil Speedway. He wound up fifth in the Ozark Golf Cars B-Mod class last season.
"The season went pretty good mechanically," Cihy said. "We chased a lot of issues with the car, trying to get forward drive. We didn't have a lot of great finishes, but stayed consistent enough to get up there in points. We had a couple of top-10s but we failed to finish only two features all year."
Cihy said he's been racing weekly for the last 12 years after dabbling in the sport for many years before that. He ran pure stocks and finished second at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2006 before moving into B Mods.
"That class was cancelled early the next season when we were running second in points," Cihy said. "We move up into A Mods and ran that from 2007 to 2012, when they brought the B Mods back."
The B-Mod class has boomed in popularity since. It's been common to have 50 entries at Lucas, making it arguably the most competitive class at the speedway.
"I raced A Mods for a long time and I think the B Mods are far more competitive," Cihy said. "I think there are great drivers in the A-Mod class, but the money plays a big part there. I think the cars are a little closer together, just the amount of competition in the B-Mod class with so many great drivers, it's just a tough class.
"When you show up at Lucas and there are 50 cars and 26 are going home, it's a tall order just to make the feature."
Racing is a family affair for the Cihys. Jim has spent much of the offseason not only prepping his own car, but a B Mod for his son Matt.
"He raced when he was younger in sprint-karts and he wants to run again," Cihy said. "My oldest boy, Cole, races the hobby class over at Urbana. He bought the (B Mod) and and is going to the Police Academy and doesn't have time. Matt is finishing up Fire Academy and he's going to start racing some weekends."
Jim Cihy, meanwhile, looks for another solid season in his B Mod.
"I would love to do another top-five in points," he said. "With that class, top-10 would be great and top-five would be a dream season. I'd like to get enough car under me to maybe get up there and win a feature."
Sponsors include Subway, Lucas Oil, Lucas Cattle Company, Eddie Barnes Well Drilling and Anglers Port Marina. The charity Hunting for Heroes also has a place on the car.
Continuing the family theme, wife Tara and daughter Megan along with sons Matt and Cole help out along with Kirk Sledd.
"We just want to have a competitive, clean year and not tear a lot of stuff up," Cihy said of the 2016 season.
Lucas Oil Speedway's season fires up April 8-9 with the Lucas Oil MLRA Spring Nationals with the Budweiser Weekly Championship Series starting April 16.
Please visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for the most up to date information about "America's New Motorsports Destination," Lucas Oil Speedway.
