OXFORD — His last name has been synonymous with support class racing at Oxford Plains Speedway for decades. As a cousin to the brother act from Leeds (Jimmy and Billy) who’ve earned more trophies at Oxford than most other siblings, his skills, talent and dedication exceed any family expectations.

Oxford native Josh Childs is one of the top contenders in Street Stock competition on a weekly basis. After finishing third in final points last year, he started his 2015 campaign with two wins (April 19 and May 30) and six top five finishes in eight starts. 

“We’ve had a great start to our season thanks to a lot of hard work,” Childs said. “I’ve got a few people that help me out quite a bit, especially my father (David). I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without him. I also have (veteran driver and mechanic) Tyson Jordan working with me. Between all of us, we do our homework and try to get the car in competitive form.”

Childs, 24, is asserting himself as one of the key players in a division known for talent. Weekly warriors Zach Emerson and Rick Spaulding are solid weekly contenders, along with several others. Wins and podium finishes don’t ever come easily.

“It really is a highly competitive division. That’s what makes it so fun for me. The racing is tight and you really have to be on your game every week,” Childs said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. If it was super-easy, there would be no challenge. When you win or finish inside the top five, it feels like an accomplishment.”

Childs’ driving career began in 2006 at the tender age of 15 at Unity Raceway. At the time, you had to be 16 in order to compete at Oxford, so he entered a class for teens at the historic oval. 

“I actually ended up winning the championship up there my first year,” Childs said with pride. “I raced a Honda Prelude in that four-cylinder class for teenagers, and it ran very well. I also raced a Honda CRX for a while, but I’m really a Prelude guy. I have a lot of great memories driving that car.”

Once he was old enough to compete closer to home, Childs honed his skills quickly on the 3/8-mile Oxford oval, racing in the Rebel and Outlaw divisions on Wednesday nights before moving on to the Street Stock class.

With 45 feature wins in a nine-year career, he’s paid his dues and earned respect. Yet for 2015, his approach to the season was different than ever before.

“I didn’t start out with a goal of running for points this year,” Childs said. “Last year, we had a little mishap in the finale. I was set to win the race and the championship but got taken out by another driver.

“The driver who ended up winning the title is the son of the guy who took me out. It was unfortunate, and it kind of upset me and my Dad. We put so much effort and time into our program, so that was a tough pill to swallow.”

After that level of disappointment, Childs’ father decided to step away. He told his son if he raced in 2015, he’d be financing the deal himself.

“I’ve been paying for everything myself this season. And since I’m not running for points, I’m doing it for fun and trophies. I’m going to take a few weekends off and go camping with my girlfriend. I love this sport and have been doing it for a long time, but after that incident late last year, it knocked the wind out of my sails and changed my perspective.”

Childs says there are a number of local businesses who make his program possible. While it may be hobby level racing, there are still expenses that need to be covered.

“I’m fortunate to have support from Ari’s Pizza and Subs, A-1 Auto, Russell & Sons Towing, Maineline Plumbing & Heating, The Lost Gull, Polly’s Variety, Walker Racing, Moe’s Original BBQ, Suttons, Rice Tree Service, the Alexander family, White Designs, New Outpost Store, Donny & Sons Construction, 1st Amendment Gift Shop and Mac’s Downeast Seafood. Each time I do race, I want to run up front for all those great folks who make it possible.”

In all fairness, Saturday night hobby-level racing is supposed to be fun. True, teams that do this take it very seriously and try for the best finish each week because of the effort it takes to compete. But this isn’t NASCAR. There are no millionares here and no corporate partners.

“That’s why we all do this in the first place,” Childs said. “We love to compete and have fun. It helps out when we do well and win a race, but we enjoy it win, lose or draw. We’re just racers at heart and love our extended family at the track. It’s the people that make it special.”

pwhipple@sunjournal.com