WATSONVILLE -- As a 2-year-old, Devon Ostheimer would drive his sister's Power Wheels jeep around his cul-de-sac in San Diego, hugging corners at 5 mph and leaving his imaginary competitors in the dust.
"He used to do that for hours," his father Don Ostheimer recalled. "He'd drive that jeep and a Flintstones car we had around the block, seeing how close he could get to the curb. Then he'd pull into the garage, pour a cup of water on his head and say, 'I won!'
"He never messed with toys or models. He just wanted to race."
The cars Devon now operates are much bigger and faster than the ones he drove as a tyke. But the 14-year-old still wins with consistency -- and against real competition.
The Morgan Hill driver won the third microsprint circuit championship of his career Friday under the lights of Watsonville's Ocean Speedway, driving conservatively to a fourth-place finish in the Micro 600 Main. Devon, who was the youngest microsprint driver in the field, qualified sixth and only had to hold his ground to clinch the points title.
He said it was one of the "hardest things" he's ever had to do.
"It was too much of a risk to try and win," Devon said. "If I got taken out, that would have been a disaster.
"I wanted to win. But the championship is the big thing. That's the one you want. That's the goal."
After the race, Devon cruised into the infield alongside some of the other drivers, celebrating his title in front of the grandstand. And with that, Devon wrapped up a four-win season -- and likely his last as a microsprint driver. Devon said he wants to focus more on wingless sprint cars -- the next level of racing -- which he placed fifth in Friday.
While staring out at the track after the Microsprint Main, the matted-black haired phenom with tan skin -- the product of hours spent behind the wheel -- contemplated his future.
"I'm done with (microsprints)," he said. "The big cars, I want to stick with those. There's more competition in sprint cars. That's where the money is. That's where you get your name. ... That's the next step. This is the training ground."
Although similar in appearance, wingless sprints are a completely different type of driving, Devon said.
"They're slower, but a lot more difficult to handle, especially without a wing on top," the Sobrato High School freshman added with the charm of a young Richard Petty. "It takes practice just like anything else."
Devon hasn't necessarily lost interest in driving his No. 5 microsprint Yamaha R600, the car he littered with first-place stickers during the past three years, but his mind is set on moving forward. He wants to get to the professional level of sprint car driving. And, naturally, he wants to get there fast.
Don, who's also his manager, is on the same pace. The Ostheimer family plans to start a business next year in Devon's name -- Devon Racing Incorporated.
"We're going to actively pursue this next year," Don said. "We really want to treat Devon's career as a business. It's what he plans to do. If he gets hurt, we're screwed."
Consider it a sound investment. During his blossoming seven-year career, which started with quarter-midget cars, Devon has climbed to the top of each racing level in record time. His wingless-sprint car stint began only months ago - several races into the season at Ocean Speedway -- and Devon is already making top-five finishes routine. Driving his No. 5o car -- scored as No. 50 -- he qualified fourth in the 10-driver field Friday.
"He always becomes the one to beat," Don Ostheimer said. "He has a lot of confidence in himself."
As does Devon's biggest sponsor, MDR Machine Incorporated. The Morgan Hill-based company has been with Devon since his quarter-midget days.
At 11, Devon was a grand national champion in quarter midgets in 2005.
"The one thing we've always liked most about Devon is he's respectable," MDR Machine Inc., owner Mark Reuter said in a telephone interview Monday. "Having our company name on his car is a privilege. He's a respectable person and a smart driver.
"It's not just about wins. Winning is important, but when you're a good driver and you're having fun out there, wins will come. Being respectable is the main thing to us."
Reuter will sponsor Devon through his journey from wingless sprints to sprint cars.
"It's the same as anything," he said of Devon's ascension. "He'll spend the first year practicing and the second year winning."
In his black, red and white colored vehicles -- which match those of Sobrato -- Devon glided through the muddy turns of Ocean Speedway on Friday with improbable precision. In the 20-lap Micro 600 Main, he tailed the No. 13 car of Brad Hannum closely for the final two laps until drifting back to secure the circuit title.
Salinas' Carter Train, 18, who trailed Devon by 11 points, won the race and finished second in points.
"You know Devon when you see him out there," said Train, who finished the season with three victories in microsprints. "He's a great driver. He's a lot like me -- a natural competitor. I love racing against him. It's good to have competition like that, because it makes you better. If one of us didn't have the other, we'd be blowing everybody out."
Train and his father, Mark Train, have great respect for the Ostheimers, whom they'll do battle with on a full-time basis next season in wingless sprints.
"There's a lot of sportsmanship between us," Mark Train said. "Devon and his father are the nicest people around. It's been a lot of fun watching Carter and Devon race."
Devon was happy with Carter Train's victory in the Micro Main, but -- with a smile -- said he would have liked it more for himself.
"I'm glad I got the circuit title," he said. "But it's nothing like winning."
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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