TAKE FIVE: JACE MEIER

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006 | 7:16 a.m.

Jace Meier is the son most parents can only dream about.

Meier will serve as the senior class president this year at Spring Valley High School, where he maintains a 4.2 GPA in the honors program. He is active in his church, helps deliver meals to homebound senior citizens as part of the "Meals on Wheels" program and speaks to elementary school students about the importance of staying away from drugs and alcohol.

Oh, yeah and he also happens to be one very talented race car driver.

Meier, 17, is third in points in the California Ford Focus Midgets pavement sprint-car series and is turning some heads at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he is in his first season racing Late Model stock cars with Dustin Ash Racing.

Like many of drivers at The Bullring, Meier dreams of following fellow Las Vegas natives Kurt and Kyle Busch into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. If he can't get there as a driver, however, Meier would like to put his education to use in the business side of the sport.

"I'm going to hope for the best and prepare for the worst," Meier said. "That's why I'm really active in school. If I don't make it as a driver, I'm going to start my own team or start my own business within the racing community.

"No matter what I do with my life, it'll be something involved in racing because it's what I love."

1. Focused on racing

After winning three races in the California-based Ford Focus Midget Series last season, Meier was considered a championship contender this year, but so far is third in points - with one victory - through six of 13 races.

"Last year was like a Cinderella story, and this year it's kind of back to reality," he said. "It's the nature of the sport, I guess."

2. Opening some eyes

Meier has been impressive in his first season driving the heavier Late Model stock cars at The Bullring. Meier qualified on the pole for his first Late Model race and has three top-five finishes in four races.

"As competitive as I am, I'm not happy with it," he said of his Late Model season to date. "But we learn something each week, and each week I get a better feel for the car. I would be really disappointed if we didn't win a Late Model race by the end of the year."

3. Vaya con Dios

Before he straps himself into his race car, Meier makes sure he has one special item with him - which explains the half a dozen pieces of duct tape affixed to his T-shirt before a race.

"About a year and a half ago, right before (Pope John Paul II) died, my grandma went back to the Vatican and had two rosaries blessed by the pope. She gave one of them to me, and I always tape it to my chest before I get in the car to race."

4. Looking ahead

Meier said he is trying to secure a major sponsor that would allow him to race full time next year in either the NASCAR West Series or the Hooters Pro Cup Series.

"It's definitely a high goal, and a lot of people have told me it's not feasible," he said. "That's kind of what motivates me."

5. One flaw

Jace Meier may be a model student and son ("The thing I like about racing is it really gives your whole family an opportunity to be more involved."), but Scott Meier dispelled the notion that his son is perfect.

"I really wish he would clean up his room more often," the elder Meier said with a laugh.

"Seriously, my wife and I just feel like we're so fortunate (because) he has just been a dream kid. He's very appreciative because the financial burden that racing creates is enormous for us so consequently he knows he has to keep his nose clean and get great grades - those are the rules."