Ask Andrew about dirt track racing, and be prepared to listen and learn, as for Andrew, racing is his passion.

When he speaks to you, he will look at you, straight in the eyes, and you will understand why he is so passionate.

Andrew started racing go-karts in 2016, and now he races his own car at Stateline Speedway and at other area dirt tracks.

And he is only 15.

Andrew Hammond racing at Stateline Speedway. Submitted photo

The irony is that he is legal to drive on a dirt track, but not on New York State streets, roads and highways.

At least not yet.

The Panama Central School sophomore will turn 16 in a few weeks. When he first started racing go-karts, in 2016, he didn’t like the experience.

“I’d rather eat broccoli than race,” Andrew recalled.

But now Andrew is a seasoned veteran, and maintains his vehicle at his family’s business, The Panama Auto Center, 2 E. Main St.

Andrew Hammond in the turn.

On race days, Andrew is focused, and admits he does get nervous at times when other drivers are in wrecks or have spinouts. He is used to getting his car bumped on the track, but for the most part, when he is behind the wheel, in his flame-retardent race suit, with the seat belt and neck restraint fastened, he follows a simple routine.

“Don’t wreck the car. Keep it one piece. Finish the best you can,” Andrew said.

Because it’s part of the process of being a racer, the 15-year-old also speaks passionately about fixing his car. If he gets in a mishap on the track, it may take up to one week to get the car back in shape enough to race. Sometimes it can take longer than a week, Andrew said.

“He knows more than I do,” Andrew’s father Bobby said with a laugh.

But Bobby is right there along side Andrew helping him when Bobby is not busy fixing customers’ vehicles at the auto center.

From left Andrew Hammond and one of his sponsors, Rod Johnson, of Rod Johnson Construction. Submitted photo

When not racing, Andrew is a PCS honor student, enjoys hunting, fishing, and trap shooting as well as listening to Green Day and Nickelback or watching “Family Guy” and “Duck Dynasty.”

While racing, Andrew said, his mentors have been David and Wyatt Scott of AffliXation Race Cars, of Garland, Pa. He is also learning about the business-side of maintaining a racecar as Andrew has to find more sponsors.

Andrew’s mother, Ashley, is very supportive of her son’s racing endeavors.

“He learns so much,” Ashley said about Andrew working on his racecar. “You have to learn how to build it (the car). You have to learn how to make the tin (body). You have to learn how to get a business partnership. You’ve got to help get sponsors. You have to make friends (and network).”

Ashley said, before racing on dirt tracks, Andrew was a champion go-kart racer, and also was a go-kart driver of the year. At Stateline, Andrew races in the Pro Stock class. Stateline Speedway, 4150 Kortwright Road, Jamestown, the semi-banked oval, clay track is 1/3 of a mile. Other classes include Pro Mod, Rush Late Model, Challengers, Sharp Mini Late Model, Super Late Model, and UMP Modified.

Andrew’s advice for people who want to enter the sport is simple: know that everything is not going to go the way you want it to go, and to try to be prepared for every situation.

“You have to take the good with the bad. It’s just part of it (racing),” Andrew said.