Tom Reynolds
Super Stock No. 03
Super Stock No. 03
There
are two sides to Tom Reynolds. There is the aggressive, brash, spirited
race car driver that won Rookie of the Year in the Super Stock Division
in 2004, finishing third in the points chase. Then, there is the
subdued, compassionate, loving father and husband who is a homebody in
the off season. Very few people in the Manzanita Speedway racing
community have ever met the second Tom Reynolds and would be surprised
if they did. For reasons known only to Reynolds he tries to hide his
soft, gentler side from the outside world. Manzanita fans and race car
drivers will never meet this man on the track.
Tom
was born in Phoenix, Arizona on June 9, 1975. He is the son of Rod
Reynolds and the former Leeann Costal. According to Tom, his parents
are very mellow and laid-back, but are people of strong convictions.
“My dad is my best friend,” says Tom. “We work together and hunt
together. He is always there for me. But when he makes up his mind
about something, it is impossible to change him. It’s his way or no
way. One of the most important things I have learned from my dad is
that things need to be done the right way. He has made me want to do
things that I can be proud of.”
Tom’s mother, Leeann, apparently is a strong-willed woman in her own right. When Tom was in high school, Leeann decided that she wanted a college education. Rod gave her his full support as she moved to Flagstaff to attend Northern Arizona University, while retreating to Phoenix for family weekends. Four years later she had a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. “My mother is very proud of her degree because she worked so hard for it,” says Reynolds. Tom’s wife, Crystal, agrees, saying, “When Leeann sets her mind to something, that’s it.”
Tom claims that he was a troublesome boy. Most of the people who race against him at Manzanita Speedway will be shocked to hear that admission. According to Tom, “I was always into something. Later I decided that what I was doing in school was not what I wanted to do with my life. Believe it or not, I really liked history, science and math. I liked girls, too! But I wasn’t into working on cars; that came later after I met Crystal.”
Tom Reynolds met Crystal Price in 1993 at age 17. It so happened that he was driving his mother’s car without her permission while she was out of town. And what could be more natural than Tom almost hitting Crystal’s car as she pulled out of a parking space in front of Castles and Coasters at MetroCenter. Boys and girls jumped out of both cars, the boys trying to impress the girls. Crystal remembered, “I didn’t care for Tom’s attitude, which was ‘you’re so lucky you’re with me.’ He was just so cocky! But I liked his boyish look, and he had just gorgeous eyes.” Tom interjected, “And I was a smooth talker.” “You weren’t that smooth,” continued Crystal. “But he seemed to be a bit of a rebel, and I liked that. Besides, there wasn’t anyone better in my life at the time,” she laughed. Not to be outdone, Tom joked that “She wasn’t the cream of the crop, but she was cute.” Tom and Crystal engage in this continuous banter, this repartee that both seem to enjoy. Perhaps that’s why they exchanged phone numbers during that first encounter when both say they were looking askance at one another.
While Tom claims that he was never girl crazy, he does admit that “I’ve dated quite a few girls in my time. But there was something different about Crystal that I liked. She wasn’t high maintenance, and I liked that.” Crystal soon realized that Tom had another side to him that she liked also. In a short time there was nobody else in either of their lives.
Crystal Price, the girl Tom was destined to marry, was the daughter of Larry and Linda Price, both of whom have had their share of success racing at Manzanita Speedway. Simply said, Crystal was a race car girl. Crystal grew up with the sport and can do as much with a race car as any man can do. She was the only female in her high school auto mechanics class. She started her own racing career at age 16, racing in the Factory Stock Dirt Doll Division. “But I always wanted to go against the men,” said Crystal. And when she did in 2002 in the Super Stock Division, her first thought as the race began was “Oh my word! Where did they all go? The men were so fast. But I did finish sixth in the points race for the season.” Crystal admits unequivocally that “racing was my life. If Tom had not accepted racing we would not be together.” Not only are they together, they have two fabulous children, Kyler, age eight, and Kaytlen, age four.
Tom acknowledges that when he first met Crystal he did not know anything about race cars. But like most people who give it a try, he became addicted to it. “You know,” Tom mused, “I used to be an outdoorsman, going hunting, rock crawling, and 4-wheeling. But I put all that aside for racing.” Tom began his racing career by working in the pits for various members of the Price family.
Steve Jackson, who became a father figure to Tom, raced a Bomber at Canyon Raceway. Tom helped Steve in the pits and, ultimately, Steve let Tom race the Bomber. That is where Tom got his first main event win. “Steve became my biggest supporter,” says Tom. “Steve still does everything he can to help me race. Ron Poe has also been a big help to me, but my Obe Wan Kenobi in racing is Larry Price; he is my teacher.”
Reynolds first full season of racing was in the Super Stock Division in 2004. His pre-season goal was to be the Rookie of the Year. “I did it, too!” says Tom. “Some people have told me that I was just lucky. But luck or not, I beat those guys and finished third in the point standings,” exclaimed Tom. He feels that the toughest competition in the Super Stock Division consists of drivers like his father-in-law, Larry Price, Don Costa, Kenny Gill, and, of course, Randy Silber, who was the 2004 champion. Crystal was surprised at Tom’s 2004 performance. “I had no confidence in him at the beginning of the season, but he did great and held his cool…except for that one time!” she laughed.
Tom Reynolds still has visions of being the Super Stock champion. “I want people to say ‘Tommy is here tonight!’ I want people to remember me,” explains Tom. When asked about the rumor that he was going to back off and not race for the championship in 2005, Tom responded, “That is true. I ran for election as Vice President of the Stock Car Racing Association at the end of the season and got elected. I want to see if I can make a difference. Racing has definitely changed me. I have so many new friends. My family lives it, but I also need time for my kids. We are a close family. My parents never missed anything I was involved in, and we feel the same way about our two kids. I would quit racing today if it meant I had to miss something for the kids.” It appears that Crystal was right about Tom, there is a softer, gentler side to him. But the fans and drivers at Manzanita Speedway most likely will never see it.
Tom’s mother, Leeann, apparently is a strong-willed woman in her own right. When Tom was in high school, Leeann decided that she wanted a college education. Rod gave her his full support as she moved to Flagstaff to attend Northern Arizona University, while retreating to Phoenix for family weekends. Four years later she had a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. “My mother is very proud of her degree because she worked so hard for it,” says Reynolds. Tom’s wife, Crystal, agrees, saying, “When Leeann sets her mind to something, that’s it.”
Tom claims that he was a troublesome boy. Most of the people who race against him at Manzanita Speedway will be shocked to hear that admission. According to Tom, “I was always into something. Later I decided that what I was doing in school was not what I wanted to do with my life. Believe it or not, I really liked history, science and math. I liked girls, too! But I wasn’t into working on cars; that came later after I met Crystal.”
Tom Reynolds met Crystal Price in 1993 at age 17. It so happened that he was driving his mother’s car without her permission while she was out of town. And what could be more natural than Tom almost hitting Crystal’s car as she pulled out of a parking space in front of Castles and Coasters at MetroCenter. Boys and girls jumped out of both cars, the boys trying to impress the girls. Crystal remembered, “I didn’t care for Tom’s attitude, which was ‘you’re so lucky you’re with me.’ He was just so cocky! But I liked his boyish look, and he had just gorgeous eyes.” Tom interjected, “And I was a smooth talker.” “You weren’t that smooth,” continued Crystal. “But he seemed to be a bit of a rebel, and I liked that. Besides, there wasn’t anyone better in my life at the time,” she laughed. Not to be outdone, Tom joked that “She wasn’t the cream of the crop, but she was cute.” Tom and Crystal engage in this continuous banter, this repartee that both seem to enjoy. Perhaps that’s why they exchanged phone numbers during that first encounter when both say they were looking askance at one another.
While Tom claims that he was never girl crazy, he does admit that “I’ve dated quite a few girls in my time. But there was something different about Crystal that I liked. She wasn’t high maintenance, and I liked that.” Crystal soon realized that Tom had another side to him that she liked also. In a short time there was nobody else in either of their lives.
Crystal Price, the girl Tom was destined to marry, was the daughter of Larry and Linda Price, both of whom have had their share of success racing at Manzanita Speedway. Simply said, Crystal was a race car girl. Crystal grew up with the sport and can do as much with a race car as any man can do. She was the only female in her high school auto mechanics class. She started her own racing career at age 16, racing in the Factory Stock Dirt Doll Division. “But I always wanted to go against the men,” said Crystal. And when she did in 2002 in the Super Stock Division, her first thought as the race began was “Oh my word! Where did they all go? The men were so fast. But I did finish sixth in the points race for the season.” Crystal admits unequivocally that “racing was my life. If Tom had not accepted racing we would not be together.” Not only are they together, they have two fabulous children, Kyler, age eight, and Kaytlen, age four.
Tom acknowledges that when he first met Crystal he did not know anything about race cars. But like most people who give it a try, he became addicted to it. “You know,” Tom mused, “I used to be an outdoorsman, going hunting, rock crawling, and 4-wheeling. But I put all that aside for racing.” Tom began his racing career by working in the pits for various members of the Price family.
Steve Jackson, who became a father figure to Tom, raced a Bomber at Canyon Raceway. Tom helped Steve in the pits and, ultimately, Steve let Tom race the Bomber. That is where Tom got his first main event win. “Steve became my biggest supporter,” says Tom. “Steve still does everything he can to help me race. Ron Poe has also been a big help to me, but my Obe Wan Kenobi in racing is Larry Price; he is my teacher.”
Reynolds first full season of racing was in the Super Stock Division in 2004. His pre-season goal was to be the Rookie of the Year. “I did it, too!” says Tom. “Some people have told me that I was just lucky. But luck or not, I beat those guys and finished third in the point standings,” exclaimed Tom. He feels that the toughest competition in the Super Stock Division consists of drivers like his father-in-law, Larry Price, Don Costa, Kenny Gill, and, of course, Randy Silber, who was the 2004 champion. Crystal was surprised at Tom’s 2004 performance. “I had no confidence in him at the beginning of the season, but he did great and held his cool…except for that one time!” she laughed.
Tom Reynolds still has visions of being the Super Stock champion. “I want people to say ‘Tommy is here tonight!’ I want people to remember me,” explains Tom. When asked about the rumor that he was going to back off and not race for the championship in 2005, Tom responded, “That is true. I ran for election as Vice President of the Stock Car Racing Association at the end of the season and got elected. I want to see if I can make a difference. Racing has definitely changed me. I have so many new friends. My family lives it, but I also need time for my kids. We are a close family. My parents never missed anything I was involved in, and we feel the same way about our two kids. I would quit racing today if it meant I had to miss something for the kids.” It appears that Crystal was right about Tom, there is a softer, gentler side to him. But the fans and drivers at Manzanita Speedway most likely will never see it.