RACE TO OWN: LOCAL TEAM CONTROLS TOP SPOT AT PIR

Cliff Simmons recalls the day in early 1995 that a persistent Danny Sissom first walked into the Cliff's Rent To Own store that Simmons operates in Cape Girardeau.

"At the time, I didn't know who he was and I didn't know a whole lot about auto racing, just what I'd seen on ESPN," said a chuckling Simmons.

All that would soon change, however -- much to the benefit of both Simmons and Sissom, who have teamed up to form one of the region's hottest auto racing partnerships.

It all started during what seemed like an extremely uneventful day for Simmons back in 1995.

"Danny came into my store, told me who he was and said he wanted to know if I'd be interested in sponsoring a race car for him," recalled Simmons. "I told him to let me think about it. He kept coming in every month. He was very persistent.

"I finally asked him what it would take for him to stop coming in and he said that I should just put my name on a car, so I agreed to give him $250 and then once the car was done and painted, I would give him another $250."

Continued Simmons with a laugh, "Then he invited me to the first race in Benton (at Missouri International Racepark). I think it was in April of 1995. I had $500 invested in the car. Out of 46 racers that night, he took second. Gosh, I was hooked after that. My wife and our two kids, that's our main hobby now."

Simmons has certainly hooked onto a winner in Sissom, the reigning 1996 points champion in the Pro Stock Class at Paducah International Raceway (PIR).

When Simmons and Sissom first teamed up two years ago, they competed in the Super Street Class (which is the same as the Pro Stock Class) at Benton. Then the Paducah track opened up and the Sissom-Simmons team has been a hit in Kentucky ever since.

Last year, despite only racing half a season at PIR, Sissom won eight races to capture the Pro Stock Class track championship.

And already this year, competing every Saturday night in his trademark 1977 Camaro, Sissom has won eight out of 13 races to open up a commanding lead in the points standings as he shoots for his second straight Pro Stock Class title at PIR.

"We race against 25 or 30 cars every Saturday night, so for somebody to already win eight, it says a lot for what we've done," said Simmons. "Danny is really a star over there. He's very popular. The kids all come up to him and want his autograph. It's really a neat thing to see."

Sissom, an native of Olive Branch, Ill., who now makes his home in Cape Girardeau, laughs when he thinks about the day he first walked into Simmons' store looking for a sponsor.

"I didn't know him, but most racers, they just hit all the stores they can see trying to find a sponsor," said Sissom. "I'd seen a couple of more Rent To Own places on people's cars and I thought he might be interested.

"I went back two are three times. Sponsors are really hard to get."

And Sissom, who has been racing for about 15 years, said he lucked out in finding Simmons.

"Cliff has really taken care of me," he said. "I'd had some guys giving me $50 or $75 before, but nothing like this. There aren't too many (sponsors) out there that do it like Cliff does."

Like Simmons, Sissom -- who works full-time at Fru-Con -- makes his racing experience a family affair, his wife and young son attending his races. Sissom's father has even joined the fun, working on cars most nights with his son.

"It's just a really good time," Sissom said. "It's a great hobby for us to have."

While Simmons is Sissom's primary sponsor, other sponsorship help comes from Bragg Racing Engines of Cape and Mac's Barbecue of Cairo, Ill.