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Testimonials
Here is what some of our racers and parents are saying about us...
"Mike is a great teacher and an awesome spotter! I worked with him when I was younger and trying to move from dirt to Asphalt. He helped me understand some of the basic things I needed to learn when I first started running asphalt. He helped me with my line on the track and corner entry and exit. I have also used him as a spotter in the Camping World Truck Series. He didn't just spot for me, he taught me a lot of different things through out the races that I ran with him. He's definitely my first choice for a spotter and driving coach! Mike made a big difference in my performance and he did a phenomenal job spotting for me. I have worked with quite a few driver development programs and Mike is one of the best when it comes to coaching a young driver."
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Racer Chase Austin
"Team Full Throttle tested and then signed Chris, a green driver with zero racing experience," says Ann, "then coached him right into victory lane in only seven feature-event starts. The TFT program surrounds its drivers with a winning combination of talented, dedicated people who eat, sleep, and breath racing."
Ann Young (Mother of TFT Legends Car Racer Chris Young)
“I’ve learned so much from TFT. They’ve taught me to be more patient and relaxed on the track, and I’ve also become more confident in myself as a person too. I wouldn’t be the driver that I am without the program, and I can’t thank Tom and Mike enough for everything they’ve done for our family and for me.”
TFT NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Racer David Latour
“I first met (TFT Founder and Driver Coach) Tom Baker when I was 10 years old racing go-karts and he was our announcer. Even then he was going out of his way to help us kids learn to be better racers and people, and now that I’ve been in the program for a couple of years I can say I’ve learned a lot from everyone involved about not just winning races, but being a winner. Tom has stressed getting good grades and acting like a professional on the track, and his advice in racing and in life has really helped me a lot.”
TFT Late Model Racer Christian PaHud
“Tom has been a friend to Andrew and our family since Andrew started racing ten years ago. He has been there for him through several family tragedies, and has always gone out of his way to make sure Andrew makes the best decisions for himself in racing and in life. Mike, Tom, and Keith work hard for their racers and always have their best interests at heart.”
Jane Redding - Mother of TFT Racer Andrew Schartner
"What makes Mike different is that he really has a knack for working with young kids. He has a very subtle approach and gently guides them when he spots for them so that they are constantly learning new things. There is a big difference between just spotting and coaching. Mike coaches and teaches while he spots during a race. The time Chase spent with him early on doing testing really helped with Chase's learning curve. Mike was able to teach Chase because he understood what a young person needs. During races Mike knew just when to encourage him, when to get him to push it a little harder and go outside what might have felt safe and also when to settle him down. Mike Calinoff is one of the best! He is at the top of our list for driver development.
Steve Austin - Father of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Racer Chase Austin
“I think I got my money’s worth in the first six months I was in the program. Mike and Tom work hard for us and they go the extra mile to make sure we’re doing everything we can for ourselves when they can’t be around. They encourage us to work together as teammates, which makes it more fun and helps us all. I’ve grown a lot as a person because of what I’ve learned, and my results on the track have been much better as well.”
TFT UARA-STARS Late Model Racer Kyle Moon
"It didn't take long for me to see the impact of what I was being taught by the TFT coaches to pay off. The first time I got back in the car after my initial training, I used some line adjustment ideas Tom had given me and was able to get faster. With Mike's knowledge of the NASCAR level and Tom's ability to prepare me to reach that level I feel very strongly that my chances for success are much better with the program than they were before. They make you work hard for your success but that's what it takes to get to the top."
TFT NASCAR Whelen Weekly Racing Series Racer Brian Mondeau
"I absolutely believe that another driver development program could never do what TFT has done for my son. The values and qualities the TFT program has instilled into Charlie have been invaluable. If Charlie loses focus, which happens with kids his age, he thinks of TFT and what it means to be a part of their program and he immediately refocuses his attention to positive things. TFT is an every day topic of discussion in our household. It's a wonderful program that we're very proud to be a part of."
Charles Stone, Sr. (Father of TFT racer Charlie Stone)
"Chris and I just wanted to thank you (Tom) for spending the weekend with Chris, Jr. and us. The ‘kids’ in your program are truly lucky to have you and Mike as mentors, along with the whole Team Full Throttle organization. The dedication that you show amazes me."
Laurie Igo (Stepmother of TFT racer Chris Igo, Jr.)
"I always figured that when I got out of karts, I would stay in open wheel racing and chase the Formula One-Indy Racing League dream. Tom is the one that got me thinking about NASCAR when he brought up the idea at a go-kart race we were at a few years ago. He helped me get the chance to drive a Busch Series car at a driving school in Memphis, and I realized right then and there what I wanted. I just felt so much more comfortable driving the NASCAR then I did in the open-wheel cars. Now I'm going into my fourth season with Team Full Throttle, and am racing ASA North Late Models on my way to the Camping World East Series if I can run well enough this year. Tom has taught me to be more confident in myself and proved to me that if I work hard enough anything can happen for me. He is a strong leader who always looks for talent and always tries to improve us as individuals as well as racers. Mike is easy to work with and learn from as a driver coach and approaches it with both a serious attitude and a sense of humor that calms you down in a pressure situation."
TFT ASA Late Model Series racer Joey King
"The training I went through was not like going through a day of school or being lectured in an auditorium, it was presented in such a way that it kept my full attention the entire time. Tom and I covered the subjects that are necessary for success and for being a better person on and off the track. Attitude, teamwork, leadership, maximizing your own potential, Marketing skills (and obtaining sponsorship), and how to present yourself to the media were all things I learnd a lot about. I am a better person because of just that first training. It showed me that there is much more to racing than just talent and driving. The other racers in the program have all been very supportive of me and I am looking forward to many years of working with Mike, Tom, and Keith as I chase my dream of being a NASCAR Champion."
TFT Mini Cup Racer Chris Igo, Jr.
“I really appreciate everything TFT does for me. They've taken the time to work with us not just with my on-track testing but with all the other parts of my program as well. I have a lot more confidence in myself now as a driver and as a person because of the training and support I've been given, and I know that achieving my goal of racing in NASCAR is very possible if I work hard and listen to what they tell me. I'm definitely glad that we made the choice to join the program and I'm hoping to be a part of it for a long time to come.”
TFT Late Model Racer Taylor Doggett
"This training has helped me grow as a person, as a driver and as a family member. I can only hope that I have many more great years working with TFT. I can see that they are willing to push me to my limits and are not afraid to ask me to step up to the plate. I look forward to the future in the program."
TFT USAC Kenyon Series Racer Jared Marks
"Being with Tom and Team Full Throttle has helped me grow in many ways since I got to know him. Tom was an official at the track where I started racing many years ago, and he's been both a good teacher in the sport and a good friend to our family as well. He's always there for his drivers whether they need help with their racing or guidance on something in their lives. He was there for our family through some very bad times in the past, and he always knows what to say to make a difficult situation seem easier. Team Full Throttle takes young racers like me who have been champions at their levels and shows us how to grow and become leaders off and on the track. You're not just a number or a client on this team. You are a person and that's how they treat you. Now, since Tom has joined forces with Mike, we all have a legitimate shot at being noticed by the right people in NASCAR if we work hard and follow their advice. It's an exciting program with great rewards for drivers who are willing to pay attention and work hard.
TFT Small Block Supermodified / Mod Lite racer Andrew Schartner
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