Driver Series: S02E10 Sammy Gaita Looking For Repeat Success
Sammy Gaita
Newport News, VA
DOB: June 30, 1978
Hometown: Hampton, VA
Education: Degree in Network Engineering
Occupation: Owner of Gaita Graphics & Frontline Vapes
Sponsors: Brian Grilli (country musician), 7 Cities Vapes, Shawn Havron Tattoo, AMSOIL – East Coast Synthetics, Berge’s Lawn Care, AYSO Region 1310, Gaita Graphics, Bay Custom Auto, Sherwin Williams Automotive Paints, Erin Goodman Photography, Tony Spivey Engines, Gene Nichols, Doug Sample, Randy Sample.
You know it seems like a common theme in this crazy sport we call auto racing is to have the “love of the game” so to speak handed down to you. I guess this is a good example on why hand me downs, or family traditions aren’t such a bad thing. Our next driver, as we have mentioned above, is no different. When we talked with Sammy during this interview he told us that racing had always been apart of his life. “I can’t remember a time without racing in my life,” Gaita said. “My family has always done it.”
Growing up he ran karts for a bit but spent most of his time in the garage helping out his uncle and his father! Sammy didn’t get behind the wheel much until about 2008 when the family got a UCAR. “That was a disaster,” explained Gaita. “So we built another one our selves and ran decent with that one until we moved up to Super Streets.” Gaita would actually go on to win the 2014 Super Street Track Championship at Langley Speedway. He has since returned to the track looking to make it a repeat. So far the team has had moderate success and have been battling with what I can hear over the radio, a loose car.
The season is still young and we have not seen the end of Sammy’s hunt to return to victory lane. We were however, able to chat a little bit to find out more about the man behind the driver suite bellow!
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What is an average day for Sammy Gaita like?
Busy
Away from the track and garage, what are some things you like to do for fun?
Spend time with my family doing whatever my 5-year-old son might want to do.
Some people have inspirational quotes they like to help pump them up or keep them grounded. Does Sammy Gaita have a favorite quote?
There are a bunch of those; there are four that stick out a bit more…
“A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new” – Einstein
“There are two things in life that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, I’m not sure about the universe” -Einstein
“I cannot teach anyone, I can only make them think” -Socrates
“An eye for an eye only ends up with the whole world being blind” – Ghandi
Are you a Mac or a Microsoft kinda guy?
Microsoft
If you could own any car in the world, can be anything from a street car to a race car, what would it be?
69 Chevelle
Favorite type or just favorite food in general?
Mexican or Pizza
Three things you could not live without?
God, family, friends
What is one thing in your life you use a lot but COULD live without?
Cell phone, it takes away a lot of the social part of life.
Favorite cereal
None, not a real cereal fan.
What is one place you want to visit? Can be anywhere in the world.
Alaska
What did you always tell your parents you wanted to be when you grew up?
Always told them I would work for myself, mainly so I didn’t have to listen to anyone else… That backfired because there is always someone to listen to lol.