Fast Anthony Dinatale is growing up chasing dreams

A symbiotic relationship exists between dreams and hard work.

Dreams can’t come to fruition without hard work, and hard work can ignite and inspire dreams. Dreams and hard work both have ways of giving life meaning and purpose.

If 9-year-old Jonestown residentAnthony Dinatale is old enough to drive a race car, he’s old enough to dream. For Anthony, racing isn’t a sport, a hobby, or even a game; it’s a way of life.

“This is Anthony’s lifestyle,” said Megan Dinatale, Anthony’s mom. “We eat, sleep and breathe racing. When he’s not in his car, he’s in his racing simulator at home practicing. Anthony has a dream of becoming a World of Outlaws driver.

“I worry about him every second of every day. I’ve been in panic attacks in the stands. I don’t go behind the scenes with the guys. I’ve seen some pretty bad accidents, and the kids were OK. We make sure that when it comes to safety equipment that Anthony has the best of the best. I love him. But I know he loves racing and I will never let my selfishness stop him from achieving his goals.”

A fourth-grade student at Northern Lebanon Elementary School, Anthony has been driving since he was 4 years old and dirt-track racing since he was 6. Competing in the junior slingshot division, Dinatale, his family and his race team travel to Delaware and the Poconos to race, and they sometimes compete at Linda’s Speedways’ quarter-mile oval.

“We definitely travel a lot to make sure he gets track time,” said Megan. “This year, he’s doing phenomenally. He’s stacked against heavy competition. He’s racing against kids way older and way more experienced. He gets in that seat and runs his heart out.

“Our biggest saying is: ‘When you’re not winning, you’re learning.’ Every time he’s out there getting his butt kicked, we as a race team are learning. It’s a whole lot more than putting a kid in a car and going. It’s definitely hard work. He takes it and goes for it.”

“I just like going fast,” said Anthony. “It’s just really fun. (Racing) is very important to me.”

The typical racing season begins in April and ends in late October, and this year Anthony has competed in about 75 races at five dirt tracks. He’s won some heats and forged a path to the medal podium while competing against kids as old as 15 and 16, but he’s yet to break through for a feature victory.

“Watching his development, his responsibility has definitely grown,” said Megan. “He’s definitely more emotional. He’s developed as a character. It helps him being around the older kids. I think it’s helping him to develop into a leader.

“There’s a fine line between aggressive driving and reckless driving. No track is the same. He’s getting more experience by being more versatile. He definitely has a lot more respect for what he does and what people do to get him out there.”

Born into a racing family, Anthony has always been around cars and tools and tracks. But things accelerated one day when he was 4 and his uncle Mario Dinatale brought a go-kart over to his house.

“We got him a go-kart, he jumped in, and he just went,” said Megan. “It was like he knew what he was doing. He was in control. Since he was born, he’s always been at the race track. The question became, ‘How can we help him chase this dream?’

“You can start driving as soon as you can push a pedal and steer. As long as you feel they can comprehend, there are classes to put kids in.”

“I’d like to race with the best of the best in the World of Outlaws,” said Anthony. “I always remember being at the races. I like it so much because most of my family did it.”

What makes racing a lifestyle are the things that go on behind the scenes and off the track. For Anthony, that preparation time has translated into the potential he has shown on the track, potential that has caught the attention of 10 racing sponsors.

“Anthony actually works on his own car,” said Megan. “He’s representing other people’s companies. There are no freebies in life, and we make sure he understands that. He wants it and as long as he keeps wanting it, we’ll make sure he understands the responsibilities he has. The boy wants it all, all the time. He’s very passionate about what he does.

“Anthony’s goal is to be a touring spring car driver doing races. I truly believe in that and see that. The second he jumps in the car, there’s no more fun and games. When people seem him on the track, they just know.”

Racing has helped Anthony mature as a kid, a driver and a person. And there’s plenty of that yet to come.

“We couldn’t do this without the love and support of the community,” said Megan. “He has a village behind him as he’s chasing his dream. As long as you believe in your dreams, it can open all doors. If you believe it, you can absolutely achieve it. You have to have the heart to believe in what you’re doing.”

For additional information, visit Anthony Dinatale Motorsports on Facebook.