His first time on the track, then 8-year-old driver Jackson Humanic took the KHR kart to victory after a second place finish in the heat race.  When asked about his racing strategy, Jackson simply explained that, "I got all the way into the throttle and didn't let up 'till the race was over.".  Jackson  took the # 17 kart to victory 16 times over the next five years.  His average speed on the 1/8th mile dirt tracks was a little over 33 miles per hour and achieved speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour.  Jackson's trophy case is overflowing with evidence of his racing ability.

For the 2006 racing season 13-year-old Jackson Humanic took the wheel of the KHR Pro Stock dirt oval Chevy Monte Carlo.  It was a big step for this young racer, moving up from five years in racing kart.  Taking on a half-mile dirt oval track behind the wheel of the Pro-Stock car was a challenge, but it was one that Jackson felt he was ready to accept.  Prior to the beginning of the season Jackson and fellow KHR driver; Gerry Bruce, agreed that Gerry would run the special event races where the competition is more aggressive and less predictable than in the weekly races.  This meant Gerry would run the five Detroit Iron Series races which included the year-end AppleFest 100 lap race and Jackson would race the regular season races.   

The season-opener was on April 30th, 2006 and Jackson ran a smooth, clean race, finishing on the lead lap in 22nd place out of a 26 car field without incident.  The next race he finished 15th and crossed the checkered flag in 12th place the third week. 

The 4th race of the season offered a preview of where this young driver was heading in his racing career when he won the heat race to put him on the outside pole for the feature.  Jackson finished 14th in the feature, staying up with the pack the entire race. 

It was no fluke that he won his heat race as he proved the next week, when he repeated his heat race victory, then finished 18th in the feature.  In the following six races he finished 9th, 7th, 9th, 17th, 12th and 18th respectively, celebrating his 14th birthday the day before the 10th race of the season.

There was no doubt that Gerry was to drive the number 17 car in the AppleFest 100, if for no other reason than his provisional.  A couple of weeks before the race Jackson got an interesting offer from the father of one of his pit crew members that he couldn't refuse.  Nathan Kellogg;s father; Rusty, had raced along side Jackson all year and offered to let Jackson use his car if he wanted to try to make the field at the AppleFest 100 race.  If Jackson accepted he would have to install the Eagle race team's spare engine and drive train and set the car up for the grueling 100 lap event ... and there was not much time to do so.  Jackson conferred with his dad; Ken, and it was agreed that Jackson could try to make the field. 

It was a long shot.  All the top contenders from neighboring tracks as well as the top drivers from Tri-City Speedway; 41 cars in all, would be vying for the coveted 26 feature slots.  Fifteen drivers would be sent home.  Four 8 lap heat races would be run and only the top four out of 10 cars in each heat race would be tapped for a place in the feature.  In addition, those cars not making the feature by way of the heat races would have a second chance in one of two B Main races, with the top four in each joining the field in the feature.  Two drivers would have provisionals for the race; KHR's Gerry Bruce, the 2005 track champion and this year's track champion, Bobby Whitling.  Up against these experienced drivers, Jackson would have his work cut out for him.

Jackson and his crew worked hard and got the car together.  On race day there were two cars in the KHR pit; the orange and black number 17 piloted by Gerry Bruce and the 47X car, on which Jackson had pinned his hopes.

Pills were pulled for which heat race the drivers would run.  Jackson pulled the second heat race and Gerry, the forth.  Then they pulled pills for their starting position in those races.  Gerry pulled the pole position for the heat race.  Jackson was not so lucky ... he was to start in 7th place. 

The cars took the track for the heat race and Jackson was ready.  Out of the gate he moved up to 5th and then, on the 2nd lap made his way to 4th.  He dropped back a spot to 5th on the 3rd lap and it looked like he wouldn't make the feature by way of the heat race, but on the sixth lap he gained two places, moving into third and was able to hold that place to assure himself a starting spot in the 2006 AppleFest 100 race! 

The KHR Pit was ecstatic!  Jackson had done what many felt was impossible, but the hard part was still to come ... the punishing 100 lap race.

Jackson started 10th out of the 41 cars that qualified for the race.  He held on to his center of the pack position, staying out of trouble and picking his line, while teammate Gerry Bruce stayed in the top three spots for the entire race.  When the dust had cleared and the checkered flag fell Jackson had not only finished the race, but had taken 5th place, only 3 spots below Gerry!  Jackson and his dad; Ken, were overwhelmed with excitement.  What a great 2 - 5 finish for the KHR race team!

Jackson not only had his best finish of his Pro-Stock racing career ...  he was named the Atkinson Fire Safety Rookie of the Race.

The 2006 season wrapped up and Jackson proved himself as an upcoming force to be reckoned with on the track.  Although he is respectful of other drivers, Jackson is no shrinking violet behind the wheel.  He has proven himself to be a contender and is ready for the 2007 season.   

The Pro Stock pit crew is mainly comprised of Eric Fenstermaker, Troy Walney, Chris Buchanan, Nate Kellogg, Cody Manners, Dustin Cox, Christy & Ken Humanic.  The youngest member of the Humanic family, 8-year-old Malissa, is the cheerleader for the team.  The team is heavily supported by the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Racing Technician; C. C. Holt, is a precious resource for the KHR team.  His ability to "feel" the car's set-up and look at a track to determine proper gearing has been keeping the KHR team running fast and strong.

Jackson has hobbies other than racing.  He enjoys fishing, dirt bikes & 4-wheelers, horseback riding, swimming, metal sculpting and driving anything with wheels.  Forklifts, flatbed one-ton trucks, cranes, motorcycles ... if it has wheels and a motor, Jackson will drive it.

JACKSON'S PROSTOCK SCHEDULE FOR THE 2007
SEASON:
(ALL RACES ARE TO BE RUN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY NEAR FRANKLIN, PA)

2006 SEASON RESULTS:

SEASON OPENER, April 30, 2006:  22nd place

May 21, 2006:  15th place

June 11, 2006:  12th place

June 18, 2006:  14th place.  Jackson won one of the two Pro Stock heat races.

July 9, 2006:  18th place. Jackson won one of the two Pro Stock heat races.

July 23, 2006:  9th place

July 30, 2006:  7th place

August 6, 2006:  9th place

August 13, 2006:  17th place

August 20, 2006:  12th place 

September 4, 2006:  18th place

September 17, 2006:  5th place

Finished in 7th place in points.