Much like early season’ s past, 2002 started off on somewhat of a dull note for the 7M but times were soon to change. In the end, the 2002 season proved to again be the best year yet for Todd and the team. Lately it seems each season is out-performing the previous one and no one is complaining.

2002 was Todd’s fourth year driving for Middleswarth Potato Chips and the first full year ever for the bar – b – q schemed 7M to campaign on Central Pennsylvania Ovals.

Day races are usually tough for Todd and after early season day racing turned to night, Todd picked up his first of five wins on the season overall, at Port Royal Speedway on May 11.

On May 5, Todd took possession of the 10-lap track record at Port in his qualifying event and then he returned the next week to take his first checkered flag of the year at the Juniata County oval over Todd Shaffer, Mike Erdley, Mark Smith and Alan Cole.

Todd then set fast time over the World of Outlaws at Hagerstown on May 18.

But as May wore on, Todd felt the need for a change. He wanted something different in his chassis so with a little help from J & J, a custom made 7M began production. And by June 1, Todd was ready to debut a brand new, flaming bar – b – q, J & J chip chassis. As it turned out, it was definitely the right move.

From the word go, the new car was like a rocket and it took Todd and the team to a second Port victory on it’s first night out, making him the first repeat winner of the year at the Port. This win came over teammate Keith Kauffman, Tim Kuhn, Mark Smith and Alan Cole.

And then it happened. The biggest win of Todd’s career to date came his way just one night after his second win at Port. Todd won the inaugural Jan Opperman Memorial at Selinsgrove Speedway on June 2, giving him a sweep of the weekend, a first ever in his career.

Aboard the ride he dubbed "Sweet Ride 7M" after the weekend, Todd started on the pole of the Opperman Memorial and annihilated the field in true Opperman style for the prestigious victory, leading all 30-laps. At one point, Todd held a half-lap advantage over eventual runner-up Kauffman. Sean Michael, Lance Dewease and Fred Rahmer rounded out the top-five.

The win in the Opperman Memorial meant a tremendous deal to Todd. For starters it kicked off a four-race 410 sprint series at Selinsgrove as sponsored by car-owner Middleswarth but it went farther than that.

Todd grew up just a mile or two from where the Opperman family lived for some time and Todd actually went to school with Opperman siblings Jaylou and Jan Jr. Todd pocketed nearly $4,000 for the win.

June then ended much like it began, with a win on the 28th as the 7M graced the winner’s circle for a second time in Todd’s career at Williams Grove Speedway.

Hestor passed Todd Gracey to lead lap-18 before driving to the convincing win ahead of Sean Michael, Gracey, Kauffman and Brook Weibley.

The win at the Grove sent Todd into the Pennsylvania Speedweek series with momentum where he continued to perform well although feature finishes didn’t show it.

At Big Diamond Todd was fourth quick and led the first couple of laps before Greg Hodnett took over. Contact from Sean Michael then sidelined the 7M, taking away a sure top-five.

At the Grove show he again timed fourth but suffered mechanical ills, forcing him from the main.

Port Royal proved much better with a fifth in both time trials and the feature.

And Selinsgrove concluded Todd’s speedweek run where he was ninth quick and running inside the top-five when he again broke down with just two laps to go.

The final win of the year for the 7M came on July 20 at Port Royal. Todd took over on the ninth circuit to record his fifth career speedway win over Kauffman, Todd Shaffer, Kevin Schaeffer and Dustin Hoffman.

July came to a close with a rare trip to Bedford Speedway. The trip to the track and back is long but a satisfying third came out of the excursion to the Southwestern Pa oval.

By August, it was clear more changes were in store for the 7M team.

First off, a second Hestor baby was on the way, one that arrived right in the middle of the Port fair week races in September. Weighing in at 7-lb. 2 oz., Taylor Lyn Hestor was born September 5 at 8:15 A.M.

But a bigger addition was made to the team prior to Taylor’s arrival.

It was with great pleasure that Todd welcomed famed World of Outlaw and All Star mechanic Barry Jackson of Carlisle to the team in late August. Earlier in the season, Jackson wrenched for Mark Smith and in days gone by, among many others, he called the Kenny Jacobs’ pits home.

Before season’s end, Jackson’s talents were evident and appreciated.

Todd timed perfectly in the WoO sanctioned National Open at Williams Grove in late September and then raced to an impressive fifth in the 40th annual event. He was up to fourth on two different occasions and exchanged slide jobs with Craig Dollansky before ending the event.

Aside from the Opperman win, the Open finish was easily the best run of his career. He then returned the next night to post another quick time over the traveling band at Port Royal and an eighth place feature finish.

Todd set quick time at the Lincoln Speedway Kenny Weld Memorial in early October. Unfortunately, a great run in the 40-lap feature then came to an abrupt end with only a lap left when motor problems took the 7M out of fourth.

For the better part of May, June, July and August, Todd led the point standings at Port Royal before falling just short to Kauffman in the end. Continuing his ever improving point showings, Todd took second in the Port 2002 standings.

At Williams Grove, he also improved over the previous year by one position to finish seventh in the point’s race. Todd also rode home fifth in the series standings at Selinsgrove Speedway.

It was a long season from the first race of the year at Lincoln Speedway in late February until the last one at Williams Grove in late October. And when the final checkered flag of the season fallen, the 7M had entered 64 events at seven different speedways while accumulating 15 top-five’s and 37 top-tens, including five victories.