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Category: Featured Interview

Featured interviews from SpeedwayMedia.com

  • Five Questions with Matt DiBenedetto

    Five Questions with Matt DiBenedetto

    [media-credit id=72 align=”alignleft” width=”188″][/media-credit]My next interview, I had the chance to speak with 21 year old NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Matt DiBenedetto. Matt currently drives the No. 47 The Motorsports Group Chevrolet. He first appeared in the racing scene in 2009 when he raced the No. 20 Pizza Ranch Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing at Memphis Motorsports Park. Here is my interview with him.

    Q: Imagine yourself not as a driver but as a race fan, if you were to do a ride along with any driver other than your self, who would you choose, which track and why?
    DiBenedetto:  Jeff Gordon at Darlington. Jeff Gordon is one of my favorite drivers and Darlington is an awesome fast track.

    Q: If you could have a track named after you what kind of track would it be and where would it be located?
    DiBenedetto: It would be a track  in North Carolina thats a half mile short track because short track racing is my background.

    Q: What is your most memorable race?
    DiBenedetto: My win last year at Bowman Gray Stadium in the K&N Series because of all the history there.

    Q: Who would you consider to be NASCAR’s bad boy? Golden boy?
    DiBenedetto: Bad boy: Kyle Busch. Golden boy: Dale Jr.

    Q: What advice would you give someone who wanted to be a race car driver?
    DiBenedetto: Not to be a racecar driver (laughs). The sport takes millions of dollars to make it to the top levels. The best thing to do is to race at lower local levels of racing and just have fun unless you have millions of dollars to waste (literally).

    Matt’s next race is September 22nd at Kentucky.

  • Steve Mathews puts himself in position, comes up shy at Barrie

    Steve Mathews puts himself in position, comes up shy at Barrie

    [media-credit id=4 align=”alignright” width=”266″][/media-credit]Should have, could have, would have. It’s a saying that many have heard in racing and it’s one that NASCAR Canadian Tire Series competitor Steve Mathews is right now playing through his mind multiple times following this past weekend’s Wahta Springs 300 at Barrie Speedway.

    “We had a great car and set it up to come off the bottom and conserve tires for the long run,” Mathews comments.

    Mathews would start the day off strong, winning the pole for the 300 lapper on the .333 mile oval in Barrie, Ontario. After playing some strategy in the middle of racing by taking tires 100 laps later than most, Mathews found himself in contention with Mathews restarting second with seven laps to go.

    Mathews would run side-by-side with Scott Steckly for an entire lap, however the next lap, contact between the two would send Steckly for a spin in turn four.

    [media-credit id=4 align=”alignleft” width=”266″][/media-credit]“Made a crossover move on Steckly where we got up to his door in turn three,” Mathews explains. “Unfortunately, he did not see me and made contact.”

    The final restart would present a green-white-checkered with the race now running past its scheduled distance. Mathews would restart the leader, with J.R. Fitzpatrick to his inside. There’d be more contact as coming out of turn four, Fitzpatrick pushed Mathews up into the outside wall, allowing Pete Shepherd III to sneak by them both.

    “I knew J.R. would lose his cool like usual to end the race,” Mathews comments. “He jumped the restart as the leader has to the first to the line. Then I had him clear out of turn two. Next thing you know he used me as brakes into turn three, I saved it, and then he drove me right into the turn four wall.”

    There would then be contact between Fitzpatrick and Andrew Ranger in the final corner with  Fitzpatrick going for the spin cycle. Mathews would slow up a bit, allowing Dowler to get underneath him. The result was a fourth place finish for Mathews. The fourth place finish marks the first top five and second top 10 finish for the New Liskeard, Ontario native in his fifth start on the season.

    “I would like to thank Race Time Radio, Bill Mathews Motors, and Jack Mathews Body Shop,” he says. “Also the fans for sticking out the rain and my crew for their continued effort and support.”

    [media-credit id=4 align=”alignright” width=”266″][/media-credit]While many question whether small teams can survive in the major series, the 22-year-old driving for the family backed team, proved on Saturday that short track action can showcase how well they can put their equipment together. As many drivers said before the race – it was all about survival. Mathews kept out of the trouble and found himself in contention through his own talent and driving skill.

    From late models to the NCATS, Mathews has showed that he can drive, scoring six top 10s and two poles in 19 NCATS starts. With more experience, the talent pool can only grow more. The only question is whether sponsorship will come, which certainly good runs like this present that opportunity.

    With their current situation, Mathews Motorsports will miss Nova Scotia this weekend, however Mathews is looking forward to Kawartha Speedway to finish off the season after winning the pole and leading over 80 laps before finishing seventh after being spun under caution.

  • Front Row Motorsports Says Bah Humbug to Sponsorship Struggles

    Front Row Motorsports Says Bah Humbug to Sponsorship Struggles

    [media-credit name=”Noel Lanier” align=”alignright” width=”224″][/media-credit]While many top-tier NASCAR teams are facing the loss of major sponsorship dollars, Front Row Motorsports has managed to not only weather the storm but to attract even new sponsors to their program.

    In fact, FRM has been so successful at attracting new sponsors to their company that they were named to Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest growing privately held companies in the United States, ranking 800 on the list. They were also the first NASCAR Cup team ever to make that prestigious list.

    “All of the headlines now seem to be focused on sponsorship woes,” Mike Laheta, Director of Marketing and Business Affairs for Front Row Motorsports, said. “We are finding sponsorship dollars in a time when a lot of the garage area is struggling.”

    “I think it’s a nice opportunity for our race team to be recognized,” Laheta continued. “The Inc. 5000 recognition is a great way to be able to get on a ‘good’ list that gives you credibility in the marketplace.”

    “Being named to the Inc. 5000 is certainly a victory for us off the track and shows that we are capable of winning in corporate America,” Jerry Freeze, General Manager of FRM, said. “It’s a nice way to be recognized for our hard work and resiliency.”

    Front Row Motorsports, fielding the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland, has garnered twelve new primary sponsors this season alone, including the likes of Glory Foods, ModSpace, Maximum Human Performance, Scorpion Coatings, Barrett-Jackson, House-Autry Mills, Big Machine Label Group, Classic Media (Where’s Waldo), Green1 Performance, Peanut Patch, 1-800LoanMart and US Shredder and Castings Group.

    “We’ve not only added the twelve new partners this season but we are now working on next year’s renewals, with expectations of turning them into even bigger programs,” Laheta said. “We’ve not only weathered the storm, but prospered through that rough time.”

    “And we’re really starting to see some growth now.”

    To what does Laheta contribute the success of Front Row Motorsports, both in the sponsor marketplace, as well as in their recent honor?

    “We’re old school,” Laheta said. “We get on the phone, cold call and send out emails, sometimes hundreds a day.”

    “We just try to get meetings with people,” Laheta continued. “Our biggest goal is to get someone to hear us out and from there, all we ask is that they try a race with us and let us prove that NASCAR is all it is cracked up to be.”

    While Laheta has worked on creative promotions, such as ‘Race Cars and County Stars’, he also advises that race teams do not have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to sponsorship opportunities.

    “We’re selling them on the sport and our full turn-key activation program,” Laheta said. “We can build a program from the ground up and are nimble and efficient.”

    “We’ll listen and we’ll talk to anyone,” Laheta continued. “We believe that NASCAR can work for anyone, if you put the right program in place.”

    Laheta did acknowledge two keys to their sponsorship success, including access on the track and business off the track. But he also credits the hard work and commitment of his team drivers to the growing success of their sponsor program.

    “When we bring prospects or even new sponsors to the track, we give them the entire access, not just the track and driver access, but we take them around the sponsor areas and show how they can activate their own sponsorship roles,” Laheta said. “It all depends on what a sponsor is looking for.”

    “We are honest and upfront with our sponsors and share where we are in the points,” Laheta continued. “We have great drivers but we position ourselves as a top-20 team.”

    “Companies get involved in the sport in many different ways and sometimes it is more about the business relationships than in being in Victory Lane.”

    “Our drivers go out of their way to do an appearance, do a golf tournament, and to sell the sport,” Laheta said. “For example, we asked David Ragan to attend a sales meeting, a two and half hour driver for a half hour appearance, and he did it and stuck around three times longer than anyone ever expected.”

    “We have really passionate drivers who want to succeed on the track and also work with our partners off the track as well.”

    In spite of the economic challenges all around that are facing the sport of NASCAR, Laheta sees the glass as definitely half full when it comes to seeking sponsorship for Front Row Motorsports. And he is definitely enjoying the challenge.

    “For me, this is fun,” Laheta said. “I’m a young guy and I’m an entrepreneurial person.”

    “Here at Front Row, I see the opportunity to really build a sponsorship base,” Laheta continued. “The company is growing, we are doing better on the race track and we are showing that we are getting where we want to be from a performance and business stand point.”

    “To be a part of that is an exciting opportunity is great for a person like me.”

    And at the end of the day, Laheta firmly believes, as evidenced by his company’s most recent honor, that sponsorship is attainable even in tough economic times.

    “You can build a program with the right message that can show a return,” Laheta said. “Any company out there is willing to spend money if they are going to make money.”

    “The challenge is being able to show that return,” Laheta continued. “When the economy was booming, everyone wanted to be a part of NASCAR. But some didn’t have goals or objectives.”

    “But when the economy went bad, some questioned those expenditures and cuts were made,” Laheta continued. “It really makes all of us just work harder to prove that NASCAR is worthwhile for sponsors and is working as a sport.”

    “We are selling sponsorship and raising corporate dollars in a time when very few teams are,” Robin Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer for Front Row Motorsports said. “It’s not a negative that companies are placing more scrutiny on their budgets.”

    “It just forces us to be smarter with how we go about building and executing our programs.”

  • Five questions with Brian Keselowski

    Five questions with Brian Keselowski

    In my next interview, I had the honor of speaking with Brian Keselowski. Brian is the older brother of fellow NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski. He is a past winner in the ARCA Racing Series and is a competitor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driving the no. 92 Chevrolet Impala for K-Automotive Motorsports. Here is my interview with Brian.

    Q: Imagine yourself not as a driver but as a race fan, if you were to do a ride along with any driver other than yourself, who would you choose, which track and why?
    Brian K: Harry Gant would be the first one. He was really good at a time when the sport was changing to a more younger driver and super team way of doing things. Small team and great driver.

    Q: If you could have a track named after you, what kind of track would it be and where would it be located?
    Brian K: Track would not be named after me but would be named Motorcity Speedway in Downtown Detroit. 18 degree banking, wide turns, 3/4 mile.

    Q: What is your most memorable race?
    Brian K: Most memorable race would be the 2011 Daytona 500 qualifying race. We didn’t have a lot of money, but worked hard on our car, and it handled really well when getting pushed. Brad pushed me to the front a few times and I finished 5th in my first ever Cup race. Was an amazing feeling that I will never forget.

    Q: Who would you consider to be NASCAR’s bad boy? Golden boy?
    Brian K: Bad boy, Kyle Busch. He is a great driver but always cast in a negative light, a lot by his own doing, but still portrayed negatively. Golden boy, Jimmie Johnson. They always seem to get the right breaks when they need them. As a racer, you have to put yourself in a position to get those breaks though. They are simply the best at doing that.

    Q: What advice would you give someone who wanted to be a race car driver?
    Brian K: Best advice. Drive a car with a lot of power. Figure out how to make it turn and hookup. Don’t stay at just one track, learn a lot of different style tracks. And get good at one division, but don’t stay there too long. Keep moving up and challenging yourself.

  • The Future of NASCAR – Spotlight on Larry Barford Jr.

    The Future of NASCAR – Spotlight on Larry Barford Jr.

    At first his story sounds familiar. For as long as he can remember, all he has ever wanted to do is race. But it’s the differences in his story that make you sit up and pay attention. His journey has been littered with roadblocks and detours.

    However, as Larry Barford Jr. will tell you, he’s never taken the easy route and his determination finally paid off.

    On August 17, 2012, he announced that he will compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) with Deware Racing Group. His schedule this year will include at least three races in the series and a few select NCWTS races in the K&N Series. In 2013 he will run a full schedule in the NCWTS.

    “I’ve been involved in racing my whole life. My Uncle Bob Ballantine raced in the Grand National Series.”

    His uncle Jim served as crew chief for Bob and as mentor to Larry.

    “It was really my mother’s brother, my Uncle Jim, who taught me how to drive and put the bug in my ear. That bug stayed with me my whole life.”

    He couldn’t pronounce uncle as a kid and called his uncle, “Kunkle.”  The name stuck and was later shortened to “Kunk.” Sadly,”Kunk” passed away in 1987 at the age of 30.

    Larry started racing go karts when he was five years old and continued until he was twelve. At the same time he hung out with the local late model racers and learned everything he could. In his later teenage years he began competing in late models and hobby stock. It was mostly for fun although the desire to make it a career was always in the back of his mind.

    As often happens in life, his career goal was interrupted.

    “Life had other plans for me,” Larry says.

    Those plans included marrying his high school sweetheart, Alicia, and the impending arrival of their first son, Tyler.  Larry realized that he had to “get a real job” to provide for his family. A full time career in racing would have to wait.

    He decided to pursue another dream and become a police officer. He stayed on this path for about ten years.  During this time, his second son Jacob was born.

    While working as a police officer, his schedule stabilized and he found a way to continue racing. He formed a late model race team and named it Kunkle Motorsports in honor of his late Uncle Jim. Larry also developed a trademark featuring angel wings and checkered flags that he continues to use as inspiration.

    His law enforcement career ended abruptly after a severe knee injury sustained in the line of duty forced him into early retirement. When it became clear that his career in law enforcement was over, he decided to make racing his primary focus.

    “I never gave up on racing,” he told me, “I just had other obligations.”

    That’s not to say that it’s been easy.

    In 2009 while he was racing late models, a friend suggested he give Derrike Cope a call. This led to a truck test with Cope and the chance to drive in the series but the funding didn’t materialize.

    Larry decided to purchase some cars to run in the ARCA Series and began the process of marketing himself to obtain sponsors. In 2010, life threw another curve ball.

    His wife Alicia became ill and the possibility of brain surgery was discussed. Surgery was ruled out but a diagnosis of fibromyalgia meant a regimen of painful and costly injections. They sold most of the race cars to pay for anticipated medical bills. Larry didn’t know if he would ever be able to race again.

    A few weeks after selling off most of his equipment, Larry received a call from good friend, Donnie Neuenberger.

    “Let’s go to Daytona for the ARCA test,” he told Larry.

    The chance to drive at the famed Daytona International Speedway was an opportunity Larry couldn’t pass up.

    “I didn’t think I’d ever get back into racing because of Alicia’s health,” he said. “We weren’t sure if financially we’d be able to afford it or if I would be able to travel.  I just wanted to drive Daytona to say that I had done it.”

    Roger Carter agreed to take a look at Larry and assess his driving skills during the ARCA test. In December 2011, Larry went to the test and ran one of the fastest times at the track for the team. Carter subsequently offered him a ride in the ARCA Series for C2M Racing. His first race with them was on February 18, 2012 at Daytona International Speedway.

    Larry admits that getting the chance to race at Daytona brought tears to his eyes.

    “It didn’t really hit me until I was sitting in the car and I just thought to myself, I’m racing at Daytona.”

    His partnership with Roger Carter and C2M Racing ended at the beginning of August due to lack of sponsorship. Larry ended the association with them eleventh in the points standings.

    Less than two weeks later, Larry announced that he would be driving for Deware Racing Group.

    “What impressed me most about Deware Racing is the way they want to market and develop me. They want me to shadow Kevin Lepage, to teach me and train me. It’s more than anyone had ever done for me. I’ve never had that kind of coaching and advice.”

    Larry credits much of his success in life to his wife, Alicia.

    “I look up to my wife because of the things she’s overcome and the way she’s helped me with my career. She keeps me focused.”

    When it comes to racing, he relies on the advice of fellow driver, Donnie Neuenberger.

    “I’ve known him for years but we’ve become really close friends over the last year or so. He gives me the best advice in the world. He’s been there, he’s done that and he knows what’s going on. He pushes me in the direction I need to go.”

    As the interview came to an end, we spent the last few minutes talking about our mutual love of racing. I told him how thrilling it was for me to take a pace car ride around the historic track at Darlington Raceway.

    He laughed as he told me about the exhilaration of driving 200 mph at Pocono going into the front stretch, coming up on turn one and thinking to himself, “I gotta turn now, are you kidding me?”

    As he talked about racing and his anticipation of the 2013 season, the excitement in his voice was contagious.

    Larry knows better than most that the future is uncertain but the word quit is not in his vocabulary. He also has some advice for those whose dreams are yet unfulfilled.

    “Fight for your dream, protect it, defend it, and I promise you’ll make it through.”

  • Kurt Busch Continues Campaign for Military Families with Special Chicagoland Raffle

    Kurt Busch Continues Campaign for Military Families with Special Chicagoland Raffle

    [media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”210″][/media-credit]While Kurt Busch may have had a rough time at Michigan International Speedway last weekend, the driver of the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet knows that a bad race does not compare to some of the hardships endured by those serving our country and their families.

    Because of that commitment, Kurt Busch is continuing his campaign to help the military and their family members through his partnership with the Armed Forces Foundation, this time with a new fundraising raffle.

    “With the purchase of a $10 raffle ticket, you and three of your buddies could win a trip to Chicagoland Speedway for the September 15th and 16th race weekend,” Busch said. “Whether you’re a race fan or not, this weekend will be an experience that you will never forget.”

    “You are going to get a weekend in a luxury coach, complete with food, beverages and entertainment – nothing is spared and this trip has you covered from the moment you arrive until you leave,” Busch continued.

    “If you’re not from Chicago, it’s not a problem,” Busch said. “The AFF will provide you with Southwest Airline tickets to get to Chicago.”

    “It really is a unique way to experience a race weekend.”

    The raffle is being done in partnership with Star Coach Race Tours and includes infield tickets to all Chicagoland races (Cup and Nationwide), food, luxury accommodations and a meet and greet with Kurt Busch.

    The best part, according to Busch is that all of the proceeds benefit the Armed Forces Foundation (AFF), a charity near and dear to his heart. AFF is a nonprofit organization offering vital assistance to active-duty and retired personnel, National Guard, Reserve and military families.

    One of the families that has been helped by AFF was Dina Gittings, mother of US Army Reserve SGT Anatoly Ulentsov, who was critically injured while in service.

    “As many other civilians I have learned about the US Armed Forces Foundation (AFF) in the very traumatic times of a personal tragedy,” Ms. Gittings said. “On March 31st, I arrived from New York City to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) on short notice to attend to my only son who had been critically injured.”

    “On my arrival, I knew no one in my son’s unit and was absolutely unaware about support organizations which could provide any help until I was directed to the AFF by one of my son’s superiors at the unit,” Gittings continued.

    “During my 12-day stay by my son’s side until he had finally succumbed to his injury and AFF helped me financially by taken the burden of an expensive air fare and the funeral arrangements which otherwise would be very difficult for me to afford,” Gittings said. “AFF made the best possible efforts to help me in the times of tragedy and need and did it with much dignity and love.”

    AFF also provides financial assistance to military families in need and the charity raffle will benefit this program area as well.

    An example of a family that was helped through the financial assistance program was the Bayley family, who simply needed a little extra to meet their car payment at a most traumatic time in their lives.

    “We have experienced what we believe was the worst year of our lives,” Mrs. Bayley said. “My 26 year old son suffered a spinal cord injury while in service, is now a quadriplegic, and will be so the rest of his life and we also had to deal with 9 year old daughter’s brain tumor.”

    “We depleted our savings and had to seek financial assistance,” Bayley continued. “The break from our car payments, which were a month behind, was wonderful.”

    One final AFF program that will benefit from this raffle is the ‘Troops to the Track Program.’ This special opportunity is provided for troops to attend race weekend events and to interact with NASCAR drivers, such as Busch and his fellow competitors.

    Recently, SGT Stephen Wayne Jackel, Jr., US Army Combat Engineer, participated in a ‘Troops to the Track’ event.

    “This was a trip to remember,” Jackel said. “I met several individuals who changed my life for the better.”

    “From Kurt Busch to all of the drivers of NASCAR that gave us wounded warriors a standing ovation, they have given me the confidence to overcome the adversities I faced after being hit by an Improvised Explosive Device in Afghanistan.”

    “AFF has touched so many lives through their dedication to mend our wounds,” Jackel continued. “They have a special place in my heart.”

    To help AFF and its many programs for those who serve and to participate in the AFF Chicagoland raffle, visit . The raffle closes after the Bristol race this weekend.

  • Interview with Justin Lofton, driver of the NCWTS No.6 Chevrolet

    Interview with Justin Lofton, driver of the NCWTS No.6 Chevrolet

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Tammyrae Benscoter” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Justin Lofton, driver of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) No.6 Chevrolet currently sits fourth in the series standings with one win, four top-5 and nine top-10 finishes, gave me the opportunity to talk to him and ask a couple of questions.

    1. How did you get into NASCAR?

    “Honestly, how it all started was in Baja California, I met the gentlemen of Dave Smith of Colorado Springs and he encouraged me to drive race cars a career. He had some connections in the east coast. He was good friends with Jack Roush so he just guided me thru going all the steps from going from the dessert to the pavement, racing late models in Irwindale, next into the Nascar Grand Am West Series which is the K&N Pro Series West and then just introduced me to influencing people along the way to help me in my career.”

    2. So then you went into the ARCA Series? How was the Challenge of that series?

    “It was really fun. We won about the 4th time we ran. When I was running in the dessert, we were running in a high horsepower car that we could use at the time. When we went into the K&N Pro series we were limited on the amount of horsepower so to get back in the car that had a lot of horse power and I could go full throttle into the corner, it was a really big relief. We had a lot of success off the bat. Then in 09 we had a lot of success in that season and my team was behind me and I had a great owner.”

    3. You went on to win the championship that year. What did that feel like?

    “You know that was really cool. The sacrifice you take on life and the family takes on helping you that is the big thing. I don’t think that is projected enough in this sport is the family sacrifice and the family support that every driver and every team has behind them. There was a deal to accomplish at the end of 2008 that me, my dad and my owner, Eddie Sharp, sat down and said our goal this year is to win the championship and we basically handpicked the guys that were recently released from Ganassi racing, brought them over and there mindset was the exact same thing. They want to win a championship, so to be able to set a goal and accomplish it with all my family around is one of the most amazing feelings in the world.”

    4. So after the ARCA series, you moved up to the Truck Series, what was that like?

    “Towards the end of the 09 season, I moved from ESR to Red horse racing to debut in the trucks and I spent 2010 with them.”

    5. So you spent 2010 with them and you had a good season but not the best, how did you keep up the momentum and what was the mind set for the following year?

    “Throughout the 2010 season, we were making progress thru the year which was a good thing but we started out Daytona very rough and barely made turn 3 before wrecking. Some crashes were not my fault, you just got caught up in it. It was just rough thru the first half of the season and there was a doubt in my mind that was not where we wanted to be or I wanted to be. So then I jumped into a Nationwide Car, a couple of times throughout the 2010 year, and I was really fast but didn’t have the finishes, that we should of gotten but for different circumstances but we didn’t. I showed that I could do it and it kept me alive in the truck series. We brought on Terry Cook to be my spotter and we just progressed really well. We knew that winning a race would be nice but that just was not realistic for us. So we were just showing progress and at the end of the season, a few teams were interested in me and that when I joined Germain racing for the 2011 season. It was unfortunate because we just didn’t have the sponsorship and the money and that was when we rejoined Eddie Sharp Racing last year in Kentucky.”

    6. And Wow! What a statement you made with them this year! You got your first win this year in Charlotte!

    “That was really cool! It was great to have the success we were having and it felt like we were just rejoining from the ARCA series. We had some decent equipment  but we decided to buy some Kevin Harvick Incorporated and we switched to Chevy and that was when we starting getting really good. We were just so fast off the truck at Daytona and finished 3rd and we actually had a chance to race for the win was awesome. You know it has been a difficult road. We have been living the high life last couple months for sure and want to continue to do that.”

    7. You are 18 points out of the lead from Timothy Peters in the Camping World Truck Series, What do you need to do to get back up there?

    “We need to be consistent. We need to have good finishes and when we are having a tough time, we just need to try and get the best we can do. Our Morale is very high on this team so we just need to keep it up. We have the confidence and the tools and just need to use them correctly. We just need to keep doing what we did at the beginning of the season which is having fun and going out and trying to win races.”

    8. There have been rumors that the truck series may add one or two races, which races tracks would you like to see?

    “We have to have a road course for the Trucks! I would like the Glen, Road America is fun, Montreal would be fun but if I had to choose to go BACK to one, it would be Darlington but that is if we have to go back. I would want them to add some Road Courses though.”

     

    Thank you Justin for letting me interview you!

  • Behind the Scenes Look at the Michigan International Speedway with the Track President

    Behind the Scenes Look at the Michigan International Speedway with the Track President

    [media-credit name=”Dan Sanger” align=”alignright” width=”295″][/media-credit]Want a great fan experience? Head out to the Michigan International Speedway this weekend for the Pure Michigan 400. The races at Michigan are always a blast and below the President of the Michigan International Speedway told me some cool details of different things happening at the track. For the upcoming Pure Michigan 400, stakes are high for some drivers who are aiming to get in the Chase. Some drivers find themselves in a “win or go home” strategy to make the Chase. We’ve seen upsets at the Michigan International Speedway before and this year we could see some of the biggest upsets ever.

    After the repaving of the track last fall, it is now the fastest in NASCAR and fast tracks bring great racing. Dale Earnhardt Jr broke his winless streak in the June race this year and he could get back to victory lane this coming weekend. With all the exciting events happening at the Michigan International Speedway, we will see a great racing weekend.

    Recently I was able to talk to the President of the Michigan International Speedway, Roger Curtis, and he gave me some exclusive information on different things happening at the speedway. Below you can see Roger’s responses to my questions and find out what’s happening at the Michigan International Speedway.

    What are some changes the Speedway has made for the upcoming August race?

    “SPEED!  With the repave completed last fall, we have become NASCAR’s fastest track with speeds close to 200 mph.  With the speeds, there has been some great racing.  The Quicken Loans 400 was fantastic and drivers have told me that the Pure Michigan 400 will be even better after the last Goodyear tire test a couple of weeks ago.  The racing in June was outstanding so I can’t wait to see this race!  They will also see the new Budweiser Party Patio in Turn 4.  It is great place to visit during the race.  It will take your breath away seeing cars fly by you at close to 200 MPH at ground level.  It is also a great place to visit “after hours” for a great party.”

    What has been your favorite change the track has made?

    “Fixing our traffic issues from years ago.  To me, this was one of those defining moments for us and our fans.  I would also add just making our place a great fan experience.  We view ourselves a lot more like Disney than a sports facility.  Our vision is to create lasting memories for every person every time.  We are not perfect, but our fans now know that we sincerely care about them and give back in so many ways – from lower prices to investing $65 million into improving the facility, to our Fan Appreciation program that gives fans once-in-a-lifetime experiences like no other track.”

    With Dale Earnhardt Jr getting back to victory lane in June at Michigan, did you see a jump in ticket sales for the August race?

    “We did, not only from Jr winning, but just from the great racing and the awesome speeds that fans saw.  I told Dale Jr in Victory Lane that he didn’t have to wait for Leap Year to win at MIS again!  I think he will be the favorite coming into the Pure Michigan 400 so Jr. Nation should make their way to the Irish Hills!”

    What are some of your favorite behind the scenes aspects at the Michigan International Speedway that fans can’t see on TV?

    “All of the campers and the parties in our beautiful campgrounds! Most of our team camps here on race weekend, as do I.  I spend all of my evenings visiting the campgrounds and hanging out with the fans.  It is like a “focus group” for me, but also allows fans to hear the track’s perspective.  Plus, I just love doing it.  I have made some very good friends over the years and I make new ones each weekend. It is amazing what a community it becomes and the friends that are made on a race weekend.  You can come here to camp knowing no one and leave with lifelong friends.  Heck, I even married a couple in Gatorade Victory Lane June!”

    After the tragic lightning strike at Pocono, what would MIS do if a storm was approaching and the race was over?

    “That was very tragic and out thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all those affected in Pocono.  The safety of our guests is absolutely our No. 1 priority and focus.  We have several things in place for any type of emergency, including having the National Weather Service on site with their equipment.  If the NWS informed us of incoming dangerous weather, we would immediately communicate with our fans.”

    How would the Speedway alert the fans of the incoming weather?

    “We have several ways to do so from PA, scoreboard, Sprint Visions, Twitter, Facebook, our texting service, MRN, our mobile app, our ushers, and emergency vehicles going through the campgrounds.  In the end, no matter what you do, you never can be 100 percent certain when dealing with nature, but you are diligent and do all that you can and put everything that you can in place, to minimize all risks.”

    Are there any big changes the speedway is planning before the 2013 races?

    “We are upgrading our center grandstands restrooms and building a new restroom in the infield.  We are also improving our on-site technology so fans can better access social media no matter their cell phone carrier and we will begin installing WIFI hot spots around the facility.  We will also be making improvements to our New Holland Fan Plaza and Kids Zone.”

    What does the track president do on race weekend? 

    “I do have some “official” duties – meeting our great sponsors, government officials, etc., but I am a race fan.  Before I became President, I came to MIS many times with my wife and our family and friends as fans, so I spend as much time as I possibly can interacting with fans.  Whether I am riding the trams, walking in the New Holland Fan Plaza, meeting guests with pit passes, hanging out in the campgrounds, or even sitting in the stands, I love visiting our fans.  I even pick a fan to give out a special Fan Trophy to the winner of our Cup races.”

     What do you expect of the upcoming race?

    “I love this wild card deal that NASCAR put in place last year.  It is really added a lot of excitement and tension to the these last few races and the Pure Michigan 400 is going to be very critical for a lot of very good drivers who need to win to get in the Chase, so I expect a lot of action, very fast, and very fun as always!”

     What do you most look forward to this race weekend?

    “Visiting with the fans and thanking them for choosing to come to our beautiful track.  It is amazing how many fans we have had the past few years, even with the tough economy.  It shows that we have the best fans here in Michigan, the upper Midwest and Canada and I want to personally let them know that!”

     

     

  • Looking out for a champion: Eddie D’Hondt

    Looking out for a champion: Eddie D’Hondt

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”168″][/media-credit]How did you become a spotter?
    “Well, I used to drive late models and modified’s in the NASCAR touring division. I first drove to Charlotte in 1996. I became a General Manager since I have a good business background and we needed a spotter one day for the Cup race with Bill Elliott when I was a general manager there so I just started doing it and I’ve been doing it ever since 12-13 years ago.”

    Entering adulthood, was your plan originally to work in auto racing or did you have another plan for your future?
    “Everything just kind of fell into place. I went to high school and college at C.W. Post on a Baseball and academic scholarship and I went there and started commercial window business in Manhattan where we made and sold commercial window systems and I just raced in the area. I did that for about 15-16 years. But, I raced all over the East Coast while I did that. A bunch of us moved down to Charlotte in 1996, Tommy Baldwin, myself, and Steve Park, and it just kind of all evolved.”

    How did you manage your time between your business and your racing?
    “We had very little sleep. I had to wake up at four o’clock every day to travel to my job and then come home and be with my family for a little while and then go to the shop and work on my race cars and go to be at 12:30-one o’clock every night.”

    What has been the biggest challenge that you’ve faced in your career?
    “I think the change in it all. After about four years I went to work for Bill Elliott as his General Manager. I wanted to work with him for the rest of my life. His career was winding down and Ray Evernham came up to me and asked me if I can convince Bill to drive for him as he was going to start up a Dodge team and he wanted me to come and be his General Manager. Eventually he bought out Bill Elliott Racing. After that I became the GM at Evernham Motorsports. But, the biggest challenge has been changing jobs because the platform of the sport changes. I worked with Robert Yates for almost four years and became like a second son to him and the challenge itself has been to pick up teams from the ground and the business changes in one way or another. The change of it is a little bit devastating but you have to try to make the best of it in the long term.”

    Can you elaborate on your relationship with Robert Yates, Tommy Baldwin, and Ray Evernham?
    “Tommy and I have been best friends for 37 years, our friendship goes back when he was seven years old and I stuffed him in a tire and rolled him down a hill in the mud and we became best friend’s ever since. His dad and I were extremely close. As far as Ray goes, I knew him from back home and when I came down here and I was always happy for him and his accomplishments. Then I started working for him for a while. Robert and getting to know him and getting to run his company and turning it around was a pretty big change from when I got there. I can say that I became a second son to him and after three and a half years his career wound down and sold the team. I spent so much time with these people, it’s pretty easy to build a relationship with them. You spend more time with the people you work with than your own family.”

    What years did you work with RYR and what did you do to turn around the team?
    “I started in the last two races in 2003 and I left mid-season 2006. When I left, there was trouble financially. When I got there, they had two top ten’s between Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler and then the next year they had two wins, 23 tops ten’s and when I took over it totally changed a lot of the ways things were going on. They just needed someone to come in and give a fresh look at it. We won Talladega in 2005 and it was also the last time Dale Jarrett won a race. It was pretty good for a couple of years and they ran well.”

    How do you take that experience you have with managing teams and taking it to the teams when your spotting?
    “There aren’t that many parts of the managerial side that play a role while spotting, it’s more of my time as a driver. I make it seem like the driver’s I’m working with are in my shoes.”

    Previously, you worked with Kyle Busch, this season you’re working with Jeff Gordon and Justin Allgair. What differences do you see between the two drivers compared to other drivers you worked with in the past?
    “Jeff is a Cup Series professional and he’s extremely professional in his approach as he never ever gets angry, he doesn’t call out anyone on our team and when something goes wrong he’s the positive guy that takes care of everything and he’s extremely talented. Kyle is also talented, but he’s more exaggerated in his feelings and emotions. All of the stuff that is happening to him is happening for the first time when Jeff has been through all of it, winning four championships and having a lot of experience. With Kyle, he has all of the talent in the world to win multiple championships, but they are totally different personalities. They’re both very good but on two parts of the spectrum.”

    What are the differences which you have witnessed going from Joe Gibbs Racing to Hendrick Motorsports?
    “I think that they’re very similar in how they approach things on the performance side. My son works at JGR and I’m very happy for him. At HMS, it’s very polished, they have more years than JGR, JGR started up after HMS so you can see that the experience things that HMS has with the championships between Jimmie Johnson and Jeff in house as opposed to just three with JGR with Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte. It’s just the maturity of the organization. Gibbs will get to winning championships in years to come, but I think Hendrick stand on its own platform.”

    What does your OLDEST son do with JGR?
    “He is a mechanic for the No. 18 Nationwide team.”

    Besides being a spotter, what additional roles do you have with the team?
    “None, that is all I do with the No. 24 team. I also spot for Miguel Paludo and Justin Allgair. I do contract work for drivers and teams, but that’s all I do.”

    When not spotting or writing up contracts, what do you usually do?
    “Well I have two dogs that I look after and take care of in my house. I’ve been doing a lot of laundry these days because we’re in mid-season form and get home at four o’clock in the morning on Saturday night.”

    Does the speed of the sport, going week-to-week ever get to you?
    “Yeah it does, but, after all these years, I’ve gotten a pretty good basis of it without overwhelming me. I can see that happening to some young kids that drive. But, I started all of this in 1981 and have been through it for a quite amount of years. The schedule isn’t foreign to me. It used to be a lot harder with all of the testing where we spent the weekend at the racetrack and then go to another track for three days to test.”

    How much longer do you plan on spotting?
    “I don’t really know. I don’t really have a plan. I’ll probably keep going as long as I can do it. I enjoy working for the best company in the business and the best driver in the business. But, I don’t really have a plan.”

    Once you do retire, what will you do with all the free time every weekend?
    “I don’t know (chuckles). That’s a good question, but I’m not sure yet. Maybe I’ll consult for people. It’s just in my blood and it’s really hard to walk away from it.”

    With your managerial background, what is the possibility of you owning a team in the future?
    “I owned two Nationwide teams with Tommy Baldwin and myself and then I had my own Nationwide team and ARCA team with Randy Humphrey. I might get back to it one day, but it would be when the economy turns around a little bit better and when I can get people to be behind me to keep it financially stable. There was a couple of times around when Tommy and I built teams that were very strong, but we couldn’t find the funding.”

    The Nationwide team you owned a few years ago in 2008 or 2009 right?
    “That sounds roughly correct. The last Nationwide team I owned, Kyle drove for us at Watkins Glen and finished second. But I also owned the start and park teams with Randy Humphrey a few years ago. We were trying to build a full-time Nationwide team but we could never get the money to do it. But, the Nationwide team that Tommy and I had was sponsored by Unilever and is still around today.”

  • Denny Hamlin’s Mom Advises Son to Cherish Every Moment

    Denny Hamlin’s Mom Advises Son to Cherish Every Moment

    [media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan onpitroad.com” align=”alignright” width=”218″][/media-credit]Although Denny Hamlin’s mother Mary Lou spends almost every weekend at the track, working her son’s merchandise hauler and interacting with the fans, she cherished a very special moment this past weekend at Pocono.

    “Denny and Jordan are going to be parents and we’re really looking forward to it,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “This is our first biological grandchild. We have an adopted son that has three and two step-daughters that have two. “

    “They’ll know the end of August what they are having.”

    While beaming with pride, she also recognizes that this is another major milestone in her son’s life and one that means he continues to forge his own path in life.

    “That was one of the things that was really difficult for his dad and I,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “We were so used to spending every weekend together with Denny.”

    “We did go karts since he was seven and then Denny went right into the stock cars every weekend,” Mary Lou Hamlin continued. “That is the hardest thing was not seeing or talking to him all the time every weekend.”

    “I have to look at it like empty nesting, like parents when their kids go away to college.”

    Mary Lou Hamlin admitted that her family has always been close, having come from a family with five other brothers and sisters. Hamlin’s mother was a single parent, raising them all as a tight knit group.

    “We were always really, really close,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “Denny’s grandmother passed away when she was 91 years old, but one thing she always looked forward to and kept her going was watching Denny on Sundays.”

    “I’m so glad that she got to see him make it to this level,” Hamlin continued. “Every Sunday, she would wear her Denny T-shirt and her No. 11 socks.”

    “It was so funny because wherever she would go, would always ask people if they were NASCAR fans and if they knew Denny Hamlin,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “She, needless to say, was very, very proud.”

    In addition to her close-knit family and her time with her son, Mary Lou Hamlin also cherishes the time that she gets to spend with Denny’s fans.

    “I’m very fortunate,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “By doing the merchandise trailer, I get to meet his fans, which is great.”

    “I also run his fan club so that connects me to his fan base,” Hamlin continued. “It’s still surreal to see people wearing T-shirts on with Denny’s face on it.”

    “I enjoy the fan club, especially reading all the letters,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “It’s tough sometimes to gather everything together that Denny needs to sign. It takes up a lot of time.”

    “But what’s good is that I can do it when I want to during the day,” Hamlin continued. “I can run my errands, go by FedEx and things like that. Then at 2:00 in the morning, I can be putting together all the packets.”

    While Hamlin cherishes every moment at the track, she admits that it is a grueling lifestyle. But she also has NASCAR racing in her blood, which has made all the sacrifices along the way in Denny’s career worthwhile.

    “People think it is so great but it is a lot of work,” Hamlin said. “It’s a lot of walking and a lot of heat and the challenges of getting in and out of the track.”

    “But we have always been NASCAR fans and that’s how we got into it,” Hamlin continued. “From the time Denny was little, he would sit on his dad’s lap on Sunday afternoons and watch the NASCAR races.”

    “When Denny was seven, a friend of ours suggested that he race go karts, “Hamlin said. “His dad knew from that moment on that he definitely had something.”

    “But we also realized that there are a thousand other Denny Hamlins out there that never get the chance,” Hamlin continued. “Denny happened to be at the right place at the right time. He had good friends that helped him along the way to get him there.”

    “We had to make sacrifices along the way, however, our other children were grown and we only had Denny,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “So, by the time he had gotten into stock cars and we had run out of money, we decided since all of our other children were grown, nobody’s going to have this burden but us.”

    “So, we decided to put all the chips in because we knew that he had something,” Hamlin continued. “We hoped that he got the opportunity and he did.”

    Mary Lou Hamlin acknowledged that not only does her family help her each and every day in the NASCAR adventure but she also has a great network of support with other drivers’ moms, even if they don’t get to see each other quite as often as she would like.

    “Unfortunately, we don’t get to see each other very often,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “Mother’s Day is when we all get to see each other at the race track.”

    “However, when Denny first got into racing and I was looking into starting a fan club, I did spend time with Tony Stewart’s mom Pam,” Hamlin continued. “She told me her ins and outs and what to do.”

    “Kurt and Kyle Busch’s mom and I sometimes go to lunch and shoot the bull, which is nice too.”

    One of the challenges of also being a NASCAR mom is finding that balance in life that so many mothers find difficult, especially when it comes to taking care of herself and not just her racing obligations.

    “It’s hard because the four days that I’m home, I have to make sure I have all my orders done,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “So, I’ll work 24 hours if I have to to get all the orders done before I leave.”

    “It is hard living out of a suitcase because you empty it out just to pack it back up again,” Hamlin continued. “But it gives me a break and I keep thinking that I’m not going to be able to do this for a long, long time.”

    “So, I want to take advantage of it and see different places, which I really enjoy.”

    Whether with Denny on race weekend, in the merchandise hauler, or interacting with fans, Mary Lou Hamlin has cherished every moment of her son’s racing career. But she also has one bit of advice for the dad to be.

    “Cherish the time that you have because it goes by so fast,” Mary Lou Hamlin said. “Then when they’re grown, you look back on the conversations that you’ve had and they mean so much more.”