The Next Superstar

There are a ton of good race car drivers out there just watching and waiting on their opportunity to race in one of NASCAR's top three series. I have guys call me every week and ask me how they can get a shot at the "big time." A few years ago I would give them the typical answers: "Just work hard and drive hard," or something like that. I knew at the time I was filling them full of false hope. Now, I tell the people that call to work on knowing how to get sponsors and know how to market yourself. The most important part now is being able to write someone a check or bring a sponsor that will write the check for you. You can drive for just about anyone if you can bring the funds. This doesn't mean you should give up on your dreams, it just means that you need to learn more than just how to drive and how to work on cars.

There are exceptions to this just like there are in every sport and business. Please don't think I am trying to say that no one can do it without the big check but I am saying the majority don't do it without it. Nextel Cup is a little bit of a different story. At that level you will be weeded out if you don't get job done. But, with the other divisions you can certainly get there and stay there if you can come up with the funding.

There has been a trend by the team owners to find that next superstar quicker than the next owner. I think in the last few years that lesson has hit some of the team owners and sponsors hard with bad publicity. The latest incident with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike is another example of teams and sponsors not taking the time to really get to know their drivers. Maybe they don't care as long as the checks clear. There have been some drivers in the past few years that just don't get it. It takes a lot to make me mad about not driving a race car anymore but these guys that are getting suspended for failing the substance abuse policy just make me mad. There are many guys on the roof with me every week spotting that can drive and represent their sponsors and team owners much better than some of the drivers out there getting suspended.

I might not have been the next Jeff Gordon or Dale Jarrett but there is one thing that I can say I had over any of these so called up and coming superstars: respect. Every week that I sat down in a race car I gave everything I had: I drove as hard as I could and I represented my team owners, sponsors, and fans with a high level of respect. They were the ones that made it possible for me to race for a living. These guys that are being suspended just don't get it. They are selfish and very disrespectful.

I didn't say I was perfect but I do get it enough to know that if you are going to drive a race car for a living you need to have some respect for those that will be effected by decisions that you might make. There are a lot of people that depend on you doing your job with a clear head. Not only are you putting yourself in harms way but you are endangering other drivers and crew members. Sure, these things happen in every sport but I believe racing needs to be held to a much higher standard because of the higher risks involved. NASCAR is doing a great job at testing these drivers and taking quick, appropriate action.

I am not a team owner or a sponsor. But, I understand enough to know if I were, I need to look into the character of the superstar I am getting ready to spend my sponsorship money on or accept a check from. Maybe the sport has past me by but I like to believe that self respect and respect for others still has some meaning. I do believe in second chances so I hope all of the drivers that haven't used theirs up will get the help they need and come back to have success on and off the track.

Thankfully, there are many of the guys that do turn out to be the drivers that they are billed to be. They get it and they make the most of knowing that driving a race car is a great job.

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