QuestionI'm John. I'm 21 and from Ohio and I was wondering how to get a racing career started. I'd like to end up in NASCAR if possible but I have no idea on how to get my career started if it's possible. Thanks!
AnswerIf you are interested in becoming a driver you are starting a bit late. Most of the top name drivers nowdays started on go carts when they were 7 or 8 years old. The talent required to be a top NASCAR driver is very rare, and comes from being in a competitive situation from the earliest years. This is where Jeff Gordon , Jimmy Johnson, Tony Stewart, Kyle Bush and many many more started. David Reutemann was born to it. I used to watch his grandfather race stocks around here, and his dad who is my age is a mid-level pro stock car driver.
Now then , there are many levels of NASCAR, and many people make a darn comfortable living racing in the lower levels, dirt modifieds, limited late models and so forth.
It takes an outgoing personality, willingness to work unbelievble hours in car preparation then sit and sign autographs until you are ready to drop, then sign some more before you get to go racing.
How should you start, get out to your local stock car track, learn what's going on there, and decide whst you want to do. If being on a big name crew is something you could be interested in, you need to be in tip top physical shape, but the driving talent would not be needed. Note though, that smokers and drinkers, drug users, and the like, simply aren't welcome. So once you see what's happening there, look for the next levels in your area, ARCA races , ASA and so forth. also, subscribe immediately to Circle Track Magazine, it's the best by far, and is cheap. Go to www.circletrack.com and sign up. You'll learn a lot from reading that mag, especially the technical articles.
I'm sure you have a couple of questions I havne't answered, feel free to send a follow up or two.
Sincerely,
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida .
