QuestionI've been obessed with racing since a yound age. I raced 1/4 midgets(age 5-7). I've raced all kind of Hondas and acuras in Scca Solo2 racing. I now campaign a 2003 Ford Mustang Gt in F stock and have done pretty well. I beat a guy at a Cendiv event that placed 8th at Nationals. He was driving a Mach1 that was fully prepped and trailed in. My car is bone stock with good competion tires, no alignment or anything. I raced a shifter kart and won the only weekend I raced. I've been told by all my friends that driving is my calling, but there's the money issue which I don't have. I recently was laid off my job and could move anywhere to follow my passion at the moment. Is there a way to show my talent? I eat sleep and drink racing and would love to be involved with it as a career.
AnswerHi Adam,
Since you don't have a job, maybe you should look at your educational background. If it's possible for you to get a Mechanical Engineering degree, that's where I'd suggest you start. take a few business courses along the way, focused on money and banking, investment stragegies etc.
Sound strange? Ryan Neewman is an engineer, Alan Kulwicki was also, there are several others in NASCAR, and there have been many in various forms of Sports Car Racing.
On the other hand, Randy Pobst who has had factory rides with Porsche, started in Florida in Solo 2, started SCCA racing and won a regional championship or two, proceeded to the Nationals and won a couple of times, all the while marketing himself feverishly until he got a ride with Honda. He's currently driving for Mazda in the Speed World Challenge (I think).
The upper pro series like IRL and Champ Car have their feeder series like the Champ Car Atlantic series . These take some real money, and the average guy would need heavy corporate sponsorship to compete.
If NASCAR is your thing, the Carolinas is the place to be, Be advised , there are a zillion people there ahead of you anzious to get into racing in any job, from sweeping the shop to cleaning toilets. They are willing to do it for free. Getting into racing these days takes tons of determination, perseverance, and probably a ton of money too.
You should probably see what you can do to improve your marketability to the job market, and then start looking around for a realistic place to start. In the meantime, I'd suggest you try to graduate to 'real' road racing in SCCA . The Improved Touring classes are as cheap as racing will ever get, and a good record at several tracks couldn't hurt.
Good luck
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florids
