The Greatest Racer To Never Win

Me:Thanks for letting me interview you dad.
Dad: No problem, I've never been interviewed before except at a job interview.  This is going to be fun.

Me:  Who’s your favorite driver?
Dad: Justin Allgaier.  I like the guys in the Nationwide series.  I think this kid is gonna go all the way.  He’s been showing a lot of potential.  
Me: What do you think of Joey Logano?  Do you think he could live up to the nickname “Best thing since sliced bread?”
Dad: Only if he can continue to play it smart, finish races and not do anything stupid.  That is a hell of a lot of pressure for an 18 year old kid to have to be under.  What the hell were they thinking letting him go up into cup so early?  He should have drove Nationwide for a year then go up to Cup.  If I ran that team he wouldn’t be in Cup. He’d be in ARCA and Nationwide first
Me: Do you think that he’s getting better now?
Dad: Oh yeah the kid is showing some more confidence on the track and he’s finishing more races which is what he needs to do.  I think Zippy is doing a great job with him.
Me: Why don’t you like Dale Jr?
Dad: Honestly?
Me(Nods.)
Dad: He can’t drive.  He’s not that great of a driver.  He can’t find his pit stall.  He’s not all that and a bag of chips.   He seems like a cool guy and I would be okay with him marrying you and letting me live in a life I’ve yet to become accustomed to but I just don’t think he’s a good driver.
Me: Fair enough.  Do you think if we see him around the race shop you could not tell him that you don’t like him and not tell him what he’s doing wrong?
Dad: I can be tactful when I want to.
Me(laughing) Will you want to be tactful?
Dad: If he can find his pit stall the race before sure!  What I would love to do is meet Chad Knaus and talk mechanic talk with him that kid knows what he’s doing!
Me (laughing again) Dad he’s like 38.  You’re only  54 you’re not that old you can’t call Chad a kid okay.
Dad (Laughing) Okay I promise to not call Chad a kid.   Next weeks race is going to be really cool to see how that double file restart works at the road course!  I can’t wait!  You’ll be over to watch it right? We’ll order pizza have a beer and see what stupid thing Kyle Busch does.  He’s a great racer, and the sport is more interesting because he’s in it. But that kid needs to learn tact.  I did think that guitar smashing thing was kinda cool but kinda stupid. He’s a race car driver not  Gene Simmons...
At this point I look at my dad and laugh.
Dad: What?
Me: Nothing Dad. (still laughing)

The picture at the start of this article is a picture of my dad and I at I-80 Speedway.  We were both cheering for Kenny Edwards that night.  We are both kind of slow and didn't connect him to Carl Edwards for awhile we just thought Kenny was a great racer.  Then when Carl would come race at I-80 we'd still cheer for Kenny even though we both thought it would be cool to see Carl flip.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY!  I love you! See you in a few hours for Road Course Racing, beer and pizza!

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