Kirk Shelmerdine: NASCAR's Don Quixote

To dream ... the impossible dream ...
To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...
To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...
To run ... where the brave dare not go ...
To right ... the unrightable wrong ...
To love ... pure and chaste from afar ...
To try ... when your arms are too weary ...
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

Like Don Quixote, NASCAR driver Kirk Shelmerdine is on a quest.  And his quest is as equally daunting as the Man of La Mancha's as he tilts at the windmills of the Daytona 500 and running a full Cup season in 2009.

Shelmerdine has led a storied life in NASCAR.  He began his career as crew chief and tire changer at the tender age of 18 years. 

Kirk is most well-known for his stint as crew chief for Richard Childress Racing, with infamous and legendary driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

During that time, Shelmerdine was bestowed the honor of Mechanic of the Year and was winner of multiple UNOCAL Pit Crew Race Competitions.  His record speaks for itself—246 top 10 finishes, 145 top five finishes, 14 poles and 46 wins during these magical seasons.

But in 2002, Shelmerdine decided that he needed to tilt at other windmills.  He wanted to chase that impossible dream of actually driving the car, instead of watching it go around the track.

And so he has been on this quest since then, attempting to drive in as many races as he could afford to, or qualify his way into the show.  He has not been terribly successful in his quest, but continues to pursue his dream with the passion and fervor of the one and only Don Quixote.

This year, with the economic toll on NASCAR racing, Kirk Shelmerdine has yet again renewed his quest.  He recently announced that he and several partners have bought some of the former cars of Bill Davis Racing and intend to go racing for a full Cup series in 2009.

This is my quest, to follow that star ...
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ...
To fight for the right, without question or pause ...
To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause ...

In a recent interview, Kirk admitted that he was absolutely tilting at windmills in his quest to race in the Daytona 500.   He acknowledged that he only wanted a chance to start the race, even if he ended up ultimately parking the car for the bulk of the race laps.

Shelmerdine, however, shared that he believed in his quest—to complete as many laps as possible and perhaps even gain enough winnings to actually make the show and race full races throughout the remainder of the season.

When asked why he didn’t take on smaller challenges, such as racing in the Nationwide or Truck series, Shelmerdine candidly revealed that he needed that ultimate quest.   Shelmerdine's goal is indeed competing in the Cup series and he will settle for nothing less.

At age 50, we can all only wish that Shelmerdine's quest is successful.  And we leave him with the most famous lyrics from Joe Darion's musical, The Man of La Mancha.

And I know if I'll only be true, to this glorious quest,
That my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm,
when I'm laid to my rest ...
And the world will be better for this:
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

Kirk Shelmerdine, may you indeed reach that unreachable star.