Three hundred and sixty four days a year, you can ask any athlete, man or woman questions on TV and when they are finished they will usually say, “I want to say hi to my mom.” There is only one day that most will say anything about their dad.
Except on Father’s Day.
NASCAR Nextel Cup takes Mother’s Day off every year, but usually races on Father’s Day. This year in a promotion with Action Performance, they saluted fathers with cars that had their dad’s name on the car and special paint schemes that went along with it. Kyle Petty had Richard on his car; Dale Jarrett had Ned on his car and so on.
This was a fitting way to say thank you to the fathers that have helped their sons get that start in racing. Some think that these fathers gave the start to them with their name, that it was easier to get them in a car because of who they are. That is probably true to a point, but it doesn’t take away the work it takes to be a racing dad, the sacrifice that they make for their sons.
John Bickford, Jeff Gordon’s stepfather, packed up everything they had and moved to Indiana, just so Gordon could race cars there, California wouldn’t let a thirteen year old in a car. Kyle Petty gave the ultimate sacrifice by losing his son Adam in an accident at Loudon, New Hampshire. Bobby Allison gave two of his sons to racing and almost gave his life, too.
Many ask what drives these racers to do such a dangerous sport. It is a question that almost can’t be answered. You can’t put a reason to a desire, and you can’t put a reason to support from a parent.
Those of us that had or have fathers that brought us into the sport are just like the stick and ball parents, we want what our children desire.
Of course we think about the danger, and the uncertainty of work, but racing on every level still burns inside you, it’s nothing you can stop. You press on, in the good times you smile, and in the bad times you endure, but you always want to race – ask 62-year-old Morgan Shepard why he still puts his life on the line in a car.
And that desire comes from inside you, put there, usually, by Dad. To my father and all those that gave us to the sport, and gave their sons to this port, we hope you had a Happy Fathers Day!
Until next time, keep turning left.

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