Hi Kerry,

I get the "racers aren't athletes" and "they're all a bunch of rednecks" type of comments way too frequently, from people who aren't joking. I find those comments offensive, especially when I hear them being made by some ball-and-stick newspaper hack in a race track media center.

In the years I've been involved in motorsports, I've discovered that some of the smartest people I'll ever meet are involved in racing. The redneck hillbilly stereotype of those involved in racing, particularly stock car racing, may have been accurate back in the 60's, but that certainly is not the case today.

I've worked NASCAR Cup, Busch and Truck series, Indy Racing League, USAC Silver Crown, SCCA Rally, Star Mazda, FF2000, Colo. Hill Climbing, and for the last 12 years, NHRA and IHRA drag racing. Every form of motorsports is full of innovation and ingenuity. The racers themselves put their life on the line every time they compete, and sometimes they lose, not just the race, they lose their life.

As much time as I spend around racing every year, I can't help but be passionate about it and the people in it. ...guess you could tell that, huh?

Bob