From: Drag Review Magazine
How did you get into racing?
I got in with a group of guys at college that had a new '66 Chevelle 396 Super Sports and started going to the local track with them. It grew on me quickly and I really have never looked back. Actually, I was away from the sport while in the military and early in my work career. When they built Kanawha Valley Dragway here in the early 90s that was all it took to get back into it at full speed.
Why do you enjoy racing?
It is a great sport. I started back at Kanawha Valley with a '66 Chevelle that was not even tubbed and I ran the Box class. It is fun when you can have an old car and be competitive. With bracket racing or Rod class racing, you don't have to be the person with the most money to win.
What was your most memorable race?
Tough to decide on this one. Winning the track championship at Kanawha Valley in 1996 in a run-off is high on my list. Winning my first Ironman at a divisional race at Kanawha was also huge, and winning a Pro-Am event at Milan that wrapped up the Divisional title in 2007 comes to mind. Each one of those has special memories.
What is your most memorable racing moment?
Another tough one! My first Ironman definitely was a big moment. Winning the first round of my first national event at Norwalk against John Furr in my old taped-up ’66 Chevelle also stands out. But, most of all, I would have to say being asked to do the first round at MIR last year just following the mine disaster in West Virginia. They did a moment of silence then Chip Johnson and I ran the round. It was truly touching.
If you could run the country for a day, what is the first thing you would do?
I would bring all the agencies together that have anything to do with energy and have them encourage the production and use of coal. We have more coal than any other country in the world and we should be using it to make steel, electricity and liquid fuels. All other countries are using coal to build and expand their economies and we should be doing the same thing. We have the best coal miners in the world and we need to keep them working. Washington should be supporting our coal industry, in all states. It fueled the furnaces during our Industrial Revolution and it helped us win two World Wars by forging the steel for our tanks, ships and bullets. We need to help secure our nation today.
What is the secret to life?
Staying active. I am always on the move. The only time I sit still is in a tree stand while deer hunting or when I visit with my mother. She is 88 and still lives by herself. I try to spend time each day I am home just sitting and visiting with her. She used to worry each time I left on a racing trip, but has learned to accept the sport. Every time now that I come home from a trip she wants to know if I have another Ironman.
What are you most proud of in your life?
Being true to myself. I try to be the same person all the time. As racers, we need to be the same person coming down the return road as we were coming into the staging lanes no matter what the final outcome of the round was. Sometimes not an easy thing, but I try to set that example.
What’s the funniest or most interesting thing you have ever seen at a drag strip?
Let’s just say that when you pit with or around Tim Shuck, Homer Carty, Keith Mayers, John Furr and Pat Martin you see many funny and interesting things. Most of which, you don’t want to expand on. It was really funny this year in Pittsburgh to see Pat Martin give Tim Shuck a package of Depends for his birthday and then see Timmy get his birthday cake dumped in his lap. Won’t even go into who did that!
What scares you the most?
Snakes and old age. Both sneak up on you if you are not careful.
What is a bad habit that you would like to break?
Texting while driving. I broke the smoking habit years ago and now with the help of the West Virginia Tobacco Prevention folks, I take my car to schools all around the state talking to our youth concerning tobacco prevention and goal setting.
Last year the Governor of West Virginia gave me a Certificate of Recognition for bringing notoriety to our state through our sport. I would think that is something out of the ordinary in our sport. More governors should see drag racing that way.