I've always been a big race fan at heart and through all the years have pride in the fact that I continue to keep in touch with my "roots" on the nation's short tracks and the fine talent racing there.

     My years at the track in Nashville allowed me the opportunity to work with the NASCAR Winston Cup and weekly Winston Racing series, the old ALL PRO series and the American Speed Association (ASA) series all at one location. I was blessed with the opportunity to have a key role with Rex Robbins (ASA president), Bob Harmon (then ALL PRO president) and Gary Baker (then owner of Nashville International Raceway) in the inaugural ALL AMERICAN 400 ASA/ALL PRO North-versus-South short-track classic. I'll never forget that first race when we had some 120 of the best short-trackers in the nation on hand. It was, without a doubt, the most exciting race weekend I have ever witnessed.

     That short-track involvement for three years allowed me the chance to get to know then up-and-coming drivers like Rusty Wallace, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin and others...in addition to Trickle, Senneker, Eddy, Ridley, Lindley, Fryar and many more of the short-track veterans.

     Staying in touch with my "roots" allows me to have a good grasp for selecting likely candidates destined to make it to the top in stock car racing if given the right opportunity and necessary "tools" to nurture their talent. A great case in point is the fact that Matt Kenseth caught my eye back in 1991 when he was racing the ARTGO series and on the tracks where Alan Kulwicki honed his skills before moving into NASCAR racing. It is great to see Matt's potential realized and wonderful to see how his career has progressed so far.

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