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7-18-2010
I am writing this in the Dallas airport during a 5-hour delay in my flight back to Texas after last night's NASCAR Nationwide race at Gateway Raceway.
The joys and adventure of travel.
 I do about 40 trips a year; between going to my races to engineer the Level 5 ALMS sports car and, on off weekends, to the Nationwide races to watch Colin. You get used to travel problems and learn fast how to live on the road.
Living on the road... how does a Nationwide Series driver do that each weekend and make the appearances and sponsor commitments at home during the week? Well I know a Nationwide driver and thought I would let you know how it works for Colin and most of the Nationwide drivers.
When Colin got news that Jack Roush was moving him up to the Nationwide Series, the veteran Roush drivers told him he needs to buy a motorhome or his on track performance would suffer. Colin listened and soon Ralph Simon at Lazy Days in Tampa had a great 5-year-old motorhome for Colin. As a new Nationwide Series driver this was a very big stretch to the budget. Then it got worse. He needed to get a pick-up truck to tow behind the motorhome and a golf cart to transport him during the race weekend from the motorhome to the garage and to sponsor appearances. Ford gives him a very nice new pick-up each year to use, but not 2!
 So he bought a 7-year-old Ford F-150. He found a cool golf cart, that qualified for the government tax credit on an electric vehicle.
Ok, now he was set. Well how to get the motorhome to each race? He could not drive it himself to the races because he has to be in the shop working with his crew chief and guys. Add in the appearances for Con-way, Ford, 3M, and Driving Skills for Life and there is no time to drive the motorhome to the races.
In comes Ray Thompson. Ray is a veteran NASCAR motorhome driver. So with the equipment bought (and a severely overextended 21 year old owner), and Ray on board to drive it all over the USA, here is how a typical weekend works for Colin and Ray:
Monday
Ray goes to the store and stocks up the coach with food and supplies for the weekend. Colin is a pretty simple guy so some bread, chicken, snacks and frozen dinners is all it takes.
Tuesday
Ray hooks up the pick up truck with the golf cart in the back to the coach and pulls out of Colin's shop in Charlotte and heads to the track.
Wednesday
Ray will get close to the track and stay in the coach that night.
Thursday
Ray pulls into the assigned parking spot the track has in the owners and drivers lot. He sets up the coach with electric and water service and makes sure everything is ready. He will wash the coach and get the golf cart ready and charged. Colin will fly in with the team on the Roush plane and get a rent car. Colin will get to the track, and he and Ray will be sure they are on the same page for the weekend schedule. Ray will take the pick-up to the motel where the team stays. Colin will have dinner and relax in the coach, sleeping there that night.
Friday
Ray will show up in the morning and be ready for first practice. He will get Colin and drive him in the golf cart to the garage area. Ray has a team radio so he can listen to what is going on and be ready when Colin is done. Colin will spend an hour or so with Rick Vires his crew chief after the session then Ray will take him back to the coach. Ray will usually make dinner on the grill or inside and Colin and his friends, team mates, or fellow drivers will have dinner.
Saturday - Race day
Ray will get to the track and take Colin to his Con-way appearance as well as to the garage for qualifying. Each day Ray stocks the coach and keeps everything running. The drivers lot is a small family with all the coach drivers helping each other out with anything from some butter for dinner to a hose for the water connection. After the race Colin will dash back to the coach for a quick shower and then bolt out to the rent car and to the airport for the flight back to Charlotte on the Roush plane. Ray will load up the coach and put the golf cart in the pick up and connect it to the coach. Ray usually stays at the track that night to let the traffic clear out.
Sunday
Ray will head home or direct to the next race and start the whole process over again. On any NASCAR weekend there are close to 200 Ray's driving for owners, crew chiefs and drivers.
Next time you think about NASCAR drivers travel schedule think about the coach drivers and what they go thru. Well, looks like I may get to go home now, the flight is boarding now. No Roush plane for the parents of NASCAR drivers. Would not trade this life for anything.
Jeff Braun |
