Page 6 of Trading Paint

Remaining focused, I learned everything I could from my dad. We spent many nights together going over set-ups and strategy. He constantly asked me, “Is this what you want?”

Without a fraction of a doubt, it was what I wanted. I never had to think about it.

I understood why he asked though as he had lived this lifestyle his entire life, like me. He began racing at a young age, like me. But unlike me, he didn’t have the financial support from his dad. Sure, grandpa was financially stable now being a lead manufacturer of sprint car engines. Back in the sixties and early seventies, that wasn’t the case.

I had an endless supply of cars, parts and resources readily available when needed but that wasn’t what I valued. What I cherished most was the time spent learning from him as well as reaping the wisdom of the sport that I loved so much.

To this day, I still remember the first sanctioned race I ran with my dad.

It was May 13, 1995. He was racing in the World of Outlaw race at Bloomington Speedway in Indiana. I tagged along with the intention of watching and gaining pointers.

Sway came with us, as did my buddy Tommy and older brother Spencer.

I only intended tojustwatch, but, my dad had other plans.

When we pulled into the pit gate, he stopped at the credentials desk as he usually would.

“Hey Natalie, how are you?” Dad said handing his credentials to her. He scribbled his signature over the insurance and release forms before looking back at me in the back seat. “You need to sign this kid.” He pushed the clipboard at me.

I’m sure the surprised look on my face had something to do with Sway’s sudden outburst of giggles beside me.

“I thought I was watching?” I asked hesitantly. I’ve raced sprint cars before but I had never been in a 410-sprint car.

The World of Outlaws ran 410ci engines in them as opposed to the 360ci engines ran on the Northern Sprint Tour, USAC sprint cars and local tracks.

Apparently...he thought I was ready.

“If you don’t think you can handle it...” his voice trailed off when I glared.

Suddenly I was nervous but I wasn’t about to show it.

“I can handle it.” I stated signing my name on the waiver.

He laughed, as did everyone else in the truck. I signed the release forms and the liability insurance as well.

When we pulled up to the hauler, Sway reached for my arm before we got out.

I smiled looking over my left shoulder at her. “What’s up?”

“Are you okay?” she returned the smile.

“Yeah,” I nodded.

I was more than okay. Sure, I was harboring some nerves but I was also humming with excitement at the chance to be behind the wheel of a 410-sprint car with my dad out there with me.

Dad and I had raced together at Elma messing around and on the track out back but never in a sanctioned race before. This was apointsrace for him and now his son would be out there with him.

I watched him squeeze into the cockpit of his double zero red sprintcar, chuckling to myself that my six foot three dad was able to fit into these cars. Dad was burly and Spencer seemed to take after him in size. They could both be linebackers for the Pittsburg Stealers.

Sway and I made our way over to the hauler where I got in my racing suit to take a few hot laps to get the feel of the car. I took four laps to get a feel for it.

The first lap, I took it easy and cruised around. As I came into turn three on my second lap, I threw it hard—sliding with ease through the ruts, feathering the throttle for control. Pushing the car hard through the corners, I ran the high line that I felt comfortable with.

I could easily feel the difference between the cars, they were faster for one but the feel of the extra horsepower pulling me through the tacky clay was nice. The 360 sprints tend to get bogged down on the tacky tracks if you don’t adjust your timing whereas the 410 glided.

After my few hot laps, I looped back around into the pits to find Sway and Tommy grinning ear to ear.

“What?” I grinned back at them trying to conceal my excitement in any way I could.

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