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2001
NEWS ARCHIVE
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A Commentary By Jane Smith
There are many different views of kids in the pits but for some, growing up in the pits have made them what they are today - some of the best kids around. These kids know how to act in the pits because they were raised in the pits. This is where their love for racing was born and this is why more than likely their kids will have that same love.
There are a group of boys, now young men, that grew up together at Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway. When the races were over and the parents talking about the events of the night, they would be out racing with skateboards, bikes, go-carts, anything they could find. And these were lucky boys because they have so many parents watching over them. You see in the racing community, there are no single set of parents but many sets. They all watch over the children and they all have a part in the way that the children turn out.
Chad Pierce, Michael Faulk, Bobby Orr, Tim Russell, and Rich Clouser all had racing parents. Both of Chad's parents raced and his dad built their cars. I still remember watching Chad as he started out in the then bomber class. He definitely took his knocks and had his fair share of bad luck but little by little, he got better and better and before you knew it, he was racing against his best friend, Rich Clouser. Rich had taken over his dad's bomber after his dad dominated the class and decided to give his son the ride. Like Chad, Rich took his knocks but before you knew it, there was Rich and Chad side-by-side driving all the young ladies in the stands wild. Now Chad has gone to Late Models and runs at New Smyrna Speedway and in the SARA seies. Rich comes back for a visit now and then but he is running at DeSoto Speedway and doing quite well.
Michael Faulk, Tim Russell and Bobby Orr have had big shoes to follow. Tim's dad and Bobby's dad were the famous Horsen Around team - the #30 and #36 Late Model now Super Late. I still have a poster that they signed way back when and it hangs proudly in my 8 year old son's room. When they raced along with Bruce Lawrence, David Rogers, and Gary Balough and a young Wayne Anderson, that was a race. Now, the tides have turned and when you see Michael Faulk in his SARA Series Late Model, you see his well known dad, Lee Faulk, as his crew chief. Lee still drives but not often enough for his fans but Micheal definitely has made Lee a proud papa.
Tim Russell and Bobby Orr have just started their racing careers. Tim is driving a Super Stock at Orlando SpeedWorld with his dad at his side and the Pierce family behind him. You see, the Pierce family built Tim's Super Stock and he definitely has one heck of a pit crew in his pit. Bobby Orr also has his dad Pete behind him in his mini-stock that he is driving. Bobby is a very good spotter and everyone wants him but on Friday night, he is behind the #30 Ugly Duckling Mini-Stock.
Pete Willoughby quit racing when his son Barry Willoughby was about two years old. But Pete has always been by his son's side since his go-karting days. The first time I saw Barry race was at Lakeland and he was in his modified. He did not do too well that night and some nghts after that but I was there when he won his first SARA Modified race and when he won the Championship. I can't tell you how many tears fell down my cheek the night he won, you would have thought I won. Now Barry has moved on to Super Late Models and one of these days, he will make me cry again when he wins.
Brian and Kevin Finney have two men in their family that raced. Their dad and uncle both raced and were well known. They also raced go-karts with Barry and have been friends for many years. When we are lucky enough to have the Finneys at our tracks, all the Finneys come from dad to uncle to cousins to mom. What a great family tradition.
There are so many fathers and sons that race. Pedie Allison and his son Jared, Wayne Clark and his son Tim, Rae Williams (a woman) and her son Geoff, and on and on. These kids grew up in pits and these are good kids. You see, when you race and you race as a family, you never have to worry where your children are, they are with you. Just like the parents, they have the need, the need for speed and the need for that extended family.
Growing up in the pits is not a bad thing. Having irresponsible parents that let their kids run lose in pits, is not good. But for some, it was a very good thing.
Jane Smith
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