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May 22, 1999 by Robin Meiser
THE HOBO
When nature calls, you must answer it or to put it more bluntly, "When you gotta go, you gotta go!" Such was the case with me four years ago at Charlotte County Speedway's Annual Points Banquet. I sat and waited through eight limited late model drivers' speeches and I could wait no more, I had to go! As I came out of the ladies' room, I could hear people cheering, especially my table and to my surprise, they were cheering for me. "What in the world is going on?" I said to myself. Well, it turned out that when Limited Late Model Champion Runner-Up Mike "Hobo" Hovis got up to make his speech and thank you's, he thanked his team and his sponsors and ME. I had written a story about him that year for a racing publication and he publicly wanted to show his and his team's appreciation and I missed it!! My ten seconds of fame, down the drain!!!
That's how Hobo is, ever gracious and appreciative, and always a team player. He has that Good Ol' Boy Southern charm and a team that has been together, for the most part, since Charlotte County Speedway opened its pit gate for the first time. He is driver of the #29 Kathco Motor Sports Chevrolet Camaro limited late model. Among his other sponsors are Denco Construction; Thomas Marine Construction; Zep Construction; Custom Cooling and Heating; Banks Engineering; Valenti, Trobec; and Woody Insurance; and Ridgdill and Son. That's a lot of sponsors and a lot of people who believe in Hobo.
The people who believe in him the most though are his pit crew including brothers-in-law Todd and Bobby Shreffler who have been with Hovis from the beginning; Kevin Kaszynski and Baron Pulliam. Hobo's wife, Sandi has also been there from the beginning, even before they were married. The newest addition to this racing family, Ashley Nicole, is due in October but by the time she makes her entrance she will be used to the roar of race cars as future mom, Sandi, never misses Hobo's races.
In the beginning, theirs was a race dream team owned by then Boston Red Sox baseball player and boyhood friend, Mike Greenwell. They raced in the pure stock class and never had to worry about money or sponsors. This went on for several years, as they moved up into the limited late model division and sponsorship deals with the likes of Polaroid. Hovis even attempted a couple of Busch Series races and spent two years racing in the Hooters Late Model Series. After that he tried racing open wheel modifieds and finished second in points at DeSoto Speedway one season. Through it all, he has always called Charlotte County Speedway "home". He came back "home" to race two years ago with a new car owner, Denny Bubar of Denco Construction.
Hobo was the 1994 Limited Late Model champion. In 1999, it looks as if he may be on the way to his second championship as he sits as Points Leader in the limited late model division. Sitting several positions back is his old friend, Greenwell. The two drivers share a friendly rivalry, knowing they can race against each other, cleanly and fairly with neither of them giving an inch. You see, as all race folks know, you have no friends when you are on the racing surface...that is the cardinal rule of racing.
In the old days before the advent of closed trailers at local Speedways, the crew would sit in the back of their open trailer that somehow they rigged up with air conditioning. It was a favorite spot for many of his fellow competitors, especially during the hot summer months. They would all congregate and shoot the breeze waiting for practice to start. These days, they have a closed in trailer with air conditioning and satellite TV to watch the Saturday afternoon races and it is still a favorite gathering spot for his fellow competitors. That's one thing, all his fellow competitors like and respect Hobo. He and his team are just the kind of guys everybody wants to be around. He doesn't talk negatively about his fellow drivers and from a racing official's point of view, I can tell you, he is not what we call a "Whiner". He usually takes the call, good or bad, and does what the flagman tells him to without too much protest but remember, we all have our days!!!
At this year's Annual Points Banquet, I am sure Hobo and his team will be there waiting for his name to be called to come up on stage and get his points trophy. His name may be the last one to be called because at the rate he is going, he will finish well up in the points, if not champion. I'll tell you one thing though, if nature calls for me this year, it is just going to have to wait until Hobo is done because I'm not going anywhere until I hear what he has to say!!!!
- Robin Meiser |
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