Starting at the Bottom

Starting at the Bottom
by Beverly Terrill

Have you ever thought about the path that someone great took to get where they are today? Let's look at Dale Earnhardt Jr. His Dad didn't say "OK son, here is your car and a sponsor, run the Busch series this year". Junior had to work on his own car and race locally to prove he had any ability to move into the more popular series.

It's the same with getting a job in the racing industry. Everyone wants to work for NASCAR, more specifically Winston Cup. But do you realize that there are many more racing opportunities all over the US?

In order to work for Winston Cup, you will most likely have to move to North Carolina, which I may say is a beautiful place to live. But what if your family doesn't want to be uprooted. There are changes in teams all the time and you don't want to make a dramatic life change only to find that your team is not going to afford to race next season.

What if working in the racing industry doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea? Those teams work long hours and many members work all week and travel on the weekend.

These are just a couple of the worst case scenarios. However, to avoid a life changing event before your ready, why not start at a different (not necessarily lower) level than Winston Cup.

There are many different series in all areas. For instance, you have the Winston West and the Hooters Cup. Some of these teams race local and on the road. You could gain experience in all aspects of racing while working your regular job in some cases. The same applies to drag racing. There are many teams that race traveling Series but they are considered amateur. If you start with one of these teams, you will gain not only knowledge but contacts that you may need to further your career.

Working in Winston Cup is a great job no matter what you do, from public relations to the janitor. But sometimes the reality does not equate to the dream. Involve yourself with the local track or a traveling series that is close to home. This will give you some perspective as to what you can expect in other racing series.

Never let go of your dream but be sure before you alter your life, you do a reality check. What will this mean to my family life? Do I have the stamina to keep going if my team shuts down? Do I have the experience to move to another team if needed? Am I doing this for the right reasons?

If at all possible, try to talk with others who currently or previously worked in the industry. When you interview with teams, ask questions and be realistic about what you are willing to do.

Good luck to all of you who are currently searching for a job in the racing industry!