Singing in the Rain

For a few hours on a cool spring morning in Bowmanville, Ontario, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the raw speed, adrenaline and thrills of driving a stock car. The driver of the original “Blue Deuce,” Rusty Wallace, owns a racing school much like the Richard Petty Driving experience. Rusty’s cars and crew were going to be coming up north to give Canadian NASCAR fans a chance to get behind the wheel of a stock car. The track was located at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.

I didn’t get to drive on the famed road course — the one that BKR drivers Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain will be tackling in late August. But I got to race on their half-mile oval called Mosport Speedway. The track hosts a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race, as well as a number of local weekly racing series. But for one morning in May, this short track in Ontario, Canada, would become my Daytona. Reflecting on my amazing experience, it was easy for me to compare some of my thoughts and feelings with what Brad might experience while driving a stock car. Obviously, BK is racing professionally, so they’re not the same thing, but after driving a race car, I feel like I got a glimpse of what Brad and the other drivers go through on a weekly basis.

Now if BK and the other NASCAR drivers were to read this list, they probably would wish that what I felt was all they had to worry about when driving their race cars.

The Pressures of Driving

One of my biggest feelings while completing my racing experience was pressure. I felt this during the training session, when the staff spoke about the cost of damaging a race car. They also mentioned that at sessions prior, they have had up to four people total a race car in one day. When they told me I would be out $60,000 for wrecking a car, it made me think twice about driving without a care. I felt the pressure from my brother and cousin, who also went on the experience with me. We all wanted to be the fastest at our session, and whoever was the fastest would definitely be bringing home some bragging rights with them. I also felt the pressure for personal success.  I didn’t want to be afraid of driving the car due to all the risks involved, but I wanted to drive to the best of my abilities as a first-time racer. I didn’t want any regrets when I was done with my experience.

Imagining the NASCAR Experience

Now if BK and the other NASCAR drivers were to read this list, they probably would wish that what I felt was all they had to worry about when driving their race cars. Throughout his career, BK has endured enormous amounts of pressure. As an up-and-coming racer, he had to prove that he belonged and could race, and be successful during his time with his family-owned team. Finally, he got his opportunity with JR Motorsports, and his first cup starts with James Finch in the No. 9 car, and then at Hendrick Motorsports.  Once he started winning races, he endured the pressure to keep winning and eventually be a title contender. Now that he has won a Sprint Cup and Nationwide Championship, there’s the pressure to stay on top and defend that title and continue to be up front every week. 

On top of the on track pressure there is the off track pressure, which can include: sponsor engagements, maintaining and getting new sponsors to help continue to fund a successful team, being available to fans, signing autographs when you can, and going to fan and sponsor appearances during the week as well as during the race weekend. There are plenty of media obligations, press conferences, interviews for TV or satellite radio or all the interviews during a race weekend.  There is the pressure to help with team morale and to stay on the same page as the team, as they go forward race weekend to race weekend.

Pressure is what drives these gladiators of speed. It can be their fuel for success or in certain drivers’ cases, the pressure can be their downfall.

How Would I Do?

I know that through my short racing experience, I will never truly be able to grasp how it is to be a NASCAR driver, but I know my experience has helped me to understand what it’s like to be under pressure. I know that if I were ever lucky enough to be a big-time driver, I would hope I could climb the ladder through the ranks like BK did!