Quote:
Originally posted by IROC
Don't get me wrong - I know these guys are talented (and at the very top are simply incredible), but I also think that there are many of us out here in the DE/club racing world that could be just as good given the right "opportunities" growing up.
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I believe this is true.
Among the good DE drivers, what seperates the potential pros from the rest is the single minded determination that could be compaired to, say, some small business owners or any highly focused individuals. That type of focused determination seperates the DE guy who is good but only on the weekend from the DE guy who is good but also thinks about it and works on it 24/7/365 to create opportunity. Having the ability to also talk up and promote yourself is a requirement and invariabily the successful drivers that started out poor have this talent as well.
A guy I know was a successful grass roots pro driver who moved to Charlotte from Florida 20 years ago to get to the next level. He was a pro in that he was paid to drive other peoples cars and had won several NASCAR Late Model stock track championships. He got a tryout in a Cup car for a well known owner against several other drivers. The owner was impressed with his driving and after talking for a while the owner said "You have the tallent to be successful as a driver, no doubt, but you will never be a big winner in Cup for one reason" When asked to explain the owner said "because you aren't a big enough prick". The driver said well if that's what it takes then you are right and and he did not get the job. Not long after he quit driving all together and concentrated on family and raising his two children. True story.