Like many Americans I lost my full time job in the recession. My job just happened to be a mechanic for a professional NASCAR team. This is the point I started exploring the writing world.
I have enjoyed it quite a bit, and look forward to continuing. But on another bright note my unemployment for the previous sixteen months has come to an end. In a true case of coming full circle, I have returned to the last company I worked with before departing on the several years-long journey of race team competition.
A nice touch to it all is I get to stay within the motorsports industry. Goodridge Corporation provides fittings and hoses to many auto-racing clients. Just as in life, businesses evolve also and I need to relearn the company. But several familiar and friendly faces again surround me. My years of racing experience can still be put to good use.
A few friends have already brought up the point of someday returning to race teams. Judging from their reaction, I think I surprised a few people with my answer. Basically, I am not interested in doing so.
In quitting my current position and joining a NASCAR Cup, Nationwide, or Truck organization if the economy and sponsorship allow, the potential for a large pay increase exists. But then the instability returns.
No business is immune to the peaks and valleys of global economics. But I will lay my odds with a racing-related company versus an actual racing team.
My resume reads like I wish it wouldn’t, with short-term job tenures. I have been with teams for time limits of two months, five months, 10 months, 14 months, 15 months, and nine months. I have lost employment because sponsorship was not renewed, crew chiefs changed and their buddies took my job, and an old racing adage “just because.”
Living alone and in an apartment, I rolled with the racing world’s punches better. Now I look at my wife and children and feel a much greater sense of responsibility to them. I love to race. I love providing for my family even more.
Goodridge has challenges like any other company. Corporate backing loss and the general manager buddy system are not among them.
I am not sure if I am walking away from racing teams or the racing teams walked away from me. It doesn’t matter. It is safe to say after 25 years in the competition end of the sport, that chapter may be now closed to me. I am all right with that.
Quite a few of my friends can be seen on NASCAR television coverage. On Saturday they will be changing rear springs or swapping caster slugs in happy hour trying to gain a precious tenth of a second lap time. I miss the competition. But when I was at the speedway I missed my family, who was a plane ride away.
Beautiful spring, summer, and autumn days will be spent here at home or with my friends going to the local tracks, where racers compete strictly for the love of the sport and spending, not making, money to be there.
For now, don’t look for me grabbing wrenches to adjust truck arm slugs. You can find me either behind a keyboard writing about others surviving at the speedway, in a press box or pit area at your local track on a Saturday night, or possibly even at my neighborhood playground.
I will be the Dad pushing his little girl on the swing set. And having the time of my life.
(Patrick Reynolds is a former NASCAR mechanic who contributes to the One and Done auto racing radio talk show Tuesdays at 11am ET. Listen at www.wsicweb.com)
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Patrick, if I may, how about taking that 25 years of knowledge and put it to use with your local short track teams. They would no doubt welcome the help and you can keep your fingers in the pie.
I have spent more years than I care to count in that wonderful short track world. It may not have been top level NASCAR but have raced damn near everywhere West of the Rockies with some fine teams. All for the love of racing and to get that competition fix. And at the same time I worked my real job and made a living for my family.
Walk away from NA$CAR teams, but there’s a lot of ways to feed that fix and you may find you love it more than you ever have.
Patrick, congratulations on your new adventure. I wish you all the best.
Nothing wrong with “retiring” from competition after 25 YEARS man!! How many pro athletes can say that had that kind of run?! Many of those were frequent team changers too! Best wishes to you & your family!!
Good for you Pat! You can rest assured that all you contributed in those 25 years was very meaningful to those you worked for! Congratulations on your new (old) job and I think you might just have a journalism future as well!!
Look at how far you have come my friend! I could not be happier for you and the wonderful choices you have made and continue to make. Your focus is always on the right thing. XOXO!!!
Patrick, Enjoy where you are and you will see what you have been missing. Life is not about always working and being away from family. Racing has changed so dramatically lifelong employees are not the norm anymore. Thanks for your story as this exact senario is playing out in many workplaces today. My story is quite the same but the industry is different. Its almost like starting life over so just enjoy the ride!
Thank you all for the great wishes. And especially thanks for reading my work.
Way to go Patrick! I spent a good part of my life on the road with several teams and while I wouldn’t take anything for the wonderful adventure, there is life after racing. Enjoy every moment!
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