| "A lot of racers I know want the armored car to back up to the shop, but they forget you've got to earn what's in the truck." Andy Belmont |  |
Many drivers believe a champion racer in every racing town or city across the USA is at home instead of being at big tracks. Ironically those local champions who never reach the top are often held back by their own decisions. Andy Belmont races the big tracks of ARCA with expertise and experience. Belmont's words radiate a winning spirit and tell us what it takes to race. His words are top shelf thoughts and his racing deeds are high competition. We asked Andy to slow down to reading speed just for you.
 | A competitive spirit could be instinctive or taught or both. Do you know where your desire to be a winner came from?
"I think it's instinctive. I don't think you can train that into people. That's my personal feeling?the fire-within-you kind of thing. You either have it or you don't." |
Mentally and physically what's inside a good driver that's not inside most of us?
That's a difficult question. I think the competitive spirit is in all of us somewhere. The fire to actually do it at the level we do it might be something a little different. I don't know that I could put a finger on that. I think it's more about how you were raised and the things that you experienced in your life that maybe point you in a direction."
When did you realize that you could be race car driver?
"I never did. I'm still working on it. It's a work in progress."
How are your plans for the season going?
"We're involved in a full ARCA deal. We're actually pursuing a couple NASCAR races to take care of sponsorship needs. We have some things happening with Verizon that would dictate to us that we run a Busch race or something along those lines. "
After the last lap what do you think of first?
"First thing that comes to mind is where we finished. Obviously, if we've crashed, I'm usually a fiery guy and not really happy about it. We're owner-operators. We have to pay for fixing this stuff. If we've had a good run and raced hard all day there's a level of satisfaction that comes with producing a team that produces results. Right now we're poised. Even when we break, we're in position to win a race. We know there are going to be mechanical failures and we do our best to alleviate them. When we're disappointed in a finish, we still feel good about how well we perform."
How does racing feel now as compared to when you started?
"Partially we're better prepared because of the knowledge and wisdom you get by getting older. The business has changed as far as the procurement of funding. That's changed dramatically. The race cars have become more modernized, but the workload and intensity level to try to perform at the top levels. That's never changed."
During a long season how do you remain calm?
"Most people that know me would say that never happens."
Sponsorships are a big part of racing and you seem to do well at getting major sponsorships. Is there a secret to that?
"I don't know that it's a secret. A lot of folks out there seeking sponsorships don't understand sponsorships. If you don't understand sponsorships it's hard to procure funding. The reality of it is that sponsorship is sales. It's a business. What we're selling is a marketing tool and if my tool doesn't have any value, there's no sense buying it."
"I'm not trying to make it complicated, but I feel we have done a good job of delivering a good return on investment to these folks. In the last five years we've had AOL, York Comcheck, World Travel Partners, Menard, Panhandle Slim. We've had a lot of great companies to work with?Southern Pan Services, Continental Fire and Safety...a lot of big companies that have come along because we provide a return, whether it's in experience for employees at the race track or ride drives for employees in the cars. Bottom line is that we give them a perceived value back for what they have invested. I think people miss that. A lot of racers I know want the armored car to back up to the shop, but they forget you've got to earn what's in the truck.
What thoughts would you want your fans to know about winning?
"Forty or so cars start the race every week. The front car takes the checker and that's the winner, but in racing there are winners in a lot of different areas. It's more about? you're winners too if you had great pits stops. If you win the pit crew race, you're winners. If you had the best appearing car, you're winners. There are so many different ways you can win on any given day without necessarily driving into victory lane. That is the emotional part of the business that you have to strive for, because the reality is, there is always going to be a better funded team, a Hendrick Motorsports, out there that has it all together and you're looking for any given day."
Additional Comments:
"I'm currently employed by Verizon and we'd like for you to dial 1-800-USE-THE-VZ when you make a collect call and we'd like you to buy our phone cards and buy our racing products when it's up on site. Beyond that makes sure you bring your kids to the race track and make sure they're safe getting there and going home."
