When did you first get your start in racing - what series and age?| [FISHWRENCH HOME] | [FISHING ARTICLES] | [RACING ARTICLES] | [FANTASY RACING] | [FISHING REPORTS] | [FW FORUMS] |
Every so often, the staff of Fishwrench.com is let out to talk to real people. We just do this once in awhile, otherwise it could become dangerous. In this issue, Fishwrench.com writer Bob Wood sits down for chat with Dan Bedard, award winning driver in the International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series.
When did you first get your start in racing - what series and age?
I only started racing at the age of 28. That's kind of late by some standards. I started like most drivers in a hobby stock street class. I bought a used racecar ('78 Nova) and completely disassembled it to see what had been done to it. I didn't even own a set of sockets so everything I needed I had to go buy. Starting with a Chilton's manual on how to work on a '78 Nova. I got to the racetrack late and didn't even have time to practice. I unloaded and they put me at the back of the field. So here I was about to start my first race without EVER having turned a lap in ANY type of racecar EVER. You could say I was a little nervous. Racecar drivers are only afraid of one thing on the race track... failure. This was it. For years you thought you could do this and now you were going to find out. Were you going to be as good as you thought you could be or were you going to fall on your face and skulk home with your tail between your legs and forever fade into the world of "wannabe's". I started all three races (2 heats and a feature) dead last. I finished with a third, fourth and third... I was hooked and have been ever since!
What influenced you to race in a touring series, vs. grabbing wins and championships at local level?
Because of my age I was trying to accelerate my learning curve. I didn't have a lot of time to race at a local level and wait for someone to "bring me along" to the top levels. Looking back it may not have been the best way to do it because the learning curve has been pretty steep. I also like the "circus" atmosphere of touring. We roll into town, put on a show then it's back home and on to the next town.
Of all the racers on the track today, who do you admire most and why?
Kenny Schrader. He's an old style racer. He's a NASCAR star but not superstar. He races as much as he can wherever he can in any kind of ride he can get. Plus, anybody who chooses to cut his thumb off rather than reattach it so he can race the next Sunday is a real racer. Kenny did that a few years ago. He severed his thumb and when at the hospital the Doc's told him that they could reattach it but it would have to be immobilized for a period of time. Kenny said cut it off, I'm going racin'. After Kenny, Dave Marcis. I know he's not racing anymore but all those years as an independent! Man, that's dedication to the sport.
Who's cheatin' more - Ford or Chevy?
Cheatin'? There's no cheatin' in racing is there? Cheatin' is a relative term. As in it's only cheatin' if you get caught. So I guess the question would be who's getting caught more?
Has Dodge pulled together a competitive powertrain, or are they still dogging on the tracks?
Dodge probably has a competitive powertrain. I would expect that most all the teams know where they need to be as far as power goes to be competitive. I'm sure with Dodge backing the motor program that they are doing everything they can to be competitive. It sounds like a cliché but it takes a lot more than power to be really consistently successful in NASCAR.
Bass or walleye - which one would you fish for?
Absolutely walleye! Although being originally from Canada I still call them Pickerel or dore (pronounced door-ay') in French.
We'll have to work on that.
When did you come to U.S.? Are you fluent in French?
I moved here in 1991 - actually, October 1991. Do you remember the Halloween Storm of '91? Well, I moved here 1 day before that. I thought I had made serious error in judgment. I moved here from Ottawa, Ontario which has a similar climate to the Twin Cities. While we were having that storm, my friends back home were playing golf. Boy did I take some ribbing about that. French was my first language but now my primary language is English. I still speak a little French. My wife is from Quebec and is still stronger in French than English. She always speaks to me in French and I answer in English.
I caught CASCAR (Canadian Association of Stock Car Racing) on the Speed Channel - is this a legitimate series, or a cheap knock-off of NASCAR?
Definitely a legitimate series AND a NASCAR knock off. But then, isn't every stock car series a NASCAR knock-off? NASCAR started it all. CASCAR is a touring series that is run in Canada. Last time I looked into the series they were running 338 engines and were a little lighter and narrower than our cars.
Tires - how many of these do you go through during a typical 200 lap race?
Hoosier has done an absolutely great job on developing tires for this series. NASCAR mandates a limit on tires - typically 6 tires per race. On a short track like Rockford we ran almost 300 laps on one set of tires. The tires fall off about 0.3 of a second per after 50 laps. After that they stay there for [awhile].
With only 6 tires to work with, do you typically just change right-sides only during a race? Have your pit guys ever gotten the tires mixed around and really messed with the handling of the car?
No, the pit guys have never gotten the tires mixed up. We have redundant systems to ensure everyone knows where & how the tires go on the car. We mark the tires left-front, right-front etc. and we also lay them down on the ground in the position they would go on the car. As for whether we would change right sides, it would really depend on how the car was handling and what our strategy was. With only 6 tires you're kind of committed to your strategy when you buy your tires. Typically it's right side tires but it could also be just rears.
When you're three wide on the track at 120 miles per hour entering turn-4, do you ever just want to slow to a stop in the infield, catch a breather, and watch the race instead of race in the race?
To be honest, Hell, Yes! As an independent there are a lot of times I have to race with my wallet instead of my heart. I might not be as racey as I would be if I didn't have to worry how much a wreck was going to cost me. There are times you don't even have to be three wide in a corner with only a groove and a half. Sometimes you can just feel it. Maybe it's a full moon night or a big payoff or three weeks since anybody raced but you can just feel it. Everybody is just antsy. They rev their motor a little more in the line up or they weave a little more than usual or the warm-up laps feel more like the last three laps of the race. Sometimes you can just feel it and say to yourself, "Here we go."
Who's going to win the Winston Cup championship this year?
Winston Cup? What's that? Matt Kenseth and Dale Jr. will both win one before they are done. Who's going to win this year? I have no idea. I always pull for underdogs and old timers. I'd love to see Kenny Schrader or Mark Martin win it. Mark Martin has been on a roll as the "Brides-maid".
When you look at the field or racers in the International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series, who's your biggest competitor?
That is such a tough question. Sometimes I'm my biggest competitor. I have to make sure I don't beat myself. Like qualifying at Rockford this year... My first lap felt very slow to me so I thought I would have to pick it up a ton. I pushed things too hard and spun out coming out of 4. Turns out that my first lap was 7th fastest of the first laps. Everyone was slow. If I had just held onto my second lap I would have qualified right into the show and not have had to run the qualifier race. Everybody is so good in this series. You can't rule anybody out as a competitor.
Steve Carlson is currently near the top in the points standings - is he that good of a driver, or is Phillips 66 dropping him a nice chunk of change to be competitive week after week?
There are a few things in that question... First, Steve Carlson is no longer sponsored by Phillips 66. For whatever reason (economics probably) Phillips isn't sponsoring Steve this year. Now is he that good? Yes. His whole team is that good. Steve has been at this a long time. As DW says, he's got a lot of "'sperience" and knowledge. That being said this whole series is full of drivers that are THAT good. The series is full of local track champions. This is the best of the best.
Lug nuts - does NASCAR allow flared lug nuts in the International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series that won't jam air wrenches?
The rules say Standard 1" by 5/8" steel lug nuts. But we are allowed to use special sockets that don't get jammed very easily.
Do the big guns from Winston Cup ever come down and race with you guys, stealing all your points and winnings? If so, are you awe inspired when you see them, or is it just another way NASCAR really ticks you off?
Yes, Busch and Cup drivers do sometimes come down and race with us. This doesn't tick me off at all. It's an open field. Anybody who wants to race can enter and try to make the field. If you're good enough you get to race. If not, better luck next time. If you want to get better, you have to race with people that are better than you are. Awe inspired? When I first started racing these cars I would follow behind someone and watch how far into the corner they seemed to drive it and say, "HOW do they do that?" Now, I'm at a point in my career now that when I am getting beat by another driver I just wonder what he has done to his car that I haven't done to mine.
Roll cage, 5-point racing harness, HANS device, helmet - does it lessen the pain of smacking a concrete barrier at 100mph?
What would lessen the pain of smacking the concrete barrier is a thicker wallet. Ha-ha! Seriously, NASCAR has done a great job of mandating safe car construction and safety equipment. Nothing will ever make racing completely safe. That's part of the appeal of the sport. If you were to hit a concrete wall at 100 mph in a passenger car you could pretty much kiss your butt goodbye. Racecars are designed differently to dissipate energy quickly and then maintain a solid cell around the driver.
Yeah, but does it hurt?
I've had bumps and bruises and a couple stretched necks but I can't say it hurts. Everything happens way to fast. You don't feel the pain until later.
Any close brushes with death you can recall?
Just one. I was racing Super-late models at Wisconsin Dells. I was racing for position with another car. He was on the outside. We had run side by side for a number of laps and I think we both decided that this was enough and that we were going to pass the other guy this time. I remember actually thinking to myself, "Wow, are we ever going in..." The end of the sentence was going to be "...deep". Next thing I knew I was shaking the cobwebs out of my head and I could hear my crew chief, Bryan Dahlen, on the radio. "Dan, are you ok? Dan?... Dan, are you ok?" His voice was very faint. There was nothing wrong with the radio but my ears were ringing a bit and I couldn't quite hear him. Both myself and the other car had crashed into the turn one wall without even an opportunity to touch the brakes. Full throttle. Bam! Both cars were destroyed. We exploded the concrete wall. The track was closed for the night because the races could not continue safely. 27 feet of concrete wall had to be replaced by the following weekend. Some people thought someone was dead for sure! I was fine with just a few bumps and bruises but unfortunately the other driver suffered a broken back. I didn't personally know the other driver but through connections I kept up on how his condition and recovery were going. To show how tight the family of drivers is, his family and team got word to me through connections to "Tell Dan we don't blame him for this". It really was just one of those racing incidents but I was still impressed that with two wrecked cars and a driver in the hospital both teams were concerned with how the other team was doing. Someone caught that wreck on video and when I asked if I could see it they responded, "You haven't seen it? You're lucky to standing here asking for it." I still haven't seen that video but I still would like to... I think. Ha-ha.
If I'm burning my right rear tire off at Rockford Speedway, and can't get the car to hook-up through the turns, how many rounds of wedge should I put in or take out?
We try to not make drastic adjustments. If the car were as loose as you described (burning it off) I might put two turns of wedge. Most often we only do things one turn at a time. If it was practice and not during the race, we would probably try a stiffer left rear spring or shock.
Sponsorship...it makes the world of NASCAR go round. How important is having a sponsor as you move up through the NASCAR series?
Thanks for bringing up this subject. Sponsorship is crucial to racing. Not just for moving up, but for maintaining where you're at! About the only way you could cover your costs without sponsors is to win every race. And that would still be tight... and of course it's also impossible. Everything else is a losing proposition. To be blunt these cars run on cubic dollars. We're on a race-to-race basis right now. We've had some companies give us some discounts but no cash sponsorship yet. None. Without some form of support, I'm afraid that we might have to pull the plug on this season after another three or four races. At that time the one engine we have will need a refresh. We'll just keep hopin' that the racing angels are looking out for us.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Tony Stewart?
Dale
Heather Locklear or Britney Spears?
Heather all the way - more class.
Quaker State or Valvoline?
Quaker State - been using it ever since I started in hobby stocks.
Shocks or tires?
Tires, tires, tires and more tires!
Crankbaits or spinnerbaits?
Spinners
My real job prevents me from following the International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series live and in-person. Can I catch any of it on TV?
Yes. There are a couple of races that are on Fox Sports Net. The International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series is part of the NASCAR Elite division. The Elite division is televised on Fox Sports Net. If we do have to pull the plug on our Midwest Series program, then when/if we do get the motor freshened or we get backing then maybe we'll just go hit the televised shows to try and get some exposure.
How often are you using the clutch when shifting a late model - every gear or only when downshifting?
Actually we use a transmission called a Roltek, which is a clutchless manual transmission. The only time we use the clutch is when you first start off or come to a complete stop. They're way cool, Dude!
Skeeter or Ranger Boats?
Skeeter
Why a Monte Carlo?
Why not? I've run a Chevy Lumina, Pontiac Grand Prix, '99 M/C and now an '02 M/C. To be honest, it's just what I race. I have no particular affinity or affiliation with it. I'd run a Chev, Ford or Dodge if someone else was writing the checks.
Where can a guy find the official #77, Dan Bedard racing merchandise?
We're in the process of putting a website together. I have to admit it's not our top priority right now. Hate to sound like a broken record but again, when/if we gain a primary sponsor we'll definitely have merchandise available on the WEB. For now we can be contacted at racecar_77@hotmail.com.
How many times have you found your car upside down on the track?
I've never been upside down…yet. I have launched it a few times and seen nothing but clear blue sky out the windshield. The first time that ever happened to be I thought I had been knocked unconscious and that's why I couldn't see anything. Then I hit the ground and realized what had actually happened. It's amazing how many thoughts you can have in such a short period of time.
John Deere or Cub Cadet?
Deere
If I read the book of Dan Bedard's racing career, what would I find in the next chapter?
With a little luck I will finish out my driving career either in the NASCAR Elite Division or perhaps ASA. I have three beautiful little daughters (ages 3 and twins that are 2). Every one of them loves sitting in the racecar. I'll be retired from racing before they're even old enough to drive but if they ever come to me and say they want to try racing, I think I'll lock them in the basement until they change their mind. Actually, I would never push them in that direction and I may even tell them all the negative things about it but if they really wanted to try I would help them in any and every way I could. Of course my wife has other thoughts on the matter. :)
When you're not racing cars, what are doing?
Thinking about racing cars! That's no joke. I am ALWAYS thinking about it. Well almost always. What do I DO other than race cars? Like I said I have three beautiful girls, a 16-year old son and a great wife. They all make sacrifices so that I can race cars. When I'm not racing I try to be the best Dad and Husband I can be.
Any advice you'd like to give up and coming racers?
Practice and patience. Be nice to people on the way up because you'll meet them again on the way down.
Does the line, "I'm a NASCAR driver" help you pick-up chicks in the bar?
I've never used that line and I'm married now so I guess I never will. I would imagine that in some bars it might work pretty well. In other bars it might eliminate you altogether. :)
#77 - did you choose that, or were you assigned that?
I chose #77. I have almost always run double numbers (44, 22, 77). #77 is the number I always request first.
Sammy Hagar or David Lee Roth?
Toughest question yet! :) I've got to call that a toss up.
Beyond tires, what the biggest expense you have week in and week out in a touring series like the International Truck and Engine Corporation?
Week in and week out I would have to say engine rebuilds. Not that we have to do it every week but if you amortize the expense over each race, it's probably #1 or #2 on the expense sheet.
Where can we find you online?
Check the drivers' pages on www.nascartouring.com/midwestseries or e-mail me at racecar_77@hotmail.com.
Who's going to win the Winston Cup championship this year?
Trick question - you asked me that one already. :)
It was worth a shot.
What's the typical diet of a NASCAR touring series driver?
I try to eat a balanced diet as a rule but on race day I don't usually have much of an appetite. The night before a race I like either pasta or steak. On race day I eat granola bars and Gatorade and water.
Any final thoughts for the Fishwrench.com readers?
No final thoughts, just a funny story. We run TV cable from our house to the shop but the satellite selector stays in the house so to change the channel you have to go back in the house. We don't tend to watch the races as much as listen to them while we work on the car. One day while we were working on the racecar in the shop there was a Winston cup driver being interviewed on TV. I don't remember who it was but he had either set the pole or fastest practice time. They asked him what his secret to speed was. Before he could answer and at exactly the right moment someone in the house must have changed the channel to BassMasters we're not sure what that conversation was all about on that channel but the next words we heard were "Lots and lots of fishing". So there you have it. The real secret to speed is lots and lots of fishing! This is a TRUE story!
Ah, so fast cars do catch big fish...or is it that big fish catch fast cars?
Thanks for the interview, Dan, and good luck this season. Now, can I drive the racecar?
Uh, no.