Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Oct. 31, 1991, edition 1 / Page 19
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under the sun THE BRUNSWICK&BEACON D THURSDAY. OCTOBER 31. 1V91 D It's Life In Fast Lane For Brunswick County's Tony Caines \ BY TERRY POI'K r ? Kic car in Tony Caincs' tront yard is a Buick. and it'll go 160 miles an hour. Obviously, it's not JL your average Buick. Last week Caincs was busy switching engines in the machine that had just complet ed a race at die Charlotte Motor Speedway. When the No. 89 car heads to Atlanta Nov. 16 for its final race of the season. Caincs and his crew of sev en men will be dreaming of victory's lane, lar away from his Northwest community home in Brunswick County. On the job, Caincs helps operaic a trucking business and keeps the dicsel engines in operation. But away from the job, he shares time in the driv er's seat of the 1987 Buick La Sabre w ith driver Rocky Hodges of Indiana. Caines is also chief of the pit crew, which is why the car has found a home port in Brunswick County. The move from local dirt tracks to life in the fast lane came swift for Caines, who nurtures the car that is owned by Dec and G.G. Bussey of Irving. Texas. Racing fans know the car better ;ls the former Quaker Stale car driven by Ricky Rudd in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Winston Cup Series. But Rudd has a new car now and is currently seventh in the circuit money-winnings with 5645,905. The mother and daughter team bought Rudd's car and entered it in the Sportsman's Division, which has been running for three years. The eight-cylinder car has been repainted while with hot pink numbers and is trimmed in aqua. Sportsman races arc held each Saturday before Sunday's Winston Cup races. But being a part of the crew and getting to drive on ihe big track is helping Caines inch closer lo his goal of becoming a NASCAR driver. "It's something thai I've always wanted to do every since I was a kid," said Caincs. "Over the years I had messed with cars, but 1 had never really gotten into them like now." He had thought about buying a car. Then he wanted to become a driver. Last March, he attended Buck Baker's driving school in Rockingham for prospective NASCAR drivers. From competition there, he has been named as one of four finalists wiih a shot of driving in the Busch Grand Nationals. "Things just fell inio place," said Caines. It's also where he met the first driver for ihe Bussey car and became part of ihe crew. Inside ihe No. 89. and also painted on the rear bumper, are the words, "In memory of Bill Bussey: 1949-1990." The mother and daughter who own ihe car have made it a memorial to their husband and father, who died last year in a motorcycle accident, said Caines. "It takes ambition " he said "It t;>kes determination. You have to be competitive and have an easy touch. A person that's real rough-handed doesn't drive gotxl on the asphalt" Caines also drives a dirt track car, owned by Albert Bass of Wilmington, from April 10 October. For each of the last six weeks, he has finished in the the top live. At Baker's driving school, trainees run races in groups of 20 cars on what Caincs says is one of the toughest tracks on the circuit, named "The Rock" at Rockingham, for its treacherous turn No. 2. During the three-day course, instructors explain the track and what it takes to become a driver. "What they're looking for is smoothness and con sistency," said Caines. "Some people have that touch. m. J?1 ciH*4 Bit3 STAFF PHOTO BY TERRY POPE TOXY CAINES' love for racing has him inching closer lo the NASCAR circuit. In his Leland area garage Caines keeps the former Kickv Kutid liuick ready for action on the Sportsmen's competition. anil some don't. They're pretty blunt in telling you if you have a chance." Ilie Bussey car has run eight races this year anil is scheduled lor 10 races next year, on the road from the Poconos in Pennsylvania to tracks in New Hampshire, Richmond, Va., Charlotte and Atlanta. The season runs from February to November, which means Caines and the crew must spend a lot of time traveling. "It's quite time consuming," said Caines. "This en tire w inter, we'll be working on this car, getting it ready for February." He learned to work on nice cars "mostly by jusi hanging around the tracks," he said, "learning set ups and stuff like that." Since each race track is different, the car must be adjusted before each race. In lime and dollars, ihe racc car can become a costly hobby, Caines said. The Huick is valued at $35,(KK) while each of its two engines cost S14,(XX>. "They (Busscys) kind of put their trust in me." said Caines. "I look after it like it was my own. The crew enjoys working together. It's like a family." Radio communication helps the crew stay in contact will) the driver at all tunes during the racc. " They can tell you if there's a wreck up ahead," said Caines. "The driver can also let the crew know what the car is doing on the track so they can be ready to make adjustments when the driver comes in." When the car does wreck, it makes the crew 's job even more difficult in preparing for another race. "When that happens, we work all week just getting it ready for the next race, working day and night," said Caincs. "You have 10 love it U> want to do it." Earlier this year. Caincs drove the car at the Atlanta track, reaching speeds up to I 60 mph. "You get a little hit nervous before a race," said Caines. "But all of that leaves. Then you're just think ing about getting to the front of the pack." Drivers also can't afford to think about wrecks and injuries, he said, for mental attitude can be the differ ence between success and failure. "Even though the possibility is there." he said, "if you think about it you'll never be a gix>d race car driv er. It'll stay in the back of your mind." Young drivers crave "seal lime." lingo for driving in races on the big tracks. Caines is no exception as he continues his race lor success. Market Express is now Express Stop 2 For 1 Buy any Frozen Yogurt Product & Get One Free Wi^Coupon! PLUS 4-8 PM M-F Get 1 Free Topping rwith purchase of 5 oz.. yogurt cup or larger J?? ? * Good at all three m es Locations Cannot be used in conjunction with any other special. One coupon per item purchased Express Stop 24 Hours A Day-7 Days Shaltotte-Jct. Hwy. 17 & Holden Bch Rd. North Myrtle Beach-S.C. 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The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 31, 1991, edition 1
19
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