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RCRN: How has the racing business changed since you first started?
BP: "It has definitely changed throughout the years. It is certainly part of corporate America now. As far as sponsors are concerned, I think that they are as important now as they ever have been. Without sponsors, the sport would not be where it is today and we couldn’t race on a weekly basis."
RCRN: How did you meet Dale Earnhardt?
BP: "In a previous job, I worked for a company called Hank Thomas Speed Parts. In that position, I would go to the Saturday night race tracks and sell tires and gasoline. The first time I met Dale was at Metrolina Speedway (Charlotte, NC). I got to know him that way, selling him tires and parts. I would see him each week, never knowing that I would work with him eventually and watch him grow into such a superstar."
RCRN: You are known to be a pretty good practical joker, either on the giving end or receiving end. What are some of the best practical jokes that have been played here at RCR on you or you have played on others?
BP: "I feel like more jokes have been played on me than I have played on other people. One of the better jokes that I can talk about was with Robby Gordon, when he first was hired to drive for RCR."
"After I had signed his contract to come to work here, I received a letter stating that he had changed his mind and he was going to go rally racing instead. Little did I know that everyone in this organization was in on the joke and I was pulling out what little hair I have left on my head."
"The sponsor had already thought that Robby was going to be the driver and everything was set up for him to drive. It was a big joke to worry me. I asked Richard what I should do about it and Richard said that it was my problem since I signed the contract. For about a week, I was a little on edge. The truth came out eventually and I was relieved that I didn’t have to explain to the sponsor why Robby was not going to be the driver of their car."
RCRN: What are some of the things you are proud of?
BP: "Obviously, all of the championships RCR has won is one thing I am very proud of. I don’t like to toot my own horn, but recently the Governor of North Carolina, Mike Easley, appointed me to the North Carolina Motorsports Advisory Council. There are 19 members on the council and some pretty big names like Humpy Wheeler, Rick Hendrick, Richard Petty and Gary Nelson are involved. I am really proud to be chosen to be a part of this council."
"As a part of this group, we will make recommendations on how to expand motorsports in North Carolina and how to keep the motorsports business here in this state. I am very excited about it."
RCRN: Do you think that you will always work here?
BP: "I have never thought about retirement. I enjoy my job and this organization too much to ever retire. As anyone gets older, I would like to take an extra day off here and there. I am not the type of person to sit under a shade tree and relax."
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