 RCRN: Chevrolet and RCR have been partners for about 35 years. How has the Chevy engine evolved in the 20 years you have worked at RCR?
DL: "The best thing about being a partner with Chevrolet is that we contribute information on how to make the engine program better. The Key Partners meetings between the Chevrolet teams and Chevrolet engineers has helped Chevrolet develop better engines which in the end, helps us. It is a two-way street that helps everyone involved."
RCRN: Who has been the most influential person to you? Why? Here at RCR?
DL: "In general, my father has been the most influential person in my life because of his work habits.”
“In motorsports, the most influential person to me has been Richard. So many current car owners built their fortunes in other businesses and then formed their race teams. Richard has made his career just in racing. Yes, he may have other small businesses here and there but he made all of his money by being successful in racing. Not many owners now can say that.”
“When Richard worked at Douglas Batteries and raced on the side, his boss at the time told him that racing was interfering with his work. Richard told his boss that his job at Douglas Battery was interfering with his racing. Richard then went racing full time. He worked on his own cars for a long time and he had to recycle wrecked race cars because he couldn’t afford to just go build new ones. I admire that."
RCRN: Do you think that you will always be employed in some capacity in motorsports?
DL: "It is hard to say if I will or not. I don’t think anyone could give you a straight answer on that question. With the changes in the schedule and all of the time we spend on airplanes and away from home, it is hard for me to say. At one time this year, our guys had been to test in Phoenix and then to the race in Dallas. Straight from the race in Dallas some of our guys had to go to Talladega to test and then they got on planes to go race in Phoenix. The travel is awfully stressful on the guys and their families."
RCRN: If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? What is your dream job?
DL: " If I weren’t involved in racing, I probably would be building houses. My dream job is selling hot dogs on the beach. I don’t think that I would have a care in the world if all I had to do was stand on the beach all day and ask people if they would like ketchup or mustard on their hot dog. "
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