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The weekend off was nice
By Trent Cherry
Well, I just got back from the mountains with my wife and realized how cool it really is to have a full weekend. We headed up to the smokey mountains in NC and spent two days just relaxing.
Most of the guys on the team like to stay at home on there weekend off because they travel so much. This brings me to my point for today.
Every track we go to there are people who tell us how much they would love to have our jobs. As much as I believe them there is something that a lot of people don't know about our jobs.
My job is a lot different from most of the other guys on our team. Me and five other guys just show up on Sundays and pit the car. If the race is out west we will leave on Saturday.
The real guys who make it work are the guys that prep the car and work Thursday thru Sunday 40 weekends a year. Most of these guys have families and leave it all behind to go race.
They commit over 100 days of the year on the road working there butts off. That's not counting all the testing our team does. I personally don't see how they do it. I leave once a week and love coming home after one day. We got some guys on our team that have been doing this for 15 or more years.
Even more amazing is the women who put up with it. I've had lots of buddies over the years who have come off the road because there wives wanted nothing more to do with racing. They loved their job, but time away was killing their family life.
It's a very rewarding business to be in. Don't get me wrong. I love what I do and I would like to keep doing it for as long as I can, but there are lots of sacrifices that have to take place before it can all come together.
This weekend coming up is one of the better places we go. I will be sad to leave Vegas, even after being there for a couple of days. OK, that's all.
March 5, 2006 in Race week | Permalink
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Comments
Trent, what you guys do, all of you, is totally amazing. I know I wouldn't be able to handle a hubby that's out on the road all the time, but I guess that's why my hubby's not in that business! Just remember to give your sweetie all the TLC she needs and remember you can never over do it!!! Can't wait to see you guys back next week and glad you had a great vacation!
Posted by: Toni | Mar 5, 2006 9:53:56 PM
Toni is right on the money with that...she's pretty smart I'd say...lol.
I'm sure it's difficult to be on the road so much, but it's a trade off. On one hand, you get the great work enviornment and the perks that go along with a career in NASCAR. On the other hand, you don't get as much "free" time or family time as a 9-5'er. IMHO, it would be worth it, but that's just me.
I'm glad that you had a nice weekend with the wife in the mountains...beautiful I'm sure. Just do all you can with your loved ones when you are home and hopefully everything else works itself out.
Good Luck in Vegas...wait, doesn't everyone need luck in Vegas?? LOL
Posted by: Mandy24 | Mar 6, 2006 11:12:05 AM
Trent,
I wonder if your buddies worked in the pits before they got married and then had a change of 'heart' after they were married for a few years. What shocks me is that a person would give this up. Everyone knows what you guys do is very hard. If it was easy everyone would do it, the hard is what makes it great. What would drive me nuts is if I started seeing a girl and she knew what I did and was OK with and then you get married and then all of a sudden she's not OK with it.
Your buddies are better guys than I am. It's hard to find a job that you have that you love and actually look forward to going to work everyday. Then to give that up, to me that's kind of crazy.
Posted by: Mike | Mar 6, 2006 12:47:26 PM
Can't wait for the flat track part of the schedule to be over. Only 5 weeks 'til Texas!! WAHOO!!!!!! My wife doesn't like it when I have to work past 5, so my marriage would never last if I were in the racing business. Don't forget the important things Trent. I was a cop for about 5 years and ssw a lot of guys get divorced basically because they let the department work them too much and their wives got sick of being alone all the time. But there's also something to be said for the women remembering why they have the lifestyle they do.
Posted by: Shane | Mar 6, 2006 1:49:57 PM
Shane your last comment was dead on. You would be suprised how many arn't.
Posted by: trent | Mar 6, 2006 5:38:10 PM
You are so right Shane, they'll crab because you're not around so'll you'll take another job and then they'll complain because you're not making enough money.
Posted by: Mike | Mar 6, 2006 5:45:26 PM
I'm sure the money is all and good, but I'd rather have the husband than the money. My kids would love to have their father more than his wallet. Now my hubby usually works 7am-9pm, just to make ends meet. I like my free time and wouldn't mind some more of it sometimes, but the kids do. My daughter goes days without seeing daddy. If he didn't have to work so many hours to make ends meet, I wouldn't make him just to have more of a 'lifestyle'. I have a wonderful lifestyle without these 'things'. I understand his position and wouldn't make it change. In fact, I'd rather go without something and have him take my kids to the park.
Posted by: Toni | Mar 6, 2006 6:21:29 PM
I think everyone on the race teams, no matter their jobs, make HUGE sacrifices and sometimes their families do suffer.... And I agree with Toni, all women aren't alike, some would rather spend time with their husbands/boyfriends rather than him working all the time, believe it or not guys, some women do love being with their men more than the money they make....smile... I think that for any type job that you have to be away from home, you'd better have someone by your side who understands that and is ok with that.... And Mike, I understand your point, if she knew what the guy did prior to and then HOOKED him and decided, I don't like you doing that quit, that wouldn't be right... but then some may feel they can handle it until they're actually in the situation.... I think future Husbands and wives need to talk long and hard before taking the plunge....
Posted by: Darlene | Mar 6, 2006 7:40:00 PM
Trent-
Just wondering what your "weekday" job is. Just curious; and if you don't want to say I understand.
Posted by: Timugen | Mar 6, 2006 9:45:35 PM
Welcome Back Trent
Glad you enjoyed your time off. I am sure it was well deserved. A weekend getaway is always nice. I am am waitin for mine, but instead... I am tryin to get to da track!! The countdown to Martinsville has begun for me.
Hopefully you are a lil refreshed after your weekend cuz I know it is back to the grind for ya'll.
As for your job and lifestyle... It is great that you are doing something that you love. Of course there are a lot pros and cons in it, but can ya really imagine yourself doing anything else? Find a balance and keep on keepin.
I think I will stick with being a fan and enjoying the simplicity of my life. That is rewarding enough for me right now. Work a little, play a little...preferably at the track
Posted by: Rashaun | Mar 6, 2006 11:34:07 PM
Tim, basically what I do is train the pit crews. I work with a guy who is our weight trainer and we run practice and recruit new guys to be on the pit crews here at Penske.
Posted by: trent | Mar 7, 2006 7:40:48 AM
Another question for trent:
What happened to the rule of a few years ago where each team was limited to only so many crewmembers at each race, supposedly to keep the big money teams from bringing in ringers for Sunday. Obviously that has gone away
Posted by: clay | Mar 7, 2006 9:53:21 AM
Clay, I dont really know much about that rule. I heard they were talkig about it but I don't know exactly what ever came about. I know we carry about 5 on the 12 car alone. Ill try and find out
Posted by: trent | Mar 7, 2006 10:54:15 AM
Trent,
Still, even with the sacrifices and all that you and your loved ones put up with, there's a group of guys/gals who would be in heaven for your jobs. Lets not forget the young men and women who's separation from family, often for years, makes NASCAR possible. Often unthought of always vigilant.
That said...too bad the "Big Guys" didn't race Mexico. Race, being the key word. Will Vegas be another Fontana?
Posted by: Keith | Mar 7, 2006 6:32:36 PM
Whats the deal with this story on Jayski about Ryan helping put out a fire with his leatherman? Sounds like he did a heck of a job, along with some other guys. Anyway, cool story. http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm#fire
Posted by: Alltel_fan | Mar 7, 2006 6:52:41 PM
Great Story, Alltel_fan
Okay, call me girlie (Sorry to any ladies that know the answer).lol, lol, lol.
Trent - could you or anyone on here that knows, explain what a "leatherman tool" is. Sorry, I've never heard of it. Thanks
Posted by: Ann | Mar 8, 2006 8:52:38 AM
eh trent, you probably would enjoy the work more if you driver and team were not in a dodge.. lol...
Posted by: Mike | Mar 8, 2006 11:43:57 AM
Ann, a leatherman is a brand name. It is like a compact tool chest. It is compact and fits on the belt. It usually has locking pliers, wire cutters, a file a ruler a sm med and lrg screwdriver and phillips screwdriver and some more handy things. I'm sure you know what a swiss army knife is, same kind of deal, only its tools.
Posted by: oldschoolbil | Mar 8, 2006 1:39:35 PM
Ah ha, now I get it. lol
Thanks a bunch Oldschoolbil.
Great explaination.
Posted by: Ann | Mar 8, 2006 4:54:37 PM
As a wife of one of the "On the road guys Thurs-Sun". When I met my husband he was racing, in a different series not gone as much, but this is just how it is. The hardest part of him traveling so much is him coming home Monday night probably around 2 AM, and then leaving Monday at 6PM to go testing. The logistics get tricky at times. Just unpacking the bag, doing laundry and repacking alone is alot of work.
You learn to live your life a different way, which is fine.
Posted by: Michelle | Mar 9, 2006 12:44:25 PM
trent aer you happy the newman and baby i think ryan will make a good dad and krissie will make a good mom
Posted by: micah | Jul 26, 2010 11:06:01 PM
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