Q and A's with Dave Easley

1. The usual questions

        Favorite form of motor sports?

WELL THAT HAS TO BE DIRT TRACK RACING BUT I LIKE MOST ALL KINDS FOR SURE.

        Favorite driver?

Kelly O'Haver

        Favorite race track

24 RACEWAY

        Favorite street car?

1969 PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER

        What type of car do you drive on the street?

I DRIVE A 1992 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 PICKUP.

2. Can you describe what a typical night at the races is like for you? How you get the car ready and the team pumped, and how you wind down after the races?

  A TYPICAL NIGHT AT THE TRACK IS PRETTY LOW KEY. WE USUALLY GET THE CAR READY DURING THE WEEK AND THEN JUST HAVE LITTLE MINOR THINGS TO DO WHEN WE GET THERE. AS FAR AS GETTING EVERY ONE PUMPED UP FOR THE NIGHT WELL THAT'S NOT A HARD THING TO DO. JUST START THE TRUCK AND CLIMB IN AND IT ALL BEGINS ON ITS OWN. THEN WHEN THE NIGHT OF ACTION IS THROUGH WE HAVE AN HOUR DRIVE HOME AND REFLECT ON THE HAPPENINGS OF THE EVENING AND JUST KIND OF RELAX .

3. Can you describe how you were introduced to racing not as a car owner, but as a spectator?

  I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE SPORT AROUND 1963 I THINK WHEN MY MOM TOOK ME TO KNOXVILLE IOWA TO THE RACES THERE. WE WOULD GO ABOUT ONCE A MONTH THEN AND WE ALWAYS HAD A BLAST.

4. If you were watching the races from the stands what class would you enjoy watching the most?

  IF I WERE WATCHING FROM THE STANDS I WOULD HAVE TO SAY I WOULD ENJOY THE MODIFIEDS THE MOST OUT OF ALL THE CLASSES. NOT THAT I DON'T LIKE THE OTHERS BECAUSE WE HAVE RAN HOBBIES OUR SELF BUT THE MODS JUST SEEM TO DO IT FOR ME.

5. What is one thing in your opinion that would improve the fans at 24 Raceway's experience at the races each week?

  I THINK WHAT COULD IMPROVE THE FAN BASE AT 24 WOULD BE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THEY DID IN KC WHEN I WAS GOING TO THE TRACK THEIR. THEY WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT THING EVERY WEEK DURING INTERMISSION LIKE A FAMOUS DRIVER FROM ANOTHER TYPE OF RACING OR MAYBE A MONSTER TRUCK APPEARANCE OR ONCE THEY HAD A COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW AFTER THE RACES. I THINK THE FANS WOULD ENJOY ANY OF THESE THINGS.

6. You are known around the track as Dave S-HOG Easley, what does S-hog mean?

  WELL YES SAM, I AM KNOWN AROUND THE TRACK AS DAVE (S-HOG) EASLEY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THAT STANDS FOR BUT I AM SORRY TO SAY I CANT TELL EVERYONE ON HERE. SO IF YOU HAVE THE TIME AND REALLY WANT TO KNOW JUST STOP BY OUR PITS BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THE RACES AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS STORY.

7. As a car owner what is your biggest fear in racing?

  I WOULD HAVE TO SAY MY BIGGEST WORRY AS A CAR OWNER WOULD BE MY DRIVER GETTING HURT IN THE CAR. I DON'T WORRY ABOUT NOTHING EXCEPT HIM. THE MACHINE IT SELF CAN BE REPLACED AS HE KNOWS FROM THE PAST, BUT A FRIEND LIKE KELLY O'HAVER CAN NEVER BE REPLACED.

8. How does Kelly O'Haver fit in to your team, what made you pick him to drive for you and what do you think about your decision?

  WELL KELLY AND I HAVE BEEN A TEAM SINCE 1999 AND I NEVER REALLY PICKED HIM. (HA HA) HE WAS DRIVING IN HIS FIRST YEAR IN A HOBBY STOCK AND WE WERE WORKING TOGETHER AND HE NEEDED SOMEONE TO HELP HIM IN THE PITS AND ASK IF I WOULD GO AND I DID. I BET IF HE KNEW THEN WHAT HE KNOWS NOW HE WOULD HAVE NEVER ASK ME TO GO. (HA HA) SO YOU SEE WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER RACING SINCE THEN AND HAVE WENT THRU THE GOOD AND BAD TIMES TOGETHER AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IT IF KELLY WASN'T THERE WITH ME. IT IS A FRIENDSHIP THAT HAS GROWN AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES FOR EVER AS LONG AS I AM HERE ANYWAY.

9. If Kelly came to you and said he was leaving the team but recommended another driver for your car how much would it affect your decision on picking your new driver?

  WELL SAM IF KELLY EVER DID DECIDE HE DIDN'T WANT TO RACE ANYMORE I THINK THAT I WOULD BE DEVASTATED BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CANT DO IT FOREVER TO. BUT UNTIL KELLY MAKES THAT DECISION HE WILL ALWAYS HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE AND A WHITE HAIRED OLD MAN THERE WITH HIM TRYING TO HELP. AS FAR AS ANOTHER DRIVER I CANT SAY UNTIL THAT TIME COMES AND LORD I HOPE IT IS ALONG TIME FROM NOW.

10. If you could get a brand new race car for free what class of car would you pick and what type?

  WELL IF I COULD GET A NEW RACECAR IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A MODIFIED AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A PEIRCE CHASSIS. I THINK THAT BOB PEIRCE MAKES ONE OF THE PREMIERE CARS ON THE MARKET AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO OWN ONE.

11. What do you say to kids and others who want to become a race car driver?

  I WOULD SAY TO THE YOUNGSTERS OR ANY OTHER PERSON WANTING TO BECOME INVOLVED IN RACING TO GO FOR THE DREAM. YOU CAN NEVER TURN BACK AND REDO YOUR LIFE BUT YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT NOW AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. IF YOU HAVE THE DREAM THEN I SAY CHASE IT AND SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT.

Thanks a lot Dave, Kelly is doing a great job this year. Good luck to you and your team the rest of this season.

 Next week A-Mod legend Ron Gough will take his turn in the Q and A machine.