Feeling the powerful thrum of a 700-horse-power engine encased in a 2,300-pound chrome body frame, and traveling upwards of speeds of 80 mph or higher provides a certain feeling that can easily translate into a lifestyle.
Racing is a lifestyle to many, including Scott Wolfe, an elementary school principal and spokesman for Skyline Speedway in Stewart, Ohio, east of Athens.
It's just been a part of my life
Wolfe said. Some people make baseball or basketball their life ' we made racing our life.
Racing also converts into something shared among families. For drivers like Charlie and Audie Swartz, racing has always been inevitable.
Audie is a third-generation driver preceded by his father, Charlie, and his grandfather, also named Audie. Charlie said because his father always raced, his parents expected that he would one day as well.- I talked race cars and I didn't do my homework Charlie said.-
Charlie said. I haven't ever really had a job until the last couple years.
Charlie said his father, the elder Audie, also made his living racing. His 82-year-old father still regularly attends races.
He's 82 years old and he (still) doesn't miss a night in Portsmouth
Charlie said. He's there every Saturday night.
Charlie said he always knew his son, Audie, would want to race. So when Audie was ready to start, Charlie just did his best to help Audie get started.
Audie didn't actually start racing until 1989, but he's been around racing since he was 3 months old, from the grandstands and in other aspects of his life.
My granddad started in '49
and my dad started in '64
so it's been my whole life
he said.
Audie even was babysat by a sprint car racer named Jack Hewitt, who taught him his racing philosophy.
(Hewitt) always told me
'I want to be able to wad a car up in a ball
get out
dust off and race again
