ED ROLEY...#11
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Finally I got Ed Roley stopped long enough to get an interview.. Sure was worth my time...
Ed runs the #11r Modified with a lightning chassis and a Runion Engine...
He hails from Mattoon , Illinois .... He started driving three years ago at the age of 29 ... I just learned that he and his wife just had their 4th son about five months ago...
Kim and Eddie have four boys: A.J., Blake, Lane, and the new baby Luke..
Because I have talked with his dad I knew this had to be the answer to my question.." what inspired him to start racing".... He told me his dad Don Pearcy ........then he told me ..."well he is really my step dad ...he took me on when I was 4 years old and I have been around racing ever since...then he said well....he isn't my step dad...HE IS MY DAD...... These two are quite a team... Couldn't meet two nicer guys around racing....
I asked him if there had been anyone who had influenced him in the racing field and he told me besides his dad he would have to say Chad Kinder and Team #22... Told me they had helped him out a lot and that Kinder helped with getting him his first modified...**his first car was one of Chad's...
When I asked him what he thought it took to be a good driver he told me the number one answer "PATIENCE" but then went on to add that you have to have a good level head ..that you can't get frustrated ..you have to hang in there.... also said that you have to have a lot of good help and sponsors...
When asked who his toughest competitors were he told me he would have to say Chad Kinder and Denny Schwartz..
He told me that he liked to race around at different tracks and compete against a lot of the drivers... He said he feels racing with the best only makes him better... dodging the competition only hurts you in the long run.. he has a lot of respect for his fellow race car drivers...
When asked if he would change anything he told me he wished he had started earlier... And he told me that he would like to win...said taking 2nd is not good enough for him.... no one remembers the 2nd place guy... ****Eddie..with that dad of yours in your corner and with your drive and ability it won't be long before you accomplish that..
He told me that his long term goal was just to be competitive at a lot of different tracks...wants to be one of the top runners consistently...
His most memorable event thus far was winning his heat race at Eldora last year and ran 10th in the feature...**I got to see that race and he was looking good out there**
He said he wanted to thank his wife Kim and his four boys for their support and wanted to thank his dad Don for all the help he has given him and his mom Kathy, his sister Deanna and her boyfriend Justin Simpson, his mother and father in law Jeff and Debby and his brother and sister in law Steve and Shannon Philips....***as you can see here he does have a lot of family support and he takes notice to it and greatly appreciates it***
His crew is his dad Don Pearcy and himself..
He wanted to thank his sponsors D& W Restaurant, Cooleys Plumbing and Heating, Don Pearcy Auto and Electric, First National Bank of Lerna, Auto NYS, and Pangburn Oil Co.(wife's uncle)...
So nice to finally get an interview with you Eddie.. I just kept missing you... Was a real treat for me to talk with you..
You are one of the most polite drivers I have talked with... I feel lucky to know you and your dad...
See ya at Eldora for a late dinner snack on Saturday and breakfast Sunday morning??? Sure was fun last year!!!!