B.J. Deal....3d...............9/11/04
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Met B.J.'s dad a while back and asked him to see if his son would give me an interview..... he did tonight..
Let me tell you..... he is one of the nicest young men I have met..... B.j. you are a real treasure...was really nice to get to meet you...
B.J. runs the #3d bomber.... He races mainly at Brownstown but races Mt. Vernon and Flora.....
I asked him how old he was when he first started racing and he told me that he had been nineteen... told me he started out in the street stock division ....
When asked what had inspired him to start racing he told me that it had been his family.....His father told me that B.J. was born in January and that in March he was attending his first race....( I don't think B.J. had a chance....it was in his destiny to be a racer...... thankgoodness for us....)
Told me that when he was young he use to race radio controlled cars... always loved racing...
When I asked him who had influenced him along the way he told me that Marion Blankenship, Ed Dixon. and Shannon Babb had... told me that these guys had really helped him out....
When asked what he thought it took to be a good race car driver h told me " lots of faith"..... "faith in your team,,,your car... and the track... He told me you could drive anything if you had enough faith.....
I had to argue with him when asked what his long term goal was..... He told me his dream would be filled if he could race a Sprint... told me he loved them and so does his dad... that would be a real thrill for him.... ***** SORRY...BUT...YUCK!!!!!! .... THEY ARE SCAREY...
When I asked him who his toughest competitor was he told me Michael Bolyard by far....... but he did add that when he races Flora that #42 gave him all he could handle...
I asked him if there was anything he would change if he could and he told me that in about 2000 he quit racing for a couple of years and he wishes that he had not done that...
He said that he believes the most memorable thing for a driver is their first win.... he said he would never forget the thrill of that first win......
He told me that the 3rd time in the seat of a car he won his first race....****WOW**** I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE PRETTY MEMORABLE!!!
Told me that in his 2nd year he won 18 races out of 24...
When I asked him if there was anyone he would like to thank he told me most diffinately his family.... and his wife Melissa ..Charlie Kline and Jesus Christ...
He told me that his dad is his Crew Chief and his Crew includes Charlie Kline..Bob Chandler..Nick Carruthers...Lindell Deal and Marion Blankenship..
He wanted to thank his sponsors : H & W Service Center...Keebler Excavation...Kull Funeral Home...Racers For Christ...Night Hawk Chassis.. and Amsoil by Lendell....
***** Rodney and Lindell Deal and Marion Blankenship built the "Night Hawk Chassis"....****
Thanks so much B.J. for the interview... really enjoyed talking with you....
cj