Billy Egeler...aka..Announcer #1...Suitcase....
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In a message dated 5/4/2004 11:01:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
carcar22cj@hotmail.com writes:

> 1...How did you get involved with the racing scene?? I was raised around
racing.. My dad was a photographer at many local tracks so I was there every
week. I guess it got in my blood early! As I got older I got involved with some
local teams and helped. Then in 1990 I was helping a friend with a asphalt car
and we ran some NASCAR Goody's Dash Series events and I was named NASCARS
youngest ever crew cheif for a touring series at the age of 16.
>
> 2..Did you race or ever desire to do so?? I have only driven one time on a
drag strip and one lap in a stock car. I really do not have any desire to drive.
I enjoy doing the work in the shop and at the track. This way you can watch
something you have built go out and run and maybe win! That is the real payday
for everyone that helps on these cars!
>
> 3..How did you become an announcer ?? Well this is really weird.. My dad was a
radio DJ by trade. So I grew up in the radio stations when not at the tracks. I
never really even thought about being a DJ or anything else. One day a good
friend of mine (Army Armstrong) who works with SPEED Vision and ESPN/ESPN2
called me and said.. hey I want you to try something for me.. He said the local
drag strip was needing an announcer and I was the one going to fill the
position. It is all down hill from there! lol
>
> 4..What was your first experience at announcing a race? Well the first race I
ever announced was a weekly NHRA 1/8th mile drag strip. This was tough for me
because I never had been around drag racing and knew not the first thing about
it! It was truly a challange to make something so boring exciting! hehehehe.
>
> 5.. What has been some of your achievements over the years as an
announcer?Well I have now been announcing for about 12 years. I would say that
announcing events like the NHRA Sports Nationals at Bowling Green, KY was a huge
highlight along with announcing for the NASCAR Southeast Series events last
season plus all the tracks I have gotten to visit because of being an announcer
would be on the top of the list.
>
> 6..What was it like to sponsor a Big race like the
> "Bluegrass Bash?? Man.. one word could sum this up... HEADACHE! lol Really
this was a dream of mine for the past few years to be able to put on a first
class event and it is really touching to see al that came out to support it. I
guess once everything was said and done it was awesome knowing that what started
as a dream became reality!
>
> 7..Will you do it again?? Man that is tough.. I can not say that I will NEVER
do it agaon but I feel right now I am going to have to sit back a year or two
and regroup and see what happens. With my first baby on the way (which is a boy)
hehehe we will wait and see!
>
> 8..Long term goal?? Well I would say my long term goal is to be able to be
seen on a major network covering racing or be heard on a major netwrok radio
wise covering events. Or even as a crew member I would like to get back to
changing tires on some Busch cars but that takes way to much time away from the
family.
>
> 9..Some highlights you would like to share?? I would have to say one of my
biggest highlights was when I did some TV work for ESPN during high school and
getting to work with my mentor Army armstrong.. Working events like tractor
Pulls and Monster truck events. Meeting huge name drivers and some of the best
fans in the world! Another big highlight has been being able to help 4 of the
top NASCAR drivers that have come from Owensboro make their way up the ladder. I
crewed for Mark Green, David Green, Mikey Waltrip and for Jeremy Mayfield.
>
> 10..Anyone you want to say thanks to?? Boy where to start... I have to thank
my Mom for being so supportive of me thru the years, my wife for putting up with
all my racing and allowing me to do the thing i truly love. My mentor: Army
Armstrong for introducing me to this job and all the great drivers, fans, track
promoters and friends I have met and been able to entertain over the years and
that have helped make my job at the track fun and exciting.

My quote: To finish the race first.. First you must finish!

Re: Billy Egeler...aka..Announcer #1...Suitcase....
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I got to meet Billy at the "Bluegrass Bash II" and it was a real pleasure.....

I had corresponded with him over the web and in emails trying to help pass the word about the Bluegrass Bash..

At the Bash I was hoping to get to interview him..but.. he was a very busy man and I was trying to keep stats of the race....

But when Billy did have some time to spare he sent a fellow racefan "racn22" into the bleachers looking for me.... I am very fortunate to have met with him.. hope to run into him again...

You are what racing is all about Billy....The support that you give to these drivers and the help you give to the tracks..
I for one appreciate what you do..... thanks so much....
and thankyou for the interview....

cj

Suitcase94 Posted: Feb 8 2005, 01:35 PM


Race Member


Group: Members
Posts: 54
Member No.: 10
Joined: 22-October 04



WEll as for me... I was born and bread right here in Owensboro, KY. From the ripe old age of 1 mth. I was involved with racing because my mother and father took track photos for several tracks in the tri-state. I have 2 sisters and I am the youngest of the family. I quickly became involved as a crew member while still very young! I worked on a dirt late model for a guy by the name of Larry Bullington. I then moved on and became a crew member for a fellow named Dean Howard. He ran what is called a pro-4. THese car were 4cyl. cars with a tube frame and we ran asphalt all over the country. While helping dean I was also helping Jeremy Mayfield and Mark Green and several others around home. This is where the name "Suitcase" came from, Jeremy Mayfield said that I was just like then famous Nascar crew cheif Suitcase Jake Elder and would travel from team to team helping everyone.In 1991 I became NASCARS youngest crew cheif for a touring series with Dean in the then called Goody's Dash Series. during 91 i made 2 trips to Daytona. One with Dean to race and one with a road racer here in town to be a tire changer for him during the Rolex 24 hrs of Daytona. I was actually on Pit Road during the filming of Days of Thunder. I was in Mike Waltrips pit. I moved away from helping Dean and Jeremy in 1992 when Dean and Jeremy went to Nashville to do some Arca racing for Sadler Racing. I started working on a Sprint car at this point and helping some other local racers. In 1993 I was lucky to meet my wife Kim and our daughter Amythest. She was working at a video store that I also worked and and we were married in July of 1994. I then was helping Mark Green on a NASCAR Late Model that was ran at Nashville, TN. When Mark got his first Busch ride with then Newly formed Brewco Motorsports in 1995 i went on to start helping another Nashville racer by the name of Mark Ballard. in 1996 I began my announcing career at a local drag strip and then began announcing at the local dirt track called Windy Hollow Speedway. I then went on to announce at Kentucky Motor Speedway for one 1/2 season. After that I was announcing at Windy Hollow SPeedway, Drag Strip and Chandler Speedway in Chandler IN. In then started announcing at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY and Pennyrile Raceway in Mortons Gap, KY. This lasted one whole season announcing at 4 tracks in one weekend. that will wear a guy out! I then had this bright Idea that I could be a track and race promoter and put on the Bluegrass Bash in March 2002 and it was put off til July because of rain. This lead me to do one more even in 04. Now I have setteled down after having our son last year Hayden and now the new baby on the way and plan on announcing at Windy Hollow and Western KY Speedway for the 05 season and doing my radio show during the season on Monday nights!

During my years of crewing for people i would say my highlights would have to be Daytona in 91, working with Brewco on the busch and craftsman truck series at Richmond, VA in 1998 and a winning season with Dean Howard picking up 14 out of 16 races.

I owe all of this to my family and I really owe a big thank you to my best friend Army Armstrong who has been like a dad to me since i was a baby. Army got me started announcing.

Billy Egeler
announcer at Windy Hollow and Western Kentucky