Motorsports

Race away from race

Cart outings are a way to compete far from the spotlight with family and friends.

By KELLIE DIXON, Times Sports Writer
Published October 14, 2007

No autographs to sign; no interviews to attend. Just carts to race.

Really, most drivers would tell you that's their ideal set-up for racing every weekend.

But racing alone doesn't pay the bills so the drivers are left to their own backyards.

This week many drivers, including Tampa native Aric Almirola, will show up at Kevin Harvick's house in North Carolina to race on his paved track. Harvick generally hosts the event when the NASCAR Nextel Cup series runs in Martinsville, which it will next weekend. He held the informal race in May, and about 20 drivers, crew members and friends showed up to race. This time the get-together is being called the Fall Brawl.

"We just go up there and have a little fun," Almirola said. "I did it earlier this year for the spring Martinsville race."

Almirola shared a cart with Tony Stewart. He won his heat, then Stewart took the wheel for the feature race. Stewart won that, Almirola recalled.

This year, Almirola said Stewart is bringing his own cart.

Ultimately, it's a chance for the drivers to do what they love without all the outside distractions.

"It's a lot less hectic," Almirola said. "We can hang out, laugh and joke. It's a lot more mellow. When we do stuff like that it's not for the money. It's not for the sponsors. It's strictly for fun, and that's what we enjoy doing."

[Last modified October 14, 2007, 00:59:50]