During Speed Weeks in February I had the opportunity to speak with “Young Gun” NASCAR Busch driver Kevin Conway and his mentor, Ernie Irvan. I found Kevin to be amazingly bright, extremely focused and unswervingly dedicated…a genuine sponsor’s delight. Ernie was equally positive and eager about Conway’s talent, determination and career dedication.
24 year old Conway, who has been working with Ernie Irvan for 2 years, is attempting to land sponsorship for their 2003 NASCAR Busch Series effort which includes Irvan, George BeBidart and Innovative Motorsports. The latest leg of this effort includes visiting 8 cities coast to coast in a 12 day period. Although this could be an exhausting feat for many, Conway, along with Chris Newman, President of CN Motorsports is clearly focused and confident that good news on the sponsorship hunt will be forthcoming very soon.
At Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past weekend Lori Tyler, Assistant Editor for Catchfence.com, and I had the pleasant experience to meet with Kevin and Chris. Again I was, as was Lori, impressed with Kevin’s determination and dedication. We honestly believe no one possesses more.
Kevin’s passion is racing, pure and simple. With his racing career beginning when he was a mere 6 years old, Conway knows how to drive a race car to it’s limits, having raced everything from Late Models, ASA, ARCA and Legends where he won a championship at the young age of 15. And while Kevin is proud of his racing accomplishments, he is concentrating on the present and future with an unending urgency.
As Kevin explained, ” It’s amazing that we can keep up the pace like we do but it’s all for a good ending. It’s very exciting. But it’s frustrating coming to the race track and not being able to race. It’s like having a knife in your stomach and someone twisting it every time the cars go on the race track. But it’s something we have to do, to come here and be a part of this. All the guys on the #48 team (Shane Hmiel) have been very supportive. A lot of the guys that will be working on my team (#47 Chevy) are actually here helping Shane. This gives us an opportunity to work together, build those relationships and keep ourselves top in line as much as possible. If we can’t be here on the race track racing, then at least we can be here visible and promote ourselves the best we can. ”
Race car drivers have a need to race. That goes without saying. But it really isn’t that simple. It takes money to get the team rolling and money to keep them rolling. To reach that point takes time, effort and patience…something Kevin knows is important and necessary. He is willing to do what it takes now to be able to do what he is needing and craving…and that is RACING!
” Going to Daytona was a productive test. We know we have to set goals. (To be able to race at) Las Vegas was our next goal. But sometimes you have to redirect yourself and say OK, that didn’t work so you set new ones and make the most of that situation. Plan B is our worst case scenario, which is to run Richmond. That would still allow us to run 25 races, the least amount we want to do. That’s subject to change, of course. I think that’s the only thing that is a constant in this sport…change. So that is something we’re shooting for as a worst case scenario. We are ready to go at any point. We could literally start doggin’ it (immediately). ”
” We’ve got several things in the works right now. We’re doing this whole, what we call the “Chris and Kevin’s Excellent Adventure”…to go chase money and that’s what we’re doing. We’re trying to let these companies, where we have the opportunities, know what we have to offer, not just through NASCAR which sells itself, but what differentiates us from the “Busch Whackers”. We can offer the whole season and they can offer maybe 15 or 20 races. We’re competing for those dollars with those guys. Those guys have grand recognition, so how do you sell those companies on a rookie? That’s definitely one of those challenges we’re faced with and we’re trying to adjust to that and move around those challenges so we can move forward. ”
Ernie brings a great deal of knowledge to this venture, as well. His name brings instant recognition and with so much racing experience under his belt, he offers Kevin genuine “know how” on the sponsorship hunt and assists him in understanding these aspects. “It’s a huge blessing, ” explained Conway, ” to be able to have someone like Ernie to go to, to know this type of thing has happened to him and to really talk to (him) about it. Ernie has gone through many of the same things. This was a guy who came from California, moved out to Charlotte and had nothing. He did it the hard way. Ernie and I have joked around and have said it’s kind of like “Ernie Irvan Part 2″ in the modern era. I don’t have money or a (big) name. We’re trying to do the same things he did and be relevant to where the sport is today. But there will never, ever be another Ernie Irvan because the sport has changed so much! That’s never going to happen again. ”
” It’s very important to me to make sure the fans know what is going on (with our efforts), as well. We want to keep them aware of everything. The fans don’t usually get the chance to hear about these things. With Mike’s (McLaughlin) situation, Mike’s deal fell through and they heard about that, but it’s very seldom that they get to see everything that goes on where money goes before talent in this deal. I hope they remain supportive. We’re all chasing a dream and we all believe in each other 100%. We have such a great team and it’s just really exciting. There is such a strong chemistry there. I just want to get on the race track. I can’t wait! ”
Teasingly I told Kevin if I were to ask him this question at this point in the game, I know he would answer “any”, but honestly which track is he most looking forward to racing at? ” Really, I think Charlotte,” he quickly answered. ” It’s kind of a home track. It’s very special to me. I’ve been racing there since I was 15 years old where I was able to win a track championship in the Legends Series. We’ve won so many races there in different series…everything from Go Karts to the Legends.”
” We had such a great run there last year in the ARCA race. But circumstances beyond our control kept us from having a good finish and we ended up 7th after running in the top five all day. That was frustrating, but it’s a track that we’ve always had a tremendous amount of success at and I love it! It’s a driver’s race track. It’s a race track where a driver can really make a lot of difference.” (note: INCREDIBLY this was accomplished on a $6,000 budget that included this November ARCA event at Charlotte, as well as the March ARCA race at Atlanta!)
As we were listening to Kevin several things he said stood out a little more than others…things that made immense impressions on Lori and I. We agree that his confidence and loyalty to his team was outstanding. The close friendship he has with Ernie is evident (and that goes both ways, by the way). Additionally, we were impressed by his obvious and visible excitement to want to get back on that track to compete. He is a race car driver, after all, and apparently a darn good one at that!
And then there was his statement about the ARCA event at Charlotte last year. He finished 7th and considered that a poor finish. I remember thinking as he was speaking, that there were 34 other drivers that day that would have loved having a finish like that.
Furthermore, Conway is quick to acknowledge and value the fans of this sport, as well. He knows the important roll the fans play in the fastest growing spectator sport in America and wants them to know how much they mean to him.
Conway is a win-win target for any corporation. He is genuine…something this sport desires and demands. And he possesses every asset necessary for corporate America backing, including extreme talent, good looks and youth, a great owner and team, as well as an amazing veteran mentor.
Conway is fully aware that the struggles they are going through at present, will help mold this team into a stronger, self demanding operation because it will have made the wait all the more meaningful and worthwhile.
Good luck Kevin, on chasing your dream. We truly believe that’s a race you will win. Oh, and by the way, we can’t wait either!
God Bless and literally God Speed!
Check out Conway’s website currently under construction at kevinconway.net.
