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Yes, that Randy Moss.
The race will be at Bristol Motor Speedway, site of all of this week’s top NASCAR events. It will be the Food City 250, under the lights in Tennessee. Johnny Benson will be out to get his fourth straight victory in the series.
But for many, the big story surrounds the No. 81 truck. That is the Randy Moss Motorsports entry.
Willie Allen has been in the driver’s seat of the truck for the four races since it was announced that Moss had bought the team. Tonight, however, Johnson takes the wheel, and it will mark his career debut in the truck series.
The reason for the ride is mostly to give Johnson seat time at Bristol, which will host the Sprint Cup series on Saturday night.
Johnson says he is looking forward to the race for other reasons as well.
“I’m excited to go out racing (Ron) Hornaday and (Mike) Skinner and some of these guys that I’ve known through the years and who have helped me out,” Johnson said.
And then there is driving for Moss, the New England Patriots receiver known as much for generating controversy as for making big catches.
Johnson said he had not yet dealt with his boss-for-a-night. He said he probably would not deal with him in Bristol, as the NFL preseason is under way and coaches are not keen on having their players moonlighting in any capacity.
Johnson does, however, know what awaits Moss as he embarks on his career as a race-team owner. He knows that few outsiders have been successful in racing.
“In today’s world, it doesn’t matter if you’re a musician, an actor, a sports person,” Johnson said. “You’re looking at the world of endorsements and trying to figure out how you can get exposure and turn a profit from that stuff. It’s extremely appealing to look at our cars as rolling billboards, the fan following, the corporate involvement that we have, and it looks like a really good option to get involved. But it’s a tough business.”
Just ask people like Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman and Brett Favre about the toughness part. All have dabbled, all have retreated.
The only way for people like that to succeed, Johnson said, is to immerse themselves in the sport and prepare for the tough competitive and economic times that inevitably lie ahead.
“It’s harder to earn a buck here than anywhere else,” Johnson said. “If you’re losing, you have to go out and spend more money on technology, and you’re fighting against established teams. There are no salary caps. (Former NFL coach Joe) Gibbs is the perfect example of someone who has embraced it and made it his family business and done an extremely good job at it.”
Tonight, both Johnson and Moss wish each other well.
To reach Jim Pedley, call 816-234-4860 or send e-mail to jpedley@kcstar.com
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