'DEGA Fan Stories

The Story of the Talladega TireMan - Told by the Talladega TireMan

The story behind the tire is a good one that I will love telling my grandchildren and has become somewhat of tradition not just for me, but for fellow infielders as well.  I can’t tell you how many times I have taken a picture with someone who proceeds to tell me every year that they have taken a picture with me and have shared with friends who come to future races and seek me out to have a picture as well.  I took a picture last race with one middle aged gentleman who said to me, "My buddy told me about you on the way down here and I thought he was pulling my leg, I got to have a picture now to show my wife because she certainly won't believe me."

The tire was actually birthed at the February race in Daytona in 2004.  I had built an addition to my house which was to be my "Man Cave" and my wife gave me the freedom of interior decorating control.  So of course there was lots of sports memorabilia and I was in the process of making an end table out of racing tires, but I only had one and needed another.  So Saturday after the Busch race, an Official truck came by and said there were tires for sale for $5 and I hollered "SOLD".  I picked Joe Nemechek's right front tire that he qualified with that day.  The problem was that I bought the tire in Turn 3 and 4 and our camp was in Turn 1 and 2. 

So in the process of returning to camp trying to roll a tire, carry a cooler, and drink my beer which I was spilling all over the place, I decided to take a break.  I laid the tire down and sat on the edge and my rear quarter panel slid in the tire and I had this epiphany "I bet if I pulled that up on my hips it'll stick".  Well it stuck which also pulled my shorts up so that all it looked like I was wearing was the tire and my straw hat.  Needless to say, it took us 4 hours to get back to camp with all of the pictures that were taken.  People would pass by and say there goes the tire man and name just stuck and the journey began.  I have worn the tire to every race I have been to since which includes every Talladega and Bristol and I plan to make a re-appearance at Daytona this February.  

 The thing that I love the most about being the TireMan is that I have made bonds with people for years now that they expect to see me every race as well as I expect to see them and the telling old stories and sharing pictures from years past is awesome.  It's like a big family reunion and I have to answer the question every year of when Mrs. TireMan will make the race which I am continually working on.  There have been so many memories and great things that have happened since the tire was conceived. 

I have been on ESPN and SPEED channel numerous times. I was in the ABC Primetime NASCAR special and the Sporting News magazine 3 times. I have had colorful conversations with the Godfather Dave Moody and SuzyQ as well as Chocolate Myers and the gang on SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Channel 128.  Probably one of the funniest ones though is when Will Ferrell was doing the movie launch for Talladega Nights and gave me some props on the Conan O'Brien show when they asked him if he experienced some of the Talladega night life while filming.  I think the top spot of memories goes to when I (not in my "attire") met track president Mr. Humphrey at a COT test at the track and he said "So you’re the man behind the tire." and I said "Yes sir, and if you ever meet another he's an imposter!"  I guess it just boils down to I am a big ham and l love interacting with people and seeing the smiles.  It’s funny to hear people say that "I must have lost a bet" or "He must have had a lot of liquid courage" and then see their reaction when they find out neither is the case. 

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