The Beginning of the End

I fired up Pack Rat. Chills ran through my body. 16 years old and I’d never felt so much power.

My first race wouldn’t be for a few weeks. I was prepared to go for their ride of my life.

Uncle Rickey built Pack Rat, a mud dragster. Here I was taking over his ride.

Sitting in the cockpit of a truck I’d watch race at the Georgia Dome years earlier I felt a great sense of honor. I was continuing the legacy of my grandfather, Raymond. And my uncles Rickey and Danny.

Making a life with cars.

Growing up around men who worked on cars one would think it would be a natural evolution to wind up siting behind the wheel of a race car.

Being the son of a dentist going fast wasn’t exactly on the radar of career choices.

I give the credit to NASCAR, a subscription to Circle Track Magazine, and a natural drive to bring radical ideas to life.

From an early age I was known to be cool, calm, and collected. Rooted strong like nothing could sway me.

Yet when I wanted something I had little to no chill.

On the exterior you’d see cool, calm, and collected.

On the inside you’d see a raging fire ready to overcome whatever is in its path to get to its destination.

An interesting blend of groundedness and fiery will power.

And so began my love affair with race cars and motorsports.

Over the years I’ve raced mud dragsters, pro late models, super late models, late model stock cars, focus midgets, midgets, 360 non-wing sprint cars.

Raced on asphalt and dirt. Tested a NASCAR East Series car. Ran races across the US from Georgia to California, Oklahoma to North Carolina.

Went as slow as 50 MPH and as fast as 170MPH.

I’ll never forget standing in victory lane with my team. Having worked for years to claim P1.

We did it.

With fiery determination.

If racing wasn’t enough. I thought throwing country music into the mix would add a little flair to the story.

I mean no one since Marty Robbins had raced in the top levels of NASCAR and been on country radio at the same time.

Kyle Petty had a shot but the NASCAR schedule was too grueling to add touring music to the mix professionally during his career.

In 2016 I released my book, I Have A Voice and with it, I included my first EP titled Believe Again.

What started as a random insight to combine music and racing turned into an 8 year journey where I released three EP’s.

Appeared on TV in Nashville, Macon, Bowling Green, San Diego, Knoxville, and Ontario, Canada.

Had a guest appearance on The Crook and Chase Countdown. Chatted with Devon O’Day on the Opry’s, WSM Radio.

Sang the National Anthem in front of thousands in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Chili Bowl. In my home town of Atlanta at State Farm Arena for the Atlanta Dream.

Sang in bars from Buckhead’s Park Bench, to Sidelines in Canton, and 120 Tavern in Marietta.

My music has collected over 1,250,000 streams by more than 225,000 people in over 100 countries.

Despite all I have been able to accomplish I wanted my journey with music and racing to take me farther.

I would have loved to stand on the Opry stage and race on the high banks of Daytona.

I took the risk but didn’t quite make it.

A friend of mine who knew I wanted to race and sing once said, “You know by definition you are a country music singing race car driver. You may not be where you want to be, but you did it!”

Yes I did. I did it.

I answered the call and did what I said I wanted to do. I became a county music singing race car driver.

I am proud of what we accomplished. I say we because it took a team. Family, crew members, car owners, track promoters, competitors, songwriters, producers, musicians, PR teams, graphic designers, videographers, fans, and supporters - I didn’t go at this alone.

More than 100 brilliant people directly participated to help bring my dream to life.

To say I am grateful is an understatement.

And like all things. Not everything is meant to last.

After more than two decades pursuing some version of music and racing it’s time to let the dream go.

So what does this year have in store for music and racing?

To be honest I don’t know.

Perhaps I’ll release a few more songs. Maybe I’ll run a race or two.

To celebrate what a beautiful ride this has been.

Or maybe this is it.

The beginning of the end.

Music and motorsports will never leave me. The memories. The friendships. The competition. Rising to meet my best. To try and be the best.

Now, I’d be lying if I told you my heart doesn’t ache at the thought of saying goodbye.

But it is time.

How fortunate have I been to live out a version of my dreams for more than two decades?

The most fortunate. What a wonderful dream.

It’s been the ride of a lifetime.

To music and motorsports - thank you for making me into the man I am today.

What’s next, you ask?

I’ll tell you another day.

I want to remember today as, the beginning of the end.