A season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series translates into 38 weekends of racing action. The season starts with nearly two weeks of activities with the annual Speed Weeks at Daytona International Speedway. Couple those 12 days of activity with at least 37 more weekends of racing that includes three days of activity and the result is 123 days spent at the race track.
That number is on the low side once other activities are factored in, such as sponsor commitments that require drivers to travel to a track early for various appearances. The generous average number for days spent at the track is 150 days. With only 365 days in a year, that comes out to just a little less than half of a calendar year.
As a result, most drivers and car owners, as well as a handful of crew chiefs, secure "homes away from home" in the form of an RV, also called a motor home. These "homes on wheels" have evolved since they first started popping up at the race tracks in the mid 1990s and now offer comfortable accommodations in a motorized vehicle.
Mark "Digger" Shook has worked for Dale Jarrett for more than 20 years, spending the first seven years driving a Busch Series transporter when Jarrett owned his own Busch Series team. Shook has been the motor home driver for Jarrett since 1993 and has spent the last 13 years becoming well-acquainted with the ins and outs of the motor home business.
When Jarrett decided to drive for two more seasons, he also decided to purchase a new motor home that would withstand the next two years of racing. Shook has always overseen the build of any of Jarrett's motor homes and has been the manager of the newest project which went into development in June.
"It takes seven to nine months from the time the coach is ordered for the builders to get it ready," Shook explained. "So you have to get started pretty early in the process because there is a lot that goes into building a new coach. It's a lot like building a new house."
While Jarrett wants a coach that is comfortable, he also requires one to be functional. The first thing on the agenda was for Shook to meet with the sales representative of Vantare, the same company that built the current coach the Jarrett family utilizes. Jarrett's wife, Kelley, plays an intricate role in determining the look and design of the motor coach.
"Dale and Kelley discuss the options they want and don't want," Shook said. "They look at floor plans, layouts and all the frills that they want. They have three kids together so they take that into consideration when determining the floor plan because they have to have fold-out couches and such because they have a lot of people."
Once the floor plan and layout has been determined, the sales representative sets a price. Once everyone has agreed, the first decision made is the paint scheme of the outside of the home.
"Kelley will pick the outside colors because Vantare will order the equipment from Prevost and the first thing they do is paint the exterior," Shook said.
Within the first three months of the order, the next step for Mrs. Jarrett is to determine the design for the interior portion of the motor home. Decisions are made regarding colors, fabrics, designs, etc. Additionally, they determine the number of televisions to be installed, Internet service, bed sizes and more.
While decisions are made about the living quarters, they are also made regarding the driving quarters. Shook spent 270 nights on the road with the motor home in 2005, so driver comfort becomes a major factor.
"I have a few things added for my driving cocoon," Shook explained. "One thing I have is a big boy seat and I have the seat moved back because I have longer legs. I'll also have the air conditioning units arranged so that the house air ducts can distribute air on the driving seat because the windshield is so large it absorbs a lot of heat."
Once the motor home has been built and the interior work is complete, the job turns to switching out the personal items from the old motor home to the new.
"We're switching things like dishes, linens, equipment, clothing - any personal items they may have on the bus," Shook said. "It really is a long process so if you want a new coach to be ready for the start of the season, you have to start planning early. It's the same as anything else that is being built. There end up being delays for this reason or that reason so you have to be ready."
The end result is a new home on wheels for what will be the final years of a long and successful career for not only Jarrett but also his trusted transportation director and friend.
