NASCAR Cup Series

Eyes in the sky: Rejoining the No. 17 party

Published Feb. 19, 2009 6:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

It took me 15 years to figure out why I was chasing races, living out of suitcases and driving rental cars every weekend.

Touring the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit every weekend may seem glamorous to the average fan — and that's understandable — but it isn't always "all that."

We do get to visit many cities, see all the races and hang with the stars. It's super-cool at the beginning, but it tends to become commonplace as the years go by.

The suitcases and rental cars eventually lose their appeal. Days away from home; time lost with family and friends. It can really take a toll on those crewmembers that do it week in and week out.