Girlracer Blogs

  NASCAR's Heroes are Hungry for Glory at the Prelude to the Dream

Pam Boas talks about the event her son, Tony Stewart, created and what raising a NASCAR icon has been like.

Welcome back to GirlRacer.co.uk with my weekly Pit Stop. I'm your driver - Caitlin Shaw! As GirlRacers, we are all chasing our dreams one checkered flag at a time. We often look up to esteemed drivers who have "made it" and picture ourselves in their positions - living the dream.  However, before Tony Stewart became Smoke, Kyle Busch became Rowdy or Joey Logano became Sliced Bread they were all simply, "little boys with big toys" as Pam Boas, Tony Stewart's mother, would say. This is why she looks forward to visiting Eldora Speedway for The Prelude to the Dream each year. She gets to see the kid in each of these drivers come out to battle for the glory and bragging rights against 25 of their closest competitors. The atmosphere of watching each driver fight to dominate in the dirt is what makes the event entertaining for Boas.

Our honorary GirlRacer this week is Mrs. Pam Boas. She may seem like an average woman when you see her spending time with her family in Indiana. However, she is anything but average. She is the treasurer for the Tony Stewart Foundation, she has been a part of charity events such as the Mutt Strut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and she has helped in giving the race command at Darlington Raceway. "It's been quite a ride" Boas remarked, "I have tried not to look back because it becomes overwhelming." This week I was lucky enough to spend fifteen minutes talking with the racing icon's mother about her experiences with her son and her thoughts about her son's successful efforts in The Prelude to the Dream -- one of the year's most exciting all-star races.

CAITLIN: When Tony first decided to start The Prelude to the Dream, what were your initial thoughts to the idea?

PAM: "We all knew that it would be a lot of fun, but there is so many logistics to getting all of these drivers there. We were all a little concerned with who would actually show up and make this such a fun time. Many of them had never raced on dirt so that would be a big challenge for them also, but it has turned out to be an awesome event. He now actually has to turn down drivers because so many of them want to come."

CAITLIN: I love that all of the drivers come together to support Tony and America's injured and fallen heroes through this year's Prelude. What does The Prelude mean to you?

PAM: "Personally, it has been one of the greatest races that Tony has been involved in. The joy that I get is that all of the commitments they have to sponsors and team owners -- all of that is gone. They get to come to the Prelude to the Dream and absolutely have a ball. They can go there and actually be little boys with big toys. Not worrying about points or money that they have to be conscience of when they are in NASCAR. It's just a joy to watch them."

CAITLIN: I expect that you will be at the Speedway for the race then?

PAM: "I do not miss the Prelude! That is one race that I love going to. You just don't see a grumpy person there. They just love watching these NASCAR guys have such a great time together."

CAITLIN: I can't wait to watch the race on television. I can't imagine how exciting it must be in person with all of the track history. Let's get into more of your history with your son. What is it like to be Tony Stewart's mother?

PAM: "Well I tell everybody that asks me that we didn't know when he was a little boy. We had no expectations and as his career has progressed I have tried not to look back because it becomes overwhelming. I try to be true to me just like Tony tries to remain true to himself.

It is so much fun getting to meet so many amazing people. The fans are absolutely phenomenal. It's just been quite a ride. It's been full of many, many blessings. I'm just so glad that he has been such a positive role model for so many kids."

CAITLIN: I know he must be a huge role model to people of all ages especially with his success this year as a driver/owner. Everyone thought he wouldn't perform as well on the track with the added responsibility and now he's leading the points going into the chase. How do you feel about your son's success this year?

PAM: "I'm really happy for Tony. It's something he's been striving for. He's found a lot of peace as an owner and it has been a very positive experience for him."

CAITLIN: I love how supportive you are of him. Is there any advice that you could give to other mothers with children involved in motorsports?

PAM: "As a parent I've had mothers come up to me and say ‘how did you encourage your child to go on?' First and foremost these kids have to enjoy the racing. If it becomes a chore they shouldn't be there. Tony will tell you the same thing -- it has to be fun. As a mother you just have to be there as an encourager."

That is great advice to all of our GirlRacers and GirlRacer moms. Be sure to catch all the action from The 5^th Annual Prelude to the Dream tonight, Wednesday September 9, 2009, at 7 PM EDT - Live on pay-per-view. All of the proceeds from the telecast directly benefit America's injured and fallen heroes through the  Wounded Warrior Project, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Homefront, and the Fisher House charities. Remember if you're chasing your dreams - you're a GirlRacer.