news-record.com

Normally, Bobby Mitchem would tell you it's still racin' season. After all, the big boys are all trading paint in Martinsville this weekend.

He put the brakes on his Caraway Speedway race schedule early this year, however, so that he could spend one fall on the football field before he graduates from Trinity High.

Staff writer Jeff Carlton dropped by Trinity football practice this week to talk some pigskin, racing and, uh, high jump with Mitchem.

JC: What number car do you drive?

BM: No. 3.

JC: Gee, how did you pick that out?

BM: Dale Earnhardt.

JC: Kinda figured. That's a pretty revered number around here, isn't it?

BM: Yes.

JC: You're wearing No. 61 out here.

BM: This is just my practice jersey.

JC: You can't wear No. 3 playing defensive end, can you?

BM: Well, I've got No. 8.

JC: Is that right? At your position, I'm surprised they let you wear that. Did you have to make a deal with any players already here to get that number? Or was that number available?

BM: It was just available.

JC: Three and eight. I'm guessing your favorite driver would be Dale Jr.

BM: Yeah.

JC: And you were a big fan of his father, too?

BM: Yeah, I was a bigger fan of him than his son.

JC: Did you ever get to meet Dale Sr.?

BM: No.

JC: How about Junior?

BM: Not yet. I've seen him. I went to the race this past weekend.

JC: If you got to meet him, what would you want to talk to him about? About his dad's racing?

BM: Just about how hard it was to get there, for his dad, too, because I know it wasn't that hard for him.

JC: Who do you consider your most hated driver?

BM: Jeff Gordon.

JC: Has it always been that way?

BM: Yeah. That's basically how my dad was.

JC: Who's going to win this weekend in Martinsville?

BM: I'm hoping Dale Jr.

JC: How does he do on the short tracks?

BM: He's better at the big tracks.

JC: How long have you been racing cars?

BM: Since I was 13, so for four years.

JC: What did you start out on?

BM: It was a division at Caraway called U-cars, four-cylinder with front-wheel drive.

JC: Tell me what Cab cars are. That's the division you're driving in now?

BM: Yeah. It's basically the same car except it's a four-door car. I'm supposed to be moving up next year.

JC: Tell me who Jim Mitchem is?

BM: My dad.

JC: I see he's No. 1 in your division over at Caraway.

BM: I'd be first but I didn't race this season because of football season.

JC: When football practice started, you stopped racing?

BM: Yes.

JC: Looks like you've won a couple of races this year. What's the most money you've won in a race?

BM: I think it was 50 dollars. For a win, that ain't much.

JC: What did you do with your winnings?

BM: Bought something for my car to drive on the street probably.

JC: What was it?

BM: I bought a body kit for it.

JC: What does your mom think of you getting behind the wheel of fast cars?

BM: She didn't like it at first. She thought it was dangerous. ... She wouldn't let me play football when I was little, but she let me race when I was 13.

JC: Why did you start playing football just this year? Why now?

BM: I thought it would be something different. And I like it.

JC: Haven't gotten hurt out here yet, have you?

BM: No, not really.

JC: It's been kind of a tough season. How do you feel like you can salvage a happy ending to this football season?

BM: Try to come together as a team, be happy with each other and work harder.

JC: In your first year of competitive football, has it been a tough learning process for you?

BM: At first, it was. Now I've caught on to everything.

JC: How'd you end up at defensive end?

BM: Coach (Alex) Mebane talked me into coming out here and said that would probably end up being my position.

JC: When did he come to you?

BM: It was when we first came to school (in 2006), and he said it looked like I've played football. I didn't. Then he talked me into playing this year.

JC: Was it the racing keeping you from getting into football, because the seasons overlapped?

BM: Part of it, yeah.

JC: How long have you done the high jump?

BM: I just did it last year.

JC: You're late to all these sports. Did you play any sports besides racing before last year?

BM: I played baseball for two years in peewee, when I was 8-9 years old.

JC: And you hadn't played baseball since then?

BM: No.

JC: So why did you decide to go out for track last year?

BM: Coach Mebane kind of talked me into that, too.

JC: He's a very persuasive guy. And how did you get into doing the high jump?

BM: He told me to try it out. I tried it and did pretty good at it.

JC: You're a pretty good-sized guy. Did you consider doing shot put or ... ?

BM: I tried discus but didn't like it.

JC: What's your best high jump?

BM: Six-2.

JC: When did you do that?

BM: Conference meet last year. I came in second.

JC: So what's your goal for next spring? You going to do high jump again?

BM: Yeah. Hopefully, I'll get 6-6. I'm going to try.

JC: What's your favorite thing about playing football?

BM: Tackling people. Getting sacks.

JC: Does that translate to driving race cars? Do you like to rub paint out there?

BM: Yeah, I'm a pretty aggressive driver. They get mad at me a lot.

JC: Learned from the master, watching Dale Sr. Who's providing the equipment that you drive?

BM: My dad.

JC: Doesn't he say you have to keep that thing in one piece?

BM: He gets mad at me.

JC: How does he drive?

BM: He never hits anyone.

JC: Has he given you any good tips in racing?

BM: When I first started. Now I give him tips.

JC: What division of racing are you going to do next year at Caraway?

BM: It's called mini-stocks. Like Mustangs and stuff.

JC: And how long will you do that before you move to the next level? You have to win, I guess.

BM: You've gotta have the money. That's what it's all about there. Or the big sponsors.