Childress interview hit newsstands

It's been months since I interviewed NASCAR celeb Richard Childress, and what I most remember about the interview was how gracious he was and how "non-NASCAR" his office was. First, it was huge, at least 2/3 of the square footage of my current dwelling, and second, it was obvious he is a serious big-game hunter. There was the animal skin rug, various heads on the wall, large oversized furniture and the like. It was like a Hollywood movie, which is the way I think he likes it.

Read the non-hunting article here in the current issue of Triad Living, and find out his persuits closer to home.

Welcome to Welcome, NC

It was raining. It always seems to be raining. I'd followed my little map to Welcome, N.C. to meet Richard Childress at his mega-motorsports facility, and I needed gas and to make sure I hadn't passed the turn (I am a woman -- it's easy to stop for directions).

I pulled into a one-pump station in downtown Welcome and inadvertently rang the full-service bell before getting out of the car. A man walked out, gray sweatshirt as armor against the blowing mist, and I apologized, saying I would pump it myself.

"You will not," he said with a smile as he opened the tank. "Oh, and (looking at the card in my hand) you're paying my credit. We usually only accept cash or check. But ... I can see you are not from around here." Check? Really? Who pays for gas by check? "We'll take care of it for you and run the card, although we usually don't like to."

Mind you, this was said without a hint of sarcasm or rushing. I stood beside the car, awkwardly, not used to having someone pump the gas. Cars drove by slowly, their tires hissing on the rain-soaked street. We walked inside where tires and Lance crackers were stacked, and I signed for the bill. I was bid a good day with a smile, and told to be careful out there, walking back out into the rain. Full-service hospitality, sincere and not sticky-sweet. The good stuff. The real thing.