Jim: What was your worst accident?
Oddly enough, probably my last race at 81 Speedway in 2001. I went off the speedway on turn one, and ended up by the barrels. I cracked a couple of ribs and think that it was one of the worst.
AJ: What was your worst accident, and do you worry about getting hurt?
It seems like every major accident was hard. There was a crash on turn three in Salina, Kansas that I received a concussion, and another one on turn three at 81 that left me with a headache for three weeks. After my friend Steve King's died in an accident, getting hurt was on my mind. After a couple years, I just never thought about it again. If you start thinking about being hurt, you just won't be competitive.
Jim: Can you give me an estimate on the cost of running a competitive sprint car program for a year?
It depends on how hard and how much you want to race. To put a competitive race car on the track, your going to spend around sixty thousand. For yearly expenses for travel, pit passes, tires and fuel, we spend between fifteen to twenty thousand. Those figures would be close, if no major engine or accidents happen.
AJ: Who helps you on your racing team?
Of course my dad, Carl Ross, Ryan Graf and my junior pit crew member Austin.
AJ: Who are the sponsors that help make your team successful?
Conoco, Phillips, Parker Oil Company, Auto Masters, DMI, Smileys, Bell Racing Products and Dave's Auto Electric. Our big sponsors are Conoco, Phillips and Kendall. We run Kendall products in our car, and both the company and products have been with us since my dad started racing.
Jim: Is AJ's driving style any different then what yours was, and if so how?
Yes, it's a lot different I think. A slick race track was one of my strong credentials. AJ struggles on that kind of track. Like I tell everybody, if it's a fast heavy race track, he can beat anybody. When it drys out, there's some kind of short circuit between his brain and his foot on a slick race track. I think a lot of that comes with age. When I was forty, I think my driving was better then when I was twenty-five. Take a look at the World of Outlaws, Sammy and Steve are still winning a lot of races now.
Jim: A lot of people don't remember as I do, that you drove a modifed one year. Can you remember how that went?
Not well! I remember the only night I raced a modified was at little Hutch track. I raced there because I didn't want to race in front of anybody that knew me. We had to run the “B” feature, and I remember punting Ken Sweet off of turn two so hard, I felt sorry for him. I don't know how many guys I hit that night in the “B” feature. I remember our night started with someone taking a picture of a nice green and white car, that was sponsored by Quaker State. I had a nice Quaker State fire suit and everything looked so nice. The last picture of me was me being pulled out of the mud in the middle of the race track. It was an experience, and the only one in a modified.
AJ: On a scale of A-F, how do you grade yourself on your driving skills now, compared to your dads in his prime?
That's a tough question with my dad sitting beside me. I do think we are two different drivers. I will differ with him about the cars not changing in the last ten years. Berry Hill, who was a former World of Outlaw rookie of the year once remarked, that the 360's now are just as fast as the 410's were eight years ago.
AJ: Did you forget the question I asked?
No I remember what you asked. Since I work for dad and my job may be in jeopardy, I would have to give myself a C.
Jim: How do you feel about what AJ has accomplished since he started racing?
I'm really proud of what he's accomplished so far. He's won two track championships at 81 Speedway. I'm disappointed at our NCRA accomplishments in the last two or three years. I would like to see some improvement in his dry slick abilities. Sometimes I watch some of the stuff he does, and then ask him what the hell were you thinking. For an example, earlier when he was talking about the accident in turn three at 81 Speedway. It happened a few years ago at 81 Speedway during the last race of the season. He started eighth and made his way up to second with only one lap to go. He was trying to pass a lap car in turn four with the checkered flag waving, and he ran over the car and ends up on his roof. He not only gets injured, but tore up a race car.
AJ: Would you like to comment about that?
Yes. Racing I have learned is a lot mental. Take for instance Gary Lee Maier and Mike Peters, who may not have the best equipment, but they have I'm going to make this work attitude. I think that is a big part of the reason they have won so many races.
Jim comments: This year we have a new slogan for our race team. MTXE. Mental toughness, extra effort. When things aren't going right, you have to put out an effort to make it better.
AJ: Do you think your son Austin, will be the third generation Selenke driver?
Right now, I think that at five years old, he is more competitive the dad and I. He's taking karate lessons which teachs him discipline and mental toughness. He has a cart and we will see how it goes.
AJ: Do you have any goals that you would like to accomplish in a sprint car in the next few years?
We are still looking for that first NCRA feature win, and overall be more competitive in the series.
Jim: Congratulations on your induction into the 81 Speedway Hall of Fame. What does this induction mean to you?
It means a lot to me. The guys racing when I was growing up, were my heroes, and to be in it with them is a great honor to me. My dad was one of the first inductees. I really appreciate being a part of racing history.
Jim: Was there anything during your racing career, that you would have liked to accomplish before you retired?
The NCRA championship is about the only thing I didn't win as a local driver. I came in second once and in the top five several times, but never won it.
AJ: What are the plans for the 2011 season?
We are going to start off the season with the NCRA race at 81 Speedway and run the complete schedule except Memorial Day weekend. My cousin is going to be ordained as a priest on that weekend in Wichita, and him becoming a priest is a great honor for our family. We may run out of town when schedule allows it, but as of now it's kinda up in the air.
AJ: Is there anyone else you would like to thank that helps your racing team
I especially want to thank mom and dad. Without them, I wouldn't be racing. I also would like to thank my sister Ashley for taking care of Austin when I race. I think she has the hardest job when were at the track. I want to thank my race team and all the drivers I race with. Racers usually form a big family, and that family tends to take care of each other
Check out these great racing websites:
http://www.whowon.com http://www.inthepits.net http://www.dirtknights.com http://www.midwestdirt.com
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