Through the 2008 season, we will be featuring a weekly column spotlighting a driver on the Rolling Thunder Modified tour. This week features rookie driver Joseph Scarbrough III who will be running a limited racing schedule with the RTM tour in 2008.

1.) How did you get your start in racing?

Joe: I got started in racing back in 1979! I drove a full bodied go kart to a third place finish.
Local lore says it wasnt full bodied at the end of the event!?

2.) Why did you get into racing?

Joe: I got my start due to a long genetic mutation beginning with my Grandfather. He built race cars back in the 50's and 60's. You know, back when you could make a buck in racing. My Father started racing in 78 I think it was. I was about 8 years old and not old enough to get in the pits. It was funny looking back at it. They used to tell me to stand in the corner and watch the car, so I could give them feedback on if it was handling or not!! I was 8 for crying out loud!! After a practice session I would run over to the pit fence and tell them if it needed more camber or not! Some old Dodge Challenger. The car must have weighed 4000 pounds and Im certain that if put up to the challenge, it could have derailed a freight train. MY GOD you should have seen how many bars they had....."protecting the radiator". Oh it was good times back then!

3.) What honors have you earned in your racing career so far?

Joe: Racing honors started pretty young. I was real big into radio controlled stuff, regional and national championships, I even won the IROC one year. That stuff got out of control price wise so I went kart racing, it was cheaper and more fun. 4 championships in karting. Ive been rookie of the year a few times, last year at Langley, 1991 Late Model up in Jersey, I think I won a rookie title in karts too, I won a mechanic of the year in 1984. I was crew chief on dads late model/sportsman car. That was a season, we went twelve wins out of 14 races! They would start him dead last and up the bounty on him each week!


4.) What other series/divisions/tours have you competed in the past?

Joe: Thats a grocery list! Karts, street stocks, grand stock, sportsman, late model, pro stock, Grand Am, (yes grand am... I turned right in a foreign car) I even did some testing for a Wheelen team back when it was the featherlite tour.

5.) How do you feel about taking your car to a wide variety of race tracks instead of racing solely at one facility as you did last year?

Joe: I LOVE going to new tracks, a new challenge, new place its a great rush. Ive never really been part of a traveling tour, Ive just kind of party crashed a few races here and there, much like well be doing this year, I think were racing 5 or 6 RTM races and Im really looking forward to it.

6.) What is your day job?

Joe: Coast Guard! Or if you prefer the Brown water navy, knee deep navy, Coasties,or puddle pirates! Just get it out of your system, I know your jealous!! lol I joined the Coast Guard after 9-11. I always said when the war comes down my street Ill take up arms, well I did. I spent 5 years as a fast boat driver performing special operations. Camo Coasties! Not a popular site! Anti terror and force protection with some VIP security work here and there. I now work at Ft. Lee just outside Petersburg VA assigned to the recruiting command. Wanna join? (I didn't say I was good at it) lol

7.)  What do you enjoy doing when you're not racing?

Joe: Not racing??!???! Is there something else? Im a pretty normal guy I would think, (that should stir some controversy) I like kicking back with friends, drinking a beer and laughing about anything and everything. Life is really short and way to serious, ya gotta laugh at all of it!

8.) You only had one start with RTM last year, that being at Concord with an impressive 4th place finish.  With the little experience you had with the tour, what is your opinion of the series?

Joe: The whole team had a blast at Concord, it was a great show. We were real fast but Im not sure why, I think we had the car too soft. We went out there with the Langley setup and proceeded to grind the bottom of the bell housing off! I guess the only problem I really had there was the left turn in the middle of the front straight....oh? whats that? you didnt see it either? Only the guy next to me on the last lap saw it other wise I had third!!! Oh well no harm no foul, just a couple of wheels! It made for an exciting finish Im sure the fans liked it!

9.) What is your goal for the RTM races you are competing in this season?

Joe: Win them!....DUH!!!! No seriously, I race hard, I race clean and Im all about being professional and a good sportsman. Any bozo can go out there and pound the car in front of him still it slides out of the way. I met some great people at Concord last year, we had some great racing. For the most part good racing. My goal is to earn the respect of my fellow competitors. I give respect and I demand it in return just as anyone else would.


10.) You will be running again the full schedule at Langley Speedway this year, however you will be running select races with the RTM tour this year.  What races are you hoping to compete at?

Joe: The #30 Aftershock Motorsports team plans to compete at both East Carolina Motor Speedway races, Langley Speedway, Franklin County Speedway, Dillon Motor Speedway, Hickory Motor Speedway, and the season finale at Ace Speedway.