Brian Hoar Taking Some Time Off in 2008
Five-time ACT Late Model Champion Brian Hoar is taking at least the 2008 racing season off. He returned to ACT in 2007 after a few years of driving on the Busch North (now East) Series. He ended the season sixth in points and, hard to believe, with no wins. He and his team were fined $4,000 earlier in the season for adding extensions to his rear shocks. They appealed and lost.
I read a rumor on the internet saying his dad Doug had “pulled the plug” on his racing for 2008 and a couple of his crewman were looking for other jobs. I dropped Brian an e-mail asking him about the rumor and his plans.
He replied. “The truth is I (not Doug) pulled the plug on my racing for next year. I have a lot of family and business reasons on top of the fact that my heart wasn’t in it this past season and after 17-plus years I need a break.
“I am not selling anything but my Busch car for next season. I plan on next season being one with my young kids camping and boating on hot Saturday and Sunday afternoons. I love the sport which has personally helped me in many ways and don’t want to give it up, but it definitely is time to re-evaluate some priorities.
“I am sure at the start of next season I’ll be having serious racing withdrawals and wish I had made a different decision but I gotta do it now.
“As for current racing employees, they are headed in different directions. Neal (Woodard) is looking for another racing job, which I’ll help him with if I can, because he is very talented and could be a Nextel Cup car chief easily. Karl (Osha) is going to work for me in the dealership.”
He didn’t know about the internet chat until my e-mail so after responding to me he read it. There was speculation that the shock deal led to his decision.
He sent me a second e-mail. “Let me add a few more details, after what I just read. For the first time ever I just read about the rumors on a message board about me. To address what the rumor mongers have said: I’m taking a year or so off. Not necessarily for good. This is due to family and business reasons! Not the shock deal.
“I struggled this year due to many reasons and probably foremost my heart not being 100 percent in it. That being said, again means that I should be doing something else. It is not fair to my family, team, business, fans, sponsors, or otherwise to not be giving 100 percent at everything I do. Unfortunately there is more to do now than ever and not enough of me to give 100 percent to racing. I won’t speculate what two or three years down the road will bring because I will have to see where my life is at.”
After reading he wasn’t selling either of his LMS cars, I asked if there was any chance he might run a couple of races say like the Oxford 250 or the Milk Bowl. He replied, “I know I have a business meeting/vacation that will interfere with the 250 and don’t know about the Milk Bowl. I speculate that I will not race any next year.”
Sources: Big Bigelow/The Calendonian Record