Pilot Travel Centers awarded $50,000 to two long-haul truck drivers – one a professional driver and the other a driver of a NASCAR team transporter. Dubbed the Pilot Truck Driver Challenge, the program is in its second year of honoring the best driver in the NASCAR garage area and the best driver in its Driver Payback program. Among the qualifications for the award, the drivers must have a clean record, with no accidents and no speeding tickets. James and Sue Langley, of Jonesboro, La., were the non-NASCAR winners. He drives for Southern Cal Transport.
And for the second year, a driver for one of Richard Childress Racing was the NASCAR winner. Frankie Nester has been with RCR for three years and drives the Cingular Chevrolet race cars and equipment from track to track for driver Jeff Burton. He previously drove for Roush Racing and a Busch team. “Before that, I was hauling furniture up north,” Nester said.”I think you guys have the hardest job in this sport,” Burton said to all of the NASCAR transport drivers. “You’re gone more. You’re always here, you’re always the first ones to be here and the last ones to leave.” Burton said Nester previously said if he won, he would donate 10% of his winnings to charity and the driver said he would match it. Nester, of Stoneville, N.C., said they will select a charity and announce it at a later date. Pilot Travel Centers also donate unspecified amounts each year to NASCAR charities, including the Victory Junction Gang Camp.(AMS Pit Notes)(10-29-2005)
