“When I got sick (in 2002) it forced me to stay home and I got reacquainted with everyone around my hometown and my family,” Mast said. “I missed out on a lot of (son) Ricky’s time growing up and maybe got to see two of his baseball games in four years.” Mast’s priorities changed. Although his oldest son was leaving for college, Mast’s young twins, Kaitie and Sarah, were still at an impressionable age. Mast wanted to be present in their lives. “I had the opportunity the next year to do a television broadcast of a race in Nashville and I enjoyed it and I was told by the folks with the network I did a pretty good job and I enjoyed working the race,” Mast said. “Ricky turned 20 the next day and I decided to stay home and spend time with my family. I didn’t want to miss time with my daughters like I did with Ricky.”Â
Mast didn’t get a chance to leave on his own terms. But the sport was in a state of transition as he departed. “Things were starting to change in the sport and I don’t miss a lot of the things like the travel and being away from home, but I do miss the traveling family because we were a tight-knit group,” Mast said. “It was more than the drivers, it was the crew members and all the comradery you felt being a part of that group.” Once Mast recovered from his symptoms, he was back on the road, except this time it was to support his daughters who played travel sports in school and spending time with his family.(Motorsport)(1-18-2017)