At age 21, A.J. Foyt IV, is ready for a new season of motor racing as
the driver of the No. 38 Great Clips Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series.
For the first time in his career, he will not be under the wing of his
grandfather, mentor and four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, A.J.
Foyt Jr.
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A.J.Foyt IV. Photo by Michael C. Johnson.
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From the age of nine, when he raced junior dragsters, Foyt IV has been
schooled by the legend. Racing the final four races of the 2005 Busch season
in the Akins Motorsports Great Clips Dodge, he is ready to run the full 35
race 2006 Busch series schedule and compete for the Raybestos Rookie of the
Year honors.
The transition from the IndyCar Series has been a large leap for the
young driver. "It is really hard to take the knowledge from the Indy
Cars to the Busch Series", Foyt explained recently at Texas Motor
Speedway, "they are totally different set up wise."
Learning to communicate with a new team is also a new experience for
Foyt, dealing with a crew chief other than his grandfather. "I am really
looking forward to a fresh start. I am still young and this is a great
opportunity to have a career in NASCAR racing."
Foyt IV, known as Anthony in racing circles, moved to Charlotte from his
home in Hockley, Texas at the end of last season. When asked if he stays
in contact with his uncle Larry Foyt, another NASCAR driver, Anthony
added that now the two are neighbors. "It is great to have him there. I
can go to him for advice for anything I need".
Anthony and Larry talked quite a bit during testing at Daytona in
January according to Anthony. "He is really a big help and I wish he was
going to be there all year", he added.
When asked about not being under his grandfather's shadow this year,
Foyt IV said: "You certainly don't want to crash his cars. You don't
want to crash anyone's cars but if you crash his cars you just don't see
him on Sunday, you see him all week."
He also added he will not feel as much family pressure this season, but
that does not mean that there is not any pressure to perform. After
winning the Infiniti Pro Series Championship in 2002, Foyt IV was
extremely disappointed in his performance in the Indy Racing League. "I
really didn't do anything to talk about so I am really looking forward
to this fresh start."
Racing for his grandfather had its ups and downs as Foyt IV stated that
it was "more ups than downs however". The financial backing and name
exposure was a tremendous help in starting his career in racing. The
down side was arriving at the race track with the number 14 and the name
of Foyt. "It was like having a big bull's eye driving around the race
track. It's been that way ever since I was running go-carts. You just
take the good with the bad."
When asked about having the famous name in the Busch series and whether
people would be gunning for him on the track, he calmly said, "I'm not
necessarily saying that but it won't hold them back. Maybe some guys
will or won't, I just can't answer that."
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Ray Evernham and A.J. Foyt IV. Photo by Michael C. Johnson.
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"I guess we will find out the first half of the season," he added. Besides
the change in racing series, Foyt IV is also training three days a week with
a trainer from Evernham Motorsports. "It is not at all easy on you, but it
works."
The subject of money came up and he was asked if he was making more
money now than when he was driving Indy cars. As he laughed he stated,
"I am making a lot more money now!"
On May 25, 2003 on his 19th birthday, he became the youngest driver to
compete in the Indianapolis 500 where he finished 18th. Would he be
there this May to watch? "I'll be there and hopefully I'll be looking
for a ride whether in my grandfather's car or another car. I'll be
looking for a ride. I can race there (Lowe's Motor Speedway) on Saturday
and Indy on Sunday", he said.
Now that Larry Foyt is engaged, Foyt IV was asked about taking over the
"most eligible bachelor status" in the family. As he chuckled, "I don't
know about that. I have a girlfriend too so I better watch out!"
He also spoke about how he has to be careful in his behavior on and off
the track. "You can't go out and do stupid 21 year old things. You have
a lot of people watching you and a lot of sponsors watching also".
In dealing with the time commitments in NASACR compared to the Indy
Racing League, Foyt stated, "It is part of the sport. If you are
involved you know that you are going to be doing stuff like this. Going
from 15 or 16 races a year to 35, I know that I am going to be busier. I
think I need all the exposure I can get right now".
On what is his favorite track for the upcoming year, Foyt loves the high
speed tracks. He is however, looking forward to the short tracks and
doing, "a little beating and banging".
A.J. Foyt IV will find out at Daytona what life is like, not only without
his grandfather watching over him deep in the heart of Texas, but also
in the fast lane of the NASCAR Busch Series. Only four short years
ago he was changing the front right tires for his grandfather's Indy
Racing League team. Now the soft-spoken and polite "little Anthony" is all
grown up and ready for the challenge of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series.
