Tommy Lemons Jr's no. 27 Bailey's Chevrolet

SHOOTIN’ THE SHIFT WITH TOMMY LEMONS JR

JW Martin

Drive by any bait and tackle shop on some back country road, and you’ll see their sign. Drive up to any local gas station in Small Town America, and you’ll see their sign.

That’s because Bailey’s cigarettes is a local brand, catering a good product to the public against the likes of famous, formidable, fortune 500 companies. They’re not a national corporation, just a small town business trying to compete in a tough, global market.

In many respects, the driver they’re sponsoring in the WHELEN All-American Series is comparable to the story of their company.

Tommy Lemons Jr. is small town young ’un competing against arguably the toughest competition weekly at the speedway. Motor Mile Speedway, that is- a track he has only had two years of experience on. Lemons had made the transition to MMS from Caraway, where his experience there had led to a third place finish in the standings.

The next year at Motor Mile Speedway, Lemons would again finish third in the standings.

And this season, things couldn’t be more different-in fact they aren’t comparable-to last season. Yes, his returning crewmen are veterans and skilled in the art of racing. And sure, Lemons is the same driver he was a year ago.

But things are different.

The team has a much better sponsor, which gives the team much more to work with during the week, which leads to a confidence boost for the driver on race day.

So trying to compare last season to this season with the new Bailey’s sponsorship?

That’s like comparing apples and, well…lemons.

JM: JW Martin

TLJ: Tommy Lemons Jr.

JM: First, talk about the Bailey’s sponsorship. How did that come about?

TLJ: They’re out of Keysville, Virginia. One of the guys that helps us- he had been talkin’ to Mack last year trying to get them to come on board for Martinsville last year. He said to give him until this year, and so we went up and met with Mack about two weeks before we actually started racin’ and he said he was gonna do something for us, so that’s just pretty much how it came together.

-They’re synonymous to big time sponsorships in racing at this level of the sport- how big of a deal is it to have their support and how is a sponsor of that caliber helping the team?

TLJ: It’s a big support. I think it also brings an intimidation factor to the race track to some extent. It’s a big help for us, we’re pretty much an out-of-our-own-pocket team, so this is a pretty big help with Bailey’s comin’ on board.

JM: With the addition of the sponsorship this season, how will this year be different than last season for you guys?

TLJ: Uh, it’s a lot tougher. I think there’s a little bit stiffer competition here this year. It’s gonna be tough to catch Philip [Morris] as far back as I am [in the points] right now. He’s gonna have to have –I’m not wishing any bad luck on him – but he’s gonna have to have bad luck for about anybody to catch him.

JM: How did you get your start in racing? Why choose this sport?

TLJ: My Dad raced back two or three years right after I was born; I don’t really remember it, but growin’ up watching Dale Earnhardt Sr.… I just always wanted to race.

JM: Did you have any idols on the cup circuit growing up?

TLJ: Dale Earnhardt was always the best in my eyes – always will be the best.

-On the flip side of that, who did you boo?

TLJ: Jeff Gordon, always.

JM: All of you guys are engineers as well as racecar drivers at this level. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your mechanical competence?

TLJ: A four (laughing).

JM: If you were to win only one cup series race your entire career, at what track would you want to win on and why?

TLJ: The short track at Bristol. Just because of the way Bristol is; the history behind it.

JM: What’s your favorite genre of music?

TLJ: Uh, I can listen to about anything but bluegrass.

JM: Comparing your driving style to an animal, what kind of animal would best characterize your style of driving?

TLJ: Something low-key…I don’t know. A monkey.

JM: You guys certainly win the award for best hauler- an old PPI Motorsports rig that used to transport the Tide ride right? What’s the story behind that?

TLJ: Dad had always wanted to get a cup hauler, and they had started selling out all their stuff. We had talked to some people that were on cup teams and they knew PPI was sellin’ some stuff. So we just went up and talked to one of the guys up there and bought it the next week.

JM: Let’s say you’ve just won NASCAR’s Cup series Rookie of the Year and you’re going to the best restaurant in the world for supper. The folks in administration have set it up where you can choose any five people, dead or alive, to eat with you. Who would you chose and why?

TLJ: Dale Sr., My Dad, My Mom- I better say my girlfriend or she might kill me… and Davey Allison.