Conversation: Tim Fedewa

Tim Fedewa had slipped so far off the Busch Series map that he was not even included in NASCAR's media guide in the "other drivers" category.

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But make no mistake, Fedewa, a four-time winner in the Busch Series, hasn't been idle. Since he lost his ride with Cicci-Welliver Racing two seasons ago, Fedewa has diversified and kept busy in the sport.

Most recently, he's served as Bill Elliott's spotter in the Winston Cup Series and as Kerry Earnhardt's spotter and driver coach in the Busch Series.

That put him in perfect position -- though it was a spot he didn't necessarily covet -- to step in for Earnhardt when FitzBradshaw Racing decided a driver change was in order.

Fedewa took a break to talk with NASCAR.com's Dave Rodman and talk about that transition, spotting and his life after driving racecars.

What kind of break in your career has it been to hook up with FitzBradshaw Racing?

Tim Fedewa: It's a great break and something I've looked for and worked hard at for the last couple years.

I had a few hit-and-miss rides and stayed around the sport and worked in it; but to actually get a full-time ride is pretty cool.

When there's a break for someone, there's a bust for someone else. After working so closely with Kerry, how hard was it to take his ride?

	Kerry Earnhardt

Tim Fedewa: I really didn't want to do that. We had been working on other stuff at FitzBradshaw (trying to do a second car). But you know, sometimes things just don't work out the way you want.

Kerry's an excellent racecar driver and he's got a bright future ahead of him. It's just that sometimes things don't work out.

It's just like myself. I had to take a setback and evaluate some things and go on. I think he's going to do that and he's going to be fine.

It hurt me to do it, and I know it hurt him to have to get out of the racecar and watch me get in it. But he was a true professional about it and he still is. We get along good and he helps me, now, so things are still good, there.

FitzBradshaw had a diversified program going this season, with a full Busch schedule as well as selected Winston Cup races. Will you do any Cup races?

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Tim Fedewa: Right now I really don't know. We've talked about it a little bit but a lot of it depends on the sponsorship. Right now we're just trying to build a foundation for this Busch team so we can get some top-10s and maybe some top-fives and hopefully a win.

Right now that's what we're concentrating on. Further down the road we might discuss that. We've been throwing it around a little, but I really don't know, at this time, if I'm going to be driving it.

You have come in and hit it off real well with Bill Henderson, a new crew chief, with three top-13s to start. How would you say it's going and how do you look at this next stretch of races?

Tim Fedewa: Most definitely we're looking for more good things. Bill and I have hit it off pretty well. Literally, I just met him about a month ago.

It takes some time when you don't even know somebody. Usually you see people around the racetrack and you bump into them, here and there, but I really just met Bill a month ago.

We did a two-day test at Bristol and that was a pretty big thing that helped us. That test was the first time that me and the crew and him got to spend some time together as a whole -- and not under the pressure of competition.

I think the way we ran at Bristol showed that it paid off, even though we got wrecked out of that race. We learned some other things that I think will show up here, soon.

Being out of the driver's seat has given you an opportunity to explore some different avenues in the sport. How much of an eye-opener has that been?

Tim Fedewa: You know, I realized a lot of things. Spotting for Kerry and for Bill, I've seen things and learned some things up there that I think will help me on the racetrack.

More importantly, I think I've learned some things that I think are going to help me get through life better.

You get caught up in this stuff and sometimes it ain't much fun. You get burned out on it, just like with anything else. I've been in the series for a long time and it's hard work.

You've got to give it your heart and soul. When I first lost my ride a couple years ago, with Cicci-Welliver, I was devastated.

But as time went on I realized there was more to life than just me driving a racecar. I don't know if that comes with age, or maturity or some day you just wake up and realize you've got to be happy.

I wasn't going to be miserable if I wasn't driving a racecar -- or to make myself miserable.

I had to figure out a way to get through with whatever I was doing and to be happy with it. So that was the biggest thing I learned, to be happy with whatever I'm doing at the time.

If people imagine what it would be like working with different guys, or maybe their heroes, from your perspective what's it been like spotting for Bill Elliott? And what kind of character is he on the radio?

Tim Fedewa: Bill doesn't say a whole lot. He doesn't even need me. He doesn't need a spotter. He's been at these tracks so many times and has had so many Winston Cup starts and wins. I mean, he needs a spotter, but you wouldn't know it by listening to him.

	Bill Elliott

It's just kind of cool to be up there for him. With Mike Ford as crew chief, and Bill and Ray (Evernham, car owner), they all work together well and I get a kick just outta listening to them. I try to learn from them -- that's why I do it, besides the fact that they all treat me well.

It's fun. I go there, show up on Sunday and spot and we have a good time. They're very competitive. Bill, as a person, is a throwback. I've followed Bill for a long time and knew him back when he ran some Busch races and had his truck team.

It's just cool to be up there. Sometimes I forget that he's driving and I'm not, just like any driver would when they spot. He don't say a lot, but when he does I should definitely listen to him.

Does spotting give you any ideas for anything you might do with your career much further down the road?

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Tim Fedewa: Well, I think so. I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do. I have been trying to figure out what I want to do in racing once I'm done driving. I don't know if that's a crew chief, or a team manager, or what. I'd really like to start my own team, somehow -- maybe a truck team or a Busch team.

I'd just like to have my own team and acquire the sponsorship to do it. That's what I'm interested in, but it's hard to do right now with what's going on. It's been a tough economy, lately, so I don't know if that's an easy gig to do, but that's what I probably want to do.

I don't think people realize how heavily involved in motorsports the Fedewa family is, with your dad running a parts truck at Cup and Busch racing, your uncle being a big racer in the Midwest. Was being out of a ride for a while a chance to get together with them more?

Tim Fedewa: Yeah, I have. My grandfather drove; my dad drove; Gary, my uncle drives; and so does my cousin, Tommy. They've all been really successful -- maybe not on a NASCAR level but on a regional level. Racing is racing, no matter if it's here in NASCAR or on the local tracks.

It's a lifestyle that you grow up with, that I grew up with and they grew up with. So when you're having hard times, which we all do, it's nice to go to them and talk to them about it.

Just like with baseball players, we all have slumps and times when things don't look the brightest and it's good to go to them for confidence and advice to get you through the hard times.