Bradshaw experiencing NASCAR learning curve

'I never knew how hard it is to field a competitive team'

ATLANTA -- Terry Bradshaw says the differences between the stars of the NFL and the stars of NASCAR don't stop with helmets and pads.

"They're a fascinating group of people," said Bradshaw of NASCAR's elite drivers. "They have some of the biggest egos of anyone I've ever seen. They really do."

The differences don't stop there, says Bradshaw.

"They talk big, but they're all the same," Bradshaw says. "They all have their sunglasses and they're all the same, except for Kyle (Petty), 'cause he has his ponytail."

	Tim Fedewa

Despite those comments, Bradshaw, who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles (1975-76,79-80), has always had a soft spot in his heart for NASCAR.

In fact, while some professional athletes from other sports may rush into NASCAR just to say they're in it, Bradshaw says his entry into the sport was meticulously planned.

"I'm a big NASCAR fan, always have been," said Bradshaw, a native of Shreveport, La., "When I decided I wanted to get into it, I met a few teams and really didn't like them.

"I didn't want to go Cup, I really wanted to build a team from scratch."

Then, Bradshaw met Armando Fitz, who also spent some time playing football -- four years as a matter of fact -- as a linebacker for Vanderbilt.

Still, Bradshaw wasn't fully convinced that Fitz was the guy he wanted to combine forces with.

	Casey Atwood

"I said 'Let's spend a year together so we can get to know each other and know if this is what we want to do,'" Bradshaw recalled.

In November of 2001, Bradshaw and Fitz formed FitzBradshaw Racing. The NFL Hall-of-Famer says it has been a learning experience from the word go.

"I never knew how hard it is to field a competitive team," Bradshaw said. "How much money it takes, how many people it takes -- and the right people."

Bradshaw said formulating the team and finding the right chemistry has been a challenge.

"You really have to pick the right people," said Bradshaw. "Once you start talking to people in racing, everyone's got you a friend that they want you to hire. So it's really difficult to find the right people."

It appears that FitzBradshaw may be on the right track. So far in 2004, Tim Fedewa, driver of their No. 12 Chevrolet, has three top-10 finishes in 16 events and sits 15th in Busch Series points. His teammate, Casey Atwood, sits 17th in the series standings, also with three top-10 finishes.

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The marriage appears to have Madison Avenue appeal, as well. Bradshaw and Fedewa will appear on the TBS show, "Dinner and a Movie" next month.

As good as things are, Bradshaw said if the playing field was a little more level in the Busch Series, things could be even better for his team.

"I'm not used to running Triple-A, with the Major Leagues running there with us," said Bradshaw. "We can't compete with the Cup guys with all the money that they're able to spend.

"Give me that equipment and our guys and they'll run circles around them," he said.

Bradshaw cited the recent success of Kasey Kahne as an example.

"He's in top-flight equipment in Cup and he's running up front," Bradshaw said. "In the Busch Series, with not-as-good equipment, our guys are beating him."

Fedewa agrees.

"The Busch Series started small and has grown into a monster that I don't even thing NASCAR knew it would become," he said. "I wish sometimes they would take a look at that and kind of go back to the smaller days sometimes.

"But it's good change," Fedewa said. "I don't always agree with what NASCAR does, but nine times out of ten, they do the right thing."