Dick Trickle probably lost count of the races he'd run -- and won -- a long time ago.

There was a time when Trickle was constantly in motion, always headed to another green flag somewhere. He hadn't yet made a full-time move to the uppermost levels of NASCAR. Why? Because he didn't have to, that's why. He was doing far too well and making good money right where he happened to be.

There had been Cup starts for Trickle as far back as 1970, but never a complete season. It wasn't until 1989 he finally made such a jump. Mike Alexander stepped out of his Stavola Brothers Racing Buick after the Daytona 500, still recuperating from head injuries he'd suffered in the offseason Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Fla. The ride was Trickle's, and he would go on to capture the rookie of the year title.

At the age of 48.

Today, the Trickle homestead sits on 8.5 acres in North Carolina. He's got a shop in which he works and stores his "toys." If wood is needed for a fire in the winter, Trickle cuts the tree down himself. If the neighbors need help, he'll help them. Two of his children live on the property. He helped his son, Chad, finish the basement. From the sound of things, it was a major project.

Trickle's grandson recently finished up a year at college, and Grandpa made sure the trailer to haul his belongings home was hooked up and in proper working order. He does a handful of appearances here and there.

There's more.

Most, if not all, the equipment from his short-track days is still there. Trickle still races a few times a year, but very rarely does Trickle let anyone else to do the work for him. Plans call for Trickle to run the famous Slinger Nationals in July. Trickle has raced that race on the Wisconsin quarter-mile track for 26 years, and won it four times.

Just last year, he qualified second and was in the hunt for the win until an accident with five laps to go in the race took him out of contention.

This is how busy Dick Trickle is. He's as busy as he wants to be. To be quite honest, that would appear to be a gracious plenty. (Continued)