FDNY Racing has the heart despite odds against them (cont'd)

The situation they face is bleak to say the least. If they make the race, the team is overjoyed, while a percentage of the other teams are disappointed with finishes outside the top 10.

"Unfortunately for us, the Truck Series has stepped up so much, there are no more ill-prepared trucks, even trucks that run in the mid-pack are excellent," Rahilly said. "The competition is stiff right now. Success for us is making the race and finishing on the lead lap."

Top: The truck in the small garage. Bottom: Vince Lopez makes repairs.

Outsiders looking in might say FDNY Racing is spinning their wheels but they are certainly making their mark in the sport.

David Ragan, now a full-time Cup driver for Roush Fenway Racing who replaced Mark Martin, got his start with FDNY Racing in 2005 in the season-opening Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona.

Rahilly said Ragan was third quickest on the speed chart during practice and NASCAR inspectors were completely bemused and went over the truck like blood hounds on a trail.

"We weren't supposed to run like that, that well," he said. "So we get a crumb or two here and there. We can claim David Ragan got his start with us and something really great came out of our tiny garage."

Rationalizing an irrational act might be a fitting description for FDNY Racing. Rahilly has discouraged Rosenblum from the Truck Series and has suggested downsizing to a smaller series.

"But you can't deny the man of his wishes," Rahilly added, "it's NASCAR or nothing.

"In Charlotte last year, the truck qualified but our driver knocked the wall down and Jim was still smiling," he said. "You can't knock the smile off this man's face, even if the truck blows up, catches on fire, if it wrecks ... we are still going to eat dinner after the race and have a good time."

You don't miss dinner, said fabricator and mechanic Vince Lopez.

"That's almost as important as being at the track," he said. "Once our driver ate without us and he got scaled."

The team is not bitter about their situation and they realize racing is survival of the fittest.

A number of teams were in their situation, Rahilly said, prior to Toyota entering the Truck Series. Several teams were struggling just to get in races and were essentially forced out by bigger budget teams. To hang on and stay on the scene, FDNY Racing runs a partial schedule. If they tried to run a full schedule, they would be out of money by the fourth race.

"Bobby Allison I believe coined the phrase 'Automobile racing is one of the easiest professional sports to get into, but one of the hardest to stay in'," Rahilly said. "We know that all too well."

Driving back to New York, Rosenblum said the team will bang out the damage on the No. 28 and prepare to qualify for the July 27th race in Indianapolis at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

You can count him down, but down count him out.