Hauler duo finds NASCAR's road to marital happiness

Bill "Stump" Lewis knew he had found 'the one' when he met a lovely lady working at a Maryland café who admitted her adoration for 18-wheelers.

Not only does Cindy Lewis drive the hauler, she prepares the team's meals at the track.

The lifelong truck driver, who at the time was hauling seafood in and out of Boston, took her on a first date more than 21 years ago. It was also her first 'over the road' trip.

"She took off work and came with me on my stops. I asked if she wanted to drive. I got her behind the wheel and it was a match made in heaven from that point on," said Lewis who after a short courtship later married Cindy Lewis.

Turns out, Bill could never get Cindy out from "behind the wheel." An opportunity to assist her husband became available 11 years ago and ever since she and Bill have shared the driving duties for the No. 2 Penske Racing's semi-truck transporter that hauls Kurt Busch's stock cars from track to track.

The only couple to form such a partnership in NASCAR, Cindy and Bill enjoy every minute together. As they should -- the job makes for some extremely long hours together in tight quarters.

Just this week, the pair spent 38 hours in the semi driving from the race shop in Mooresville, N.C., to Phoenix for this weekend's Subway Fresh Fit 500. A good breakfast, country music, Buddy Baker on satellite radio and sites to see along the highway is all the comforts these two require for the long haul.

"There's no secret really to how we do it and stay happy," Bill explained. "We are just really compatible. Sometimes we can sit comfortably in silence for two or three hours and next we'll talk for five hours without stop. We talk on the CB or laugh at the other stupid drivers on the road." (Continued)