Gil, Ford Martin have deep bond rooted in auto racing (cont'd)

"Ford has been the best medicine for me. When the race is over, he'll walk down pit road with me -- he'll be the first to say it's all right," he said. "As bad as I think it was he'll bring up a bright point like 'hey we made up some points on this driver or man the pit crew was had great stops today' and it really helps me get through the rough times."

Sometimes Gil does think his son is growing up too fast for his own liking.

"Especially these last couple years," Gil said. "Ford knows about as much as anyone in that garage and a lot more than most people in there. He's smart and pays attention to everything, but I don't want to see him grow up too fast."

Because for Gil and Ronda, Ford is their only child, so to them, he is a precious gift from God they'd like to wrap in bubble tape some days.

It took the couple five years to get pregnant after Ronda struggled with fertility issues caused by endometriosis. Finally her prayers were answered, she said, and the couple has been content to raise Ford as their only son.

"He is very much our miracle," Ronda said. "Gil's mother had just died and one night I just prayed 'Lord I really need a child, please send me one.'"

Ronda's fertility treatments helped. She found out on Christmas that she and Gil were expecting. Shortly after Ford was two months old, the couple thought of trying again but left it to fate.

"Ford was meant to be an only child," she said. "That way he doesn't have to share mom or dad."

And Ford certainly won't have to share or compete for his father's attention Sunday. For Father's Day, the teenager will be right beside Gil atop the No. 29 pit box in Sonoma, Calif., scanning other drivers and trying to help call the race.

"I have a photo of Ford on the box in Martinsville 2007 holding up two fingers calling for two tires," recalled Gil, who then was crew chief for Clint Bowyer. "I called for four tires but looking back we would've finished better had we taken two, so that picture always reminds me to listen to what Ford has to say."

And that's the goodness in their relationship, Ford believes.

"Being with him, the way we can talk at home or at the race track is awesome," Ford said. "I'll be glad to be sitting next to him on the pit box this weekend."

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.