I think I was six years old when my interest in driving started. Well, at least that’s when my dad had me driving around our farm on various pieces of equipment. He just threw me out there and let me go. I had to think and react on my feet and learn in real time, which helped build my confidence and shaped me into the competitor that I am today. I took that competitive spirit and confidence with me when I started flying airplanes at 16, began driving commercially at 18 and did some road course racing in my early 20s. Today, I’ve driven more than one million accident-free miles as a truck driver. I’ve found success — particularly at the National Truck Driving Championships — because I make every effort to do my best through hard work and homework and by taking advantage of the support of my company.

Participating in the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) is appealing because it provides an opportunity to pursue my professional and personal interests. Plus, it provides an extra incentive to work hard, and put in a lot of effort and practice, to improve upon the year before — and that energizes me. I guess that’s probably apparent since this is my 12^th year competing at the state level and my ninth year in the national championship. So far I’m proud to say I’ve taken home four national titles and two Grand Champion wins. I’m also proud of those numerous occasions where I was a contender to win but didn’t due to the very smallest of mistakes. I say this because I learn from every one — and work hard to overcome them in the future.

There isn’t a single solution to the challenges you face at competitions. Over the years, I’ve developed techniques to maneuver through problems in any number of ways. I’ve learned this not only from my experience competing but also from the situations I encounter on a daily basis over the road and on my own time. In a way, that’s homework. I build my own barriers to practice parallel parking after work. I practice blindside back-ins.

For me, winning at the state and national levels takes 50 percent driving skill and 50 percent strategy. You’ve got to read the course and take advantage of reference points to know when to turn, when to stop and how best to enter and exit each problem — because that move leads you right into the next problem. Every step you take has to be well thought out. I associate driving competitions with flying airplanes. Ninety-five percent of your experience should be getting the right approach down. If your approach to landing isn’t done well, the landing isn’t going to be smooth.

There is no one “correct” way to prepare for these competitions, but I think drivers need two things: one, a desire to compete. You have to want it. And two, developing an approach that’s most comfortable for you.

I’m very strong in science, math and physics so I put a lot of that into how I learn and practice. I run the course several times in my mind. I visually measure the trucks and associate them with the course and how it’s laid out. I also tap into my notes and research, which keeps me cool, calm and collected. I make the bulk of my strategic decisions about how to approach the course far before I drive it. For me it’s a mental game. In competition, you get one chance … not five or six … to make the right decision. So you’ve got to practice and make adjustments along the way.

One of the keys to winning is learning from your mistakes and then trying not to repeat them. It’s a great feeling competing, to win and be named Grand Champion. There really aren’t words to describe it. It’s the thrill of competing against the best of the best, and it’s a showcase to demonstrate to ourselves, the industry and the motoring public that we’re professionals, we’re skilled and safe, and we take our jobs seriously.

If I’ve learned one thing from my participation, it’s that competing makes everyone better. It’s great to see more drivers become involved — thousands compete on the state level, while more than 400 compete at the nationals — because that means they are becoming more confident, skilled, knowledgeable and safe. A good thing for everyone.

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