Davis left his father's race team because he 'needed change'
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Monday, July 28, 2008
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Kertus Davis needed some time before he was willing to talk about his decision to leave his father’s race team and set his own course with Jay Robinson Racing.
Davis, 27, left Davis Motorsports six weeks ago, unhappy with the direction of his life. He left the race team owned by his father, Johnny, without another job in the works. It was only after word got out that Kertus was jobless that the phone started ringing, and he ended up with JRR.
“I felt like I needed change for me, me personally, with my life,” Davis said recently. “If it wasn’t for my dad, then I would not be where I am today, and I cannot thank him enough. I could never repay him for what he’s done for my career, since I was a child [racing] go-karts.”
But Davis said he got to the point where he was no longer happy, and that included things in his personal life.
When asked if the parting was amicable, Davis wouldn’t say.
“I called him the next day and told him I needed to make changes all around, with my career,” Davis said. “The way [we] were headed, I just felt like I needed to make some changes. It’s kind of bittersweet. He was hurt, I was hurt. But I think down the road, it won’t do anything but make us stronger and better for each other.
“Some drivers in this garage don’t speak to their dads or their family, and I don’t want to be that way.”
Davis admitted that he and his father didn’t often talk much other than when they were working. Davis grew up with his mother after his parents were divorced at an early age, and Davis later raced with his dad during his teenage years.
“Our relationship was more in the shop,” Davis said. “Away from the shop, we really didn’t have much of a relationship at all. My [parents] divorced when I was very young. I grew up and lived with my mother. She took good care of me and did all she could do for me, and then as I started getting older and racing go-karts, my father came and we started racing around home.”
After leaving his dad’s team, the “phone was ringing off the hook,” Davis said. Robinson called to offer him a job, though the team doesn’t have a sponsor.
“We’d like for you to come over and maybe build a foundation around you as a young driver,” Robinson told Davis.
“We don’t have sponsorship yet, but he’s working on it,” Davis said. “He’s bringing me week in and week out and running me some. … I’m working hard at it. I’m working toward that dream of mine that I’ve worked at since I was a child. I want to be in Cup someday.”
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Kertus Davis
Comments
1 response to "Davis left his father's race team because he 'needed change'"
Eric Sturrock said:
Jul 29, 2008 at 12:34 AMKertus Davis is a great driver, Kertus shows he can be a champion someday. Kertus week in & out shows he can drive a car like a winner. Jay Robinson Racing is such a great fit for Kertus. Kertus is a true gentleman. Kertus is a hard worker, workin on the car. Kertus would make a great spokesperson for a sponsor. I cant wait to see Kertus in victory lane in the near future.
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