Rick Mast profile

RICK MAST

Born: Lexington, Va. Resides: Rockbridge Baths, Va. D.O.B.: 3/4/57 Spouse: Sharon Children: Ricky - June 27, 1983

Drives Skoal Classic-sponsored Ford Thunderbirds owned by Richard Jackson.... Started driving at age 16, driving '57 Chevy in hobby division at Natural Bridge Speedway and Eastside Speedway... Won in his rookie year... Ran sportsman division and won track championship at age 17... Moved up to run Busch Grand National in '94... First full BGN year was '85... Has posted 9 BGN wins... First Winston Cup start in 1988 for BakerSchiff Racing at Bristol. Running on lead lap before wrecking on lap 285... Highlight of '94 season was winning the pole at inaugural Brickyard 400... Has 154 Winston Cup starts, 0 wins, 2 poles and $2,235,383 in career winnings... First pole came in 93rd start, Richard Petty's final start, 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta... Best career finish came at Rockingham in fall '94 when he was second to Dale Earnhardt despite driving a car that had hit the wall... Career best 18th in '94 Winston Cup standings... $722,361 in '94 winnings.

Father and uncle owned race cars, then owned and operated a local short-track. Took Rick to his first race at age 10 and he's been hooked ever since... At age 12, Rick would sneak out in a '65 Comet when his parents weren't home and he'd race down dirt roads (and ditches) dreaming he was a race-car driver... Most memorable race is 1989 Daytona 500. Finished 6th in unsponsored car. Still believes he could have won the race if team had gambled on fuel mileage.

WINSTON CUP VICTORIES: None

SOURCE: 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Media Guide