Name: Mike "BOO" Verlatti Jr.
What was your first experience with racing?
My dad has worked with NASCAR and the Winston West for the last twenty-five years, so I have been around racecars all my life.
How did you get the job you now hold?
When my dad became the director of the Southwest Tour he needed another inspector. I didn't know much, but I learned quickly. I didn't want people to think I just got the job because of my dad, so I worked extra hard and eventually gained the respect of everyone around me.
What are the duties of your job?
Since I work two divisions the Winston West and the Featherlite South West Tour, my duties vary. On the Winston West my primary duty is to assist with public relations, making sure things like autograph sessions, pre-race interviews, and victory circle all get taken care of. My secondary duty is to help out in the tech department. In the South West Tour my roll is basically reversed. I work in the tech department as my primary duty, doing things like checking the safety equipment, checking carburetors, and working the tech line. I use my free time during the day to help out where I can in the PR department. Both divisions have one thing in common, I do whatever needs to be done. There are very few jobs that I haven't done.
Is this a full time job for you?
Sometimes it feels like it is, but no, I have a Monday through Friday job also.
If not, do you hold down another job or go to school or anything like that?
During the day I work at a shop called Artwork by Steve where we do graphic add-ons like flames, scallops, graphics, etc. It's nice because we get to work on some of the nicest cars and bikes in the world. This is where most of my free time goes.
Do you feel fortunate to have your job or do you maybe not think about it much because it is your job?
I don't really think about it much, but yes I do feel fortunate. I realize I have been given many opportunities that only come around once in a lifetime. That is why I have tried to do the best with what I have been given.
What have been some of the more interesting things you have done since working for NASCAR?
Each weekend brings a new adventure. Once of my better weekends was when I got to drive the pace car at Pikes Peak, a one mile super-speedway.
Is there anything you have done or anything you have to do that you may wish you didn't?
The only negative about my job is the time you have to invest. This season I will be gone a minimum of thirty-two weekends a year.
What is the hardest or most difficult part of your job and why?
Being an official is like being an umpire at a baseball game. Each person can see a situation in a different way. It's hard to call in a penalty against a friend but it is my job to call things the way I see them, and for the most part everyone understands.
What is the best part of your job and why?
The best part of my job is the people I get to work around. We are like a family. Everyone bans together in times of hardship and celebrates together after the race. If anyone ever needs anything there is always someone there doing whatever needs to be done. It's nice being surrounded by friends.
When you are at the track do you ever wish you were in an air-conditioned office?
We race a lot during the summer months in places like Bakersfield, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Phoenix, AZ. I never pass up a chance to rest for awhile in a cool air-conditioned office.
What do you think about the government and its ban on long time sponsor, Winston?
If this ban goes through, it could change NASCAR racing as we now know it. RJR and Winston have been a terrific sponsor throughout the years. They have brought NASCAR racing to new levels.
Does anyone know yet what impact the government's ban will have on the Winston West Series?
There is really no telling what impact this government ban could have on the Winston West Series, but as of now Winston will still be the corporate sponsor for the 1998 Winston West Series.
How has racing on the West Coast changed in your eyes?
NASCAR racing has grown so much in the last couple years that it's amazing. Stock car racing is the fastest growing sport in America right now. Some of the facilities that we get to visit now are mind boggling, like Las Vegas Motor Speedway, California Speedway, and Pikes Peak Speedway. It's nice to get to go to a track that has things like garages and air-conditioned drivers lounges. No one would have ever believed that racing on the West Coast would have grown this much. It's also exciting to imagine where it will go in the next ten years.
What are your plans for the future?
I have done well for only being nineteen. There is no telling what opportunities I might have in the future.
