It's bittersweet, but for the last three years the 3 Wide Life crew has one race that they won't possibly miss. The Alex Pruett Memorial Race, featuring USAC midgets, is a tribute to one of our creators, family members and friends who passed away before his time. Hosted at the Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio, the race honors Alex's deep passion for grassroots racing. 3 Wide Life was created from that passion, as an outlet for drivers, teams and race series that may not get the exposure that top levels of the sport garner, but are all the same, just as important to the livelihood of the motorsports industry.

The field in this year's event showcased a former winner Travis Young, an up-and-comer Dalton Armstrong and a veteran to the asphalt Shane Hmiel. The action was intense from the first lap and never let up till the cars were back in the trailers. After some tears were shed, a winner was crowned, and in the end, everyone left the track with the same feeling - Alex may not be with us physically, but his mark is forever left on the world of racing.

In addition to highlights from the AP Memorial Race, 3 Wide Life co-host Meghan Stanton and team, took a trip to Fort Benning GA, where Ryan Newman and his pit crew were challenged to train with the soldiers. The guys performed multiple tasks, like changing a tire on a tank and conquering the ARMY Ranger obstacle course. The soldiers were also challenged to see how quickly they could complete a pit stop, as Newman brought his No. 39 ride with him. By and large it was a fun day for all and a stark reminder of the realities of war, and the value of motorsports in the everyday moral of the American way of life.

Bobby Labonte's dirt late model team is profiled in this week's show and in addition to getting the former NASCAR champion's take, we also meet his drivers Earl Pearson JR and Brad Neat. And finally, we spend some time with the guys responsible for making sure that all of the cars and equipment show up to the NASCAR race track each week. These hauler drivers are responsible for transporting millions of dollars worth of equipment across the country on a daily basis. And although that may seem like a delicate job, The Pilot Truck Driver Challenge proves they got the skills to pay the bills.

Tribute. Honor. Respect.

[ Watch this episode, 712 - Alex Pruett Memorial, on the web here. ]

Next week 3 Wide Life takes an in-depth view of JR Motorsports.