Bob Decker is the transport driver for the Richard Petty Motorsports’ #9 Budweiser Ford. He is the 2008 Pilot Truck Driver Challenge Champion. This is his first year with RPM. The previous five years he drove for the #99 of Roush Racing. As a veteran transport driver, Bob has been able to combine his love of travel with his love of motorsports.

Wiley: How did you get started?

Bob: I had owned my own trucking business up in New York and I had a lease with Horseless Carriage Carriers out of New Jersey. A buddy of mine was driving at Roush, and he was movin’ up in the organization. He asked me if I wanted to be involved in NASCAR. I have been in racing all my life -- I owned my own race team and raced at a track up in New York, I raced a big-block modified, I thought it would be a great opportunity -- so, I just kinda grabbed it.

Wiley: What’s your typical week like?

Bob: Well, after a race on Sunday and we get back home, we try to get Monday or Tuesday off. That keeps us compliant with DOT regulations. We have to have 34 consecutive hours off. Then, we come in late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning to turn the truck around. We do what ever we have to do to get it ready for the next week’s race. We replace all the parts. We get the cars loaded. I have to do the grocery shopping. Then on Thursday, I’m headed to the next track.

At the track, I do some cooking. I work in the garage. I pretty much do anything – change tires, torque wheel, clean the car, and stuff like that.

Wiley: What are your favorite tracks?

Bob: For me, it’s Las Vegas for the simple reason that it’s good racing there. It’s a great facility - a great track. It has a nice garage area. The atmosphere and the nightlife are pretty cool. We usually just go from California to Vegas, so the truck drivers are there for the whole week. That gives us a chance and the time off to do a little sightseeing. We can go to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, or something like that. Vegas race week just gives you a few more opportunities like that.

And, I like Sonoma. Sonoma is a real nice track for us - for me any way. It gives me a chance to see some other things . . . some other areas. I enjoy traveling and sightseeing. I’m not a big road course fan, but Sonoma is different. I like going out there.

Wiley: What’s the hardest track for you as the transport driver?

Bob: The hardest track is Bristol. There are so many teams. It’s a small track. You have to tear everything down and move it out every night. So the next series of racing (Nationwide or Camping World Trucks) can have the garage. Then bring everything back in. If it rains, it’s just terrible. You are under tents. It’s crazy. Then one year it snowed. It’s still the best racing, but it’s hard on the truck drivers.

Wiley: What do you like to do for fun?

Bob: Well . . . It used to be racing all the time, but I’ve been in it so long I’m kinda shying away from it a little bit. I have a boat now. I really like to go out boating. I love to travel. Travel is my favorite thing now. I really love going on cruises go to the islands. With our schedule, I can only go once a year.

Wiley: Do you enjoy any other sports?

Bob: Well, I’m from New York, so I’m a Yankees fan; I like the Giants and the Jets, but I’m mainly into racing and motorsports. I like motorcycles, motocross, and RC cars. I race RC Cars in the winter or when I have time. Really, I love anything to do with racing. I tell you, I’m getting’ up there in years now and my eyes ain’t what they use to be, so I’m kinda backing off the RC cars some now.

Wiley: Tell us about your family

Bob: Well, I’ve been married 22 years. I have two daughters – one in New York that has two sons and one that just graduated nursing school.

Wiley: You said you love to travel. What are your favorite places? Do you have plans for this off-season?

Bob: As for racing, I really like going to the Chili Bowl and watching the Midgets race.

For travel and vacation, I’d have to say Hawaii is my favorite spot. I’ve only been there once, but I would like to go back. I still have Italy and Rio on my list of places to visit and see, but the time of year we get free it’s cold. So, I really like to go where it’s warm. I’ve been to every state in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean. I just really like to go where it’s warm. Places that have beautiful water and good weather.

This year we are going on a cruise to the Bahamas . . . St. Thomas . . . St. Martin. Normally, just my wife and I go, but this year we are taking my mother-in-law and father-in-law. It’s the first time they have been on a cruise so it should be fun and interesting.