INTERVIEW: SCRL's first ever series champion and former all time winningest driver Truttle talks about his career and the future for him

Truttle

Throughout the six year history of the SCRL there will always be one inaugural champion that being Truttle. League owner Blaise Zebrataur sat down with the league's first ever champion and at one time the all time winningest drivers in league history, the one and only Truttle.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN RACING?

"I've found racing to be quite fun and exciting. Having a good friend who is a mechanic has taught me a little about vehicles."

YOU WERE ONE OF TWENTY DRIVERS WHO TOOK THE GREEN FLAG IN THE LEAGUE'S VERY FIRST RACE AT RIVERSIDE SIX YEARS AGO, YOU STARTED ON POLE AND WOULD FINISH A IMPRESSIVE SECOND THAT DAY. HOW DID IT FEEL TO DRIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME?

"It was a whole lot of fun. I got quite nervous on that road but I buckled down and pulled through."

IT WOULD TAKE JUST THREE STARTS IN YOUR CAREER BEFORE YOU SCORED YOUR FIRST CAREER WIN, AT RICHMOND, A RACE WHERE YOU STARTED ON POLE AND LED EVERY SINGLE LAP. DID YOU EXPECT TO FIND SUCCESS IN THE CAR SO FAST?

"Oh absolutely not. I know how tough the competition is and I consider myself lucky to be able to compete in such a respectable sport. I hold the other racers in high regard and am sure the race can turn around at any moment."

THAT WIN AT RICHMOND WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A CAREER SEASON FOR YOU AS YOU WOULD WIN SEVEN OTHER TIMES, A SERIES AND LEAGUE RECORD THAT STILL STANDS TO THIS DAY, AND WOULD LEAD YOU TO YOUR FIRST EVER CHAMPIONSHIP. WHEN YOU FIRST STEPPED INTO THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, WOULD YOU HAVE EVER SEEN YOURSELF BECOMING CHAMPION IN YOUR DEBUT SEASON?

"I never would have guessed. I'm grateful that I was able to achieve what I did and totally enjoy the experience. If asked, I would race again."

AFTER A DOMINATING FIRST SEASON, YOU WOULD COME BACK THE NEXT SEASON AND WOULD HAVE A SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING SEASON, SCORING ONLY TWO WINS, BUT FINISHING SECOND IN THE POINTS TO YOUR RIVAL BULLDOG67. WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE OFF SEASON OR DURING THE ACTUAL SEASON IT'S SELF THAT CAUSED YOU TO NOT BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS YOUR FIRST?

"You can't always predict what the outcome of a race may be. Win or lose, you always gotta give 100%. I'm sure we'll see a change in the next season."

OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SIX YEARS, YOU HAVE COLLECTED WIN AFTER WIN, BECOMING THE ALL TIME WINNINGEST DRIVER IN LEAGUE HISTORY AT THE TIME WITH 26, WINNING ON ALL DIFFERENT TRACK TYPES SUCH AS SUPERSPEEDWAYS, SHORT TRACKS AND ROAD COURSES. FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE MOST TOUGHEST AND HOW DID YOU GET TO BE SO SKILLED ON WINNING ON ALL SURFACES WHILE OTHERS STRUGGLED?

"It's about practice and training but also about luck. Gotta stay on your toes when getting behind the wheel. One small slip up is all it takes in this game."

THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER YOU HAVE TRAILED THE FIELD A TOTAL OF 10 TIMES, RANKING YOU 5TH ON THE ALL TIME LIST. IT'S NOT SOMETHING MOST WOULD BE PROUD ABOUT, BUT SOME DAYS IN RACING YOU FINISH FIRST AND THE NEXT YOU FINISH IN THE TAIL END OF THE FIELD. HOW DOES A RACER BOUNCE BACK SO FAST?

"I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. Sometimes the cards just aren't on your side. All you can really do is play with the deck you've been given and give it your all. It's in the game."

DESPITE YOUR CAREER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS SLOWING DOWN AND YOU NO LONGER BEING THE MOST WINNINGEST DRIVER, YOU ARE NO DOUBT A FIRST CLASS BALLOT HALL OF FAMER. LOOKING BACK ON YOUR CAREER WITH ALL THE RACE WINS AND CHAMPIONSHIP, WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT RACE WIN TO YOU?

"To be honest, every race was fun and valuable. A learning experience and so much fun. I'm glad to have participated."

WE SAW YOU TAKE A SIX MONTH BREAK AFTER BEING PLACED ON SUSPENSION AFTER FAILING TO COMMENT ON RACES, RETURNED FOR A ONE OFF IN THE IROC SERIES BEFORE COMPETING IN THE MOST RECENT ARCA SERIES, DO YOU EVER SEE YOURSELF GETTING BACK ON TRACK AND COMPETING CONSISTENTLY TO TRY AND GO FOR ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP AND TAKE YOUR SPOT BACK AS THE MOST WINNINGEST DRIVER OR DO YOU SEE YOURSELF NEAR THE END OF YOUR CAREER?

"Honestly it's hard to say right at this moment. I'm not sure what I might decide. The future isn't quite clear."

THAT BEING SAID, YOU HAVE BEEN COMPETING ON AND OFF FOR OVER SIX YEARS, IN OVER A HUNDRED RACES AND IN NEARLY EVERY SINGLE SERIES, BECAME THE FIRST EVER LEAGUE CHAMPION AND THE FORMER ALL TIME RACE WINNER, WHEN IS IT TIME FOR TRUTTLE TO HANG UP THE HELMET AND GLOVES FOR THE FINAL TIME?

"Hmm...I have considered that but I don't think I'll give it up any time soon. We'll leave it up to fate to decide."