by Larry McReynolds

Updated: October 24, 2004, 8:07 PM EST

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These teams know what they have to accomplish, and the NASCAR community is a close-knit group. We're out there beating and banging on each other every week, trying to win the race. But when it comes time to rally around an organization that has a tragedy like Hendrick Motorsports, that's when NASCAR really steps up.

When Alan Kulwicki, who was not only the driver of his race team but the owner, was killed in airplane crash in April of 1993, the whole NASCAR community rallied around his race team to give them anything they needed and support them.

Just a few months later, I was a firsthand witness to that support from the NASCAR community when I was working with Davey Allison who was killed in a helicopter crash. We had to rebound from Allison's death, and the biggest thing that drove me and the 28 team to go to the next race — yes, with tears in our eyes — was knowing that's what Davey Allison would want us to do.

Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Brian Vickers, Terry Labonte and Kyle Busch — who is trying to win a Busch championship — know that Randy Dorton, John Hendrick, Ricky Hendrick and all of the other members on that race team would want them to not only talk about the 48 team's victory on Sunday, but they would want them to move on and try to win championships this season.

I don't think those drivers need more motivation, but trust me, this experience will put more fire in their eyes. I can speak from experience.

Private planes a way of life

Speed Mail Larry McReynolds
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There's no way that Nextel Cup or Busch teams could operate without private aircraft when you consider the schedules that these teams have to keep, including testing during the week.

Just look at what Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle have accomplished this year by racing in Craftsman Truck, Busch and Cup Series races in the same weekend and, in some cases, the same day. Those accomplishments never would have happened without private airplanes.

Most of the teams located in the Charlotte area fly in and out of Concord Regional Airport, and NASCAR goes to some race tracks where it's hard to fly commercial planes in and out. At Talladega, I've seen as many as 150 private airplanes flying in and out of there. For the Daytona 500 in February, I've seen as many as 250 private airplanes.

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FOX race analyst Larry McReynolds has more than 25 years of NASCAR experience as a mechanic, crew chief and broadcaster. He and his fellow Crew Chief Club members take you behind the wall at www.crewchiefclub.com.

"Larry McReynolds: The Big Picture" is on bookstore shelves now, or you may order your own autographed copy from www.DWStore.com.