NASCAR's 'Race Hub' guys living the dream

TWO FOX SPORTS reporters have connections with the Philadelphia area.

Andrew Doud is a Holy Ghost Prep graduate who interned with the Eagles Television Network.

Alan Cavanna worked his first race at Dover International Speedway. "I was a temporary PA [production assistant]," Cavanna said. "My job was to keep the food bowl filled [for the Fox announcers]."

Some people start in the mailroom and work their up. Cavanna kept the food flowing for Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds.

Now, Cavanna, 32, and Doud, 30, are roaming the NASCAR garages and race shops, interviewing drivers, crew chiefs and owners for Fox's "NASCAR Race Hub" and other shows.

Unlike some young sports enthusiasts who grew up watching Fox or ESPN and expect to start with on-air jobs with those networks right out of college, both paid their dues before landing at Fox Sports.

After graduating from Elon (N.C.) University, Doud worked in TV in Greenville, N.C., Tampa, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C. Cavanna, a Syracuse graduate, made TV stops in Joplin, Mo., Evansville, Ind., and Charlotte before joining Fox Sports.

"I just turned 30, I have my dream job and I'm engaged," Doud said. "I enjoy going to work every day. I'm still getting my feet wet."

Doud said when he introduced himself via e-mail to a NASCAR team publicist, the PR person responded, "Welcome to the circus."

Recalling his first race at Dover, Del., when he was 10, Doud said he accompanied his aunt and uncle, Diane and David Lackford, of Newark, Del.

"They suggested I pick a driver to root for," Doud said. "I liked the paint scheme on Rusty Wallace's car, so I picked him."

Cavanna wound up as a food supplier at Dover after attending an appearance at Syracuse by Ed Goren, then president of Fox Sports (Goren is a Syracuse grad). Other students were reluctant to interact with Goren, so Cavanna asked about the rain-shortened 2003 Daytona 500. "I asked if it was true that Fox wanted the race over so the network could show the 300th episode of 'The Simpsons' on time," Cavanna said. "Goren said, 'No, smart ass.'

"Once his presentation was over, I approached him with my video resume reel. He had no interest in an awful VHS tape, but did hand me his card and asked if I'd be interested in working at a NASCAR race."

Cavanna has a racing background: His grandfather, George Cavanna, was a racer and, as a youngster, Alan raced quarter-midgets in Connecticut with current Sprint Cup driver Joey Logano.

"I learned you have to be really good or really rich to make it in racing," he said. "I decided my future was in TV."

Here at NASCAR North we strive to be a multiservices operation. Looking for a Father's Day gift idea? We suggest H.A. Branham's book, "Big Bill: The Life and Times of NASCAR Founder Bill France Sr."

Longtime racing fans know the tale of how France founded NASCAR in 1947 during a meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla. Those fans will find the book enjoyable and full of interesting nuggets. For example, I didn't know until I read the book that after World War II began, France helped build subchasers at the Daytona Boat Works (at age 32, France was ineligible for military service).

Branham details how France moved his family in 1934 from Washington to Daytona, where he found work as a mechanic at a Buick dealership when he wasn't racing. Newer fans should find it fascinating to follow the evolution of NASCAR from a regional to a national sport.

Brian France, NASCAR's current chairman and CEO, is Big Bill's grandson. Jim France, vice chairman of the board of directors and NASCAR's executive vice president, is his son.

Some area people are mentioned in the book, including Chick DiNatale, from Trenton, N.J., who attended the renowned meeting in 1947. The race at Langhorne Speedway during NASCAR's inaugural season in 1948 was won by Al Keller.

Xfinity Series: Owens Corning AttiCat 300, Chicagoland Speedway; 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Fox Sports 1

Camping World Truck Series: American Ethanol 200, Iowa Speedway; Friday, 8:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1

Track facts: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is spending this week in Germany tracing his ancestry. He made the trip even more memorable by getting engaged to Amy Reimann ... Martin Truex Jr.'s third-place finish last Sunday at Michigan was his 14th top-10 in 15 races this season, making him the first driver to accomplish the feat since Richard Petty in 1969. If Truex can collect top-10s in the next two races, he'll be the first driver to record 16 top-10s in the first 17 races ... Trevor Bayne's ninth place at Michigan was the best finish of the year for the 2011 Daytona 500 winner ... Weird stat: Jamie McMurray has finished seventh in the last three races ... Ross Kenseth, son of Cup veteran Matt Kenseth, is scheduled to make his Xfinity series debut at Chicagoland. Ross, 22, won the ARCA race last Friday at Michigan. He'll be driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota that Matt frequently drives in the "X" series.

Wins: Jimmie Johnson, 4; Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch 2 each; Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., 1 each.

STANDINGS

1. Kevin Harvick 576

2. Martin Truex Jr. 561

3. Joey Logano 520

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 508

5. Jimmie Johnson 506

6. Brad Keselowski 480

7. Jamie McMurray 464

8. Matt Kenseth 456

9. Kasey Kahne 447

10. Jeff Gordon 434

11. Kurt Busch 426

12. Paul Menard 421

13. Denny Hamlin 412

14. Carl Edwards 401

15. Aric Almirola 401

16. Ryan Newman 400

17. Clint Bowyer 388

18. Kyle Larson 361

19. Danica Patrick 357

20. Greg Biffle 351

Up next: Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 28, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, Calif., 3 p.m.; TV: Fox Sports 1; last year's winner: Carl Edwards.