Euro NASCAR weekend part 3 and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race day at Martinsville. (Chamber match part 1)

Oschersleben, Germany. After the Euro NASCAR Pro Series' first race. Saturday 19th September. (Offline)

It was one cluster phobic race, let's say at the beginning, where the future Italian stars I had hyped so much about, Vittorio and Gianmarco, got caught in a massive pileup, not their fault, obviously, and also my teammate Julian did too. It was unfortunate, and I saw how disappointed Julian was when he got to the garage, in a kind of mood where he was kicking stones.

Still, I hope to have that interaction with Vittorio, as I was promoting the series by hyping him up a lot and Gianmarco as well. Still, they both finished the race in ninth and twelfth places. Although I did have a difficult time with a driver I mentioned in the interview, whom I viewed as a threat, Hezemans, pushing me extremely hard, although I was expecting that more from Gianmarco and especially Vittorio, but they got into accidents that weren't their fault.

I had so much fun; it was like being in a different environment, away from American NASCAR. I saw many fans being able to grab a quick hero card autograph and pose for pictures, mainly for me, ironically, than for other drivers. Well, obviously, German fans were interested in seeing me, considering I am their biggest name in sports right now. I had a team meeting with the team, who said absolutely positive things about me and my drive today, considering it was thirty degrees outside and all of us were dripping with sweat.

So, I drank a lot of water, and as promised, due to what we discussed earlier, I did have to go and see Jerome, who clearly wanted to get my feedback on the race today and how I performed, regardless of the long red flag due to a nasty pileup.

As the supported races were starting, Jerome and I met up in his temporary office at the track in case drivers or teams wanted to complain about something. After the Pro race, he had tons of them, so I had to wait two hours to talk to him. Anyway, I sat in the seat where everyone waits to see Jerome, or rather, he wanted to see me. He flicked his hand for me to come in, closed the door behind me, and I took a seat.

Jerome Galpin: “I tell you, races aren't usually like that with Euro NASCAR races. It's just one of those things that happens at times.”

Konrad Raab: “That's nothing, compared to Super Speedway crashes I've seen and been in, trust me. I'm used to smashing and crashing by now, even if it was a little severe than other road course races, but not the worst road course crash I've seen.”

Jerome Galpin: “How did the race go for you?”

Konrad Raab: “Honestly, a little disappointed because of my main threats that got involved in the crash, but I know that's not down to them.”

That was the downside, as I wanted to see what Gianmarco and, especially, Vittorio had against me. I didn't get that chance, which was disappointing, to say the least, and Jerome reminded me of something I had forgotten about with this series, despite my team having told me about it earlier as well, shaking my head because I wanted what those two had for me.

Jerome Galpin: “It happens, Konrad, but remember that you got the opportunity to race against these Italians tomorrow. They are gunning for you. But I hear a rumour you're extremely interested in Vittorio.”

Konrad Raab: “Yes, the guy is impressive, amazing at this whole NASCAR thing. I want to give that guy an opportunity, and I've already spoken to my Kaulig Racing team about him, as we could do with international blood besides me, of course. I think you could do with more oval tracks as a lot of drivers need to experience that, but I realised there aren't many oval tracks around.”

Jerome Galpin: “I do agree with you, but you said it, there's just not many of them around, and ones that are, aren't safe enough. Additionally, I lack the funds to bring these races to Euro NASCAR. Maybe with your attendance, we could do that next year.”

Konrad Raab: “I also saw a lot of drivers without sponsors on their cars. It's sad to see, really, when these drivers are absolutely talented, and I'm not just saying that, Jerome, all of these drivers want to be in NASCAR. Just like I promote European talent into wrestling, I think I know what I want to do next with my career, getting European drivers in, and Vittorio and Gianmarco are ones I got on my mind.”

Jerome Galpin: “So you want to run a NASCAR team someday?”

I nodded, it was something I've spoken to the team about a lot this weekend, that if they couldn't sign them up, I'll introduce my own NASCAR team, although he wanted to get back to me on the sponsors thing, as many drivers I saw didn't have sponsors at all.

Jerome Galpin: “I agree, these Euro NASCAR drivers do deserve more sponsorship on their cars, but we only got so much money to do that. It's partly why I wanted you to drive, and also that we get more money. I mean, the championship is doing great as it is, but the main factor is the money.”

Konrad Raab: “Oh god no, you're championship is super competitive, I mean, you had a tie in the championship before this weekend. That's extremely competitive, compared to many racing series, including NASCAR Trucks this year, so much domination, but this isn't one of those championships.”

Jerome Galpin: “I heard the team say that you're struggling with these tyres because you're used to Goodyear ones. I tell you that these tyres are sponsoring the championship. The weather is clearly affecting these tyres, but believe me, when the weather isn't thirty degrees, they are pretty good. It's just unfortunate the weather made things difficult for you.”

Konrad Raab: “I'm just not used to these tyres, but I do believe you when you say they are pretty racey in your way of wording things. I mean, they do benefit the championship, I can see that. I would like you to promote your series way more on the NASCAR official site and the NASCAR official channel, though. You can get one of your drivers to race in America like you've done with Alon Day with a road course race next year and beyond to promote your series more.”

That was good advice for Jerome, which he agreed with. The drivers in Europe needed way more promotion, and doing an American NASCAR race, particularly road course ones, would help them beyond. Especially that I took an interest in Vittorio, only Jerome says this to me as I scratched my head, wondering why it should be more well-known to the world.

Jerome Galpin: “Well, Vittorio did the Canadian NASCAR Series race a few weeks ago, but we do need to bring them to American NASCAR races too. That's some good advice; we do need to bring European talent to NASCAR, besides Alon Day. So you think the series has good racing?”

Konrad Raab: “Totally, certainly the best series I've driven in this year, and that's no lie. It's just a shame it's considered a minority in Europe, and shame it's not bigger or more advertised as it should be. Somehow, me being here has increased the attendance.”

Jerome Galpin: “So I'm guessing you're having fun. I spoke to Harry, and he said you've never had more fun than you have here. So I'm guessing this is great for me to see you be happy and satisfied with this series and enjoying racing, especially as I admire how highly you praise Vittorio, Gianmarco, Hezemans and your teammates. Anyway, I'd better get going as I have to get up early tomorrow to check the track and everything. Thank you for doing this race for us to promote the NASCAR Euro Series, and I'll check back with you tomorrow.”

Konrad Raab: “Anytime, I was going to race regardless this weekend anyway, just didn't expect to do NASCAR in Europe, never heard of the series until recently when you came up to me. Shame on me for that, but I'm so grateful that I have now.”

We both shook hands and then went our separate ways, as he had a lot of things to do with the series tomorrow and even tonight, while I had a day to rest after racing. However, as I walked back to the hotel, which ironically was located at the race track itself, where all the drivers were staying, this Italian driver, whom I had been praising, Vittorio, came up to me as I was getting food at the hotel to get some dinner.

Vittorio: “So, I heard you've been praising me a lot. You think I've got talent?”

Konrad Raab: “Yes, I do. I'm so glad we bumped into each other because I've been meaning to talk to you about your future.”

Vittorio: “Well, I did drive in the Canadian NASCAR Series this year.”

Konrad Raab: “Oh, I promise you that you're going to go farther than the Canadian NASCAR Series. I've even spoken to my Kaulig Racing team all about you because you have what it takes to be a NASCAR driver. I'll speak more about it to you tomorrow as you're obviously busy.”

Vittorio: “Awesome, yeah, sorry I am busy. I just heard so much buzz on how impressed you are with me.”

I nodded because I was, since I view Vittorio as my biggest competition and my most significant threat in the Euro NASCAR race this weekend, and I really wanted this guy to be in the American NASCAR Series as he deserves to be there. If Kaulig Racing won't hire him, I'll hire him myself and do what Justin Marks is doing with Trackhouse Racing in MotoGP, only it will be a team of only European NASCAR drivers. I ate dinner, which I realised had vegan options here, which was nice. Then, I went to my room, relaxed by watching TV, and went to sleep.

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Ridgeway, Virginia. Friday 24th October. (Offline)

I'm here earlier because I wanted to participate in the Modifieds racing here this weekend. I needed to test my skills, as I really miss racing on modified dirt tracks. The guys who ran against me on dirt two years ago certainly missed me doing so as well. I've been so busy with the Xfinity Series that I hadn't put much focus on dirt car racing, but it's clear as day that I needed to go back to doing it. So I will, and I recently saw on social media that Justin Haley, my best friend, is creating videos of himself testing modified cars. That also helps me when I come back to dirt car modified racing.

So I accepted NASCAR's offer to do Modified racing, which was very different from dirt car racing. I had a teammate in Supreme Racing, known as Andrew Peters, who had been doing it for years. The team made the modified especially for me, as I couldn't use my own modified vehicle, as the rules are very different from the dirt car ones. The team said I could even keep the car for myself, as they will have no use for it after this year anyway. So gives me another chance to race there.

That being said, I got along well with another team, although not as close as the German team I had in Euro NASCAR, but close, like the Andretti Motorsports team was with me. Andrew showed me tips on how the series goes, and although he didn't really know me beyond my NASCAR results because that's what he was going off, I addressed this to him as we were sitting in the garage, watching bits of the Mazda Cup Series going on.

Konrad Raab: “I've driven these modified cars before.”

Andrew Peters: “What, no way.”

Konrad Raab: “I have, I got my UMP Modified dirt car racing in the garage back in my home in Chicago. Along with other cars, I got locked up there.”

Andrew Peters: “Glad you have some experience, but this is very different to the dirt car ones.”

Konrad Raab: “I could tell that with the tarmac and the grip, along with not so much steering. I mainly did this race because I miss the feeling of doing modifieds and miss the feeling of these cars as well.”

We had been doing practice and qualifying before that, so that's why I knew the know-how of how different these modifieds are compared to the dirt car ones, and it provided me with a lot of data. It was clearly something I needed, as I was suffering from modified racing rust due to not having done any modified racing for two years. I qualified fifteenth, which was terrible, to say the least, but I was feeling the rust and the car for the first time.

Andrew Peters: “I think it takes time to get used to this sort of racing, and I think you should consider doing more of these races next year.”

Konrad Raab: “The problem is the schedule. There are so many races I have to do that I won't be able to commit to stuff, which, on top of wrestling in other companies as well, would be the issue. Although I'm retiring from one company because of this whole NASCAR Cup Series full-time deal I signed a couple of years ago with Kaulig.”

Andrew Peters: “Wait, that's why you've not done full-time Cup Series racing because of a wrestling company? Wow. You do way too much for one person. Like, how in the world do you commit to racing and wrestling at the same time?”

Konrad Raab: “You see, racing is more of a place for me to win championships, wrestling, I consider winning championships a bonus because I mostly use wrestling to get anger out and believe me, I have a ton of anger issues. Ask the Kaulig Racing team, and they'll tell you how much anger I have, as they've briefly seen it.”

It was a nice feeling, knowing that although the team didn't know me very well, compared to other teams that had me do testing sessions before, this was a first for me. This was the first time in two years I'd stepped into a Modifieds car. Granted a different type of modifieds car, but how could I say no to NASCAR's offer for me to do modifieds racing when I was going to do this type of racing on dirt in November and December time anyway, especially I was randomly selected to do the Gateway Dirt Nationals again too.

Andrew Peters: “So, has wrestling got to do with a lot with them having Sunday shows, is why you couldn't do Cup Series full time?”

Konrad Raab: “They are more called Pay Per Views, and yes, Pay Per View events are the main reason why I have to pull out of every company that has Sunday PPV events like this place, Supreme Championship Wrestling. They've been good to me, as much as I piss and moan at times, but I got this big match I'm planning a day after I go to win the Phoenix Xfinity Series championship with Kaulig Racing to end my career there.”

It turned out that Andrew Peter's son, who knew everything about wrestling and was aware of my professional wrestling background, became upset when he heard wrestling discussions because I was a professional wrestler.

Terry Peters: “Oh my god, I didn't know my dad was teaming with a professional wrestler. Do you know how long I've been waiting to meet a professional wrestler in the racing world? So many years.”

Konrad Raab: “I'm surprised you haven't come to Cup and Xfinity Series races where a lot of wrestlers show up, some in companies I've never been to.”

Terry Peters: “I wish you had told me, Dad, that Konrad Raab, the legend, is your teammate this weekend. Is it true you're retiring from wrestling?”

Konrad Raab: “From Supreme Championship Wrestling, yes. What I was telling your father was I'm planning a big match, which I'm sure, being a super pro wrestling fan, you know about.”

Terry nodded at Andrew, knowing everything I had said about wrestling was spot on. However, I let him tell his dad about the details, and he spilt the beans to his father. He was about ten years old, from looking at him, but I can only guess his age.

Terry Peters: “Dad, he's doing the chamber match against five other wrestlers, although I've not heard of one, Drake.”

Konrad Raab: “We go way back, trust me, it's a long story and one I aim to put to my memory once and for all after next Sunday. Along with Tommy Valentine, he's another one I have a history with, for the same reasons as Drake; we were on the same team, and that's all I will say. Every opponent I'm facing in the match, except Colleen, I've had history with.”

Andrew Peters: “Wow, that takes guts to risk your life doing racing and then risk your life to do wrestling? Man, you got some balls. Terry, why don't you go and see your mother, and I get Konrad's autograph for you after the race?”

Terry nodded and ran straight to his mother, who took him back to the hotel, since Martinsville was a place where you didn't have motorhomes because it was a small town. We went to discuss things further about the upcoming race and who I should keep an eye on for this weekend's Modifieds race.

Andrew Peters: “Justin Bonsignore and Austin Beers are the guys that will give you a hard time.”

Konrad Raab: “Oh, I know Justin Bonsignore. He's done Xfinity Races for Brad Rogers Racing a few times before. Now I know where he came from, didn't know he started here.”

Andrew Peters: “Yes, he did, and Austin Beers, he's been around for a long while, and only this year, he became a modified title contender. It's all equally close between him and Justin here. None of the aero rubbish you get in NASCAR.”

Konrad Raab: “A lot of drivers, even myself, have complained about that, but it's what we have to make do with. But here, this is a different beast. I actually like these cars, apart from the fact that I'm not used to the horsepower these modifieds provide compared to dirt car racing. I didn't even know they did a modified tarmac racing form.”

Which I didn't, as I heard about this series through an invitation from NASCAR, which wanted a top star to race in the series this weekend. This also gives me more experience with the racing side of things. I wasn't expected to win because this was a trial for promotion in the series, as well as the championship.

Andrew Peters: “We've been around for years. The racing is as close as you can get.”

Konrad Raab: “So, a bit like Euro NASCAR then? That was really close racing I had in Germany, where I participated to promote the European NASCAR series. It's the same here.”

Andrew Peters: “Because you're a big name and big-name drivers get attention for this series. Anyway, we'd better get into our cars soon, as it's almost time for racing and almost time for the national anthem.”

Which was true, as I didn't know it applied even for this series, but it does since it was a NASCAR-related series. I couldn't wait to race this car, which I could keep forever in case I wanted to return to NASCAR Modified racing again. Believe me, if there's a time in my schedule, I would do this series again. I stood with my team and crew, who were temporary for this weekend, and the national anthem started. 

After that, I put on my lid and gloves before getting into the modified car. Man, I miss the size of the car, as I had forgotten how small these cars were. I also miss the smell and the sounds of these cars. Granted, they were different sounds and smells from what I was used to, but I was going to enjoy every ounce of the experience to fully appreciate the ride of experiencing NASCAR's other hidden gem of a racing series.