SWS: Driver profile - Bob Lyon-Love

Driver Profile: Bob Lyon-Love and Basketball

Bob Lyon, a high school basketball star in California's San Fernando Valley, found racing the way most kids do, on the hip of his parents while he was in grade school. His early introduction to racing made him a lifelong fan and when he turned 16, he started hanging out his friends at the historic Saugus Speedway.

Lyon started helping a friend work on his racecar and thought it might be fun to get behind the wheel. "I jumped in Gary Bakers old Chevy and was 3/10's faster then he was," Lyon said. "I knew right then that racing was something I really wanted to do."

After Lyon graduated high school in 1980 he built his first racecar in his parents garage. It was a 1957 Ford chassis that Eddy Grey drove in the early 60's. He and his friends spent countless hours restoring the classic mount to race condition and joined the Sportsman ranks at Saugus Speedway.

After spending several season mastering the flat third-mile, Lyon decided it was time for a new challenge and joined the Featherlite Southwest Series. Since 1988, Lyon has amassed a career record of more than 247 career appearances with 191 consecutive starts. He is the fourth driver to earn more than $300,000 in career winnings, and has four victories, 42 top-five, and 88 top-ten finishes to his record. He has won six Bud Pole Awards, and has finished in the top-ten final point standings eleven times, with his best a career best finish of fifth in 1996.

When asked to reflect on his accomplishments, Lyon smiles. "That's what happens when you're around long enough," Lyon said. "I love this series, it's the best out there. We have the best crowds, the best show, and the most cars. There is nothing better then winning. That is why I keep coming back. I want to win."

At 40 years old, Lyon's dedication to racing is only matched to his dedication to his family. With his wife Allison of ten years, he has raised two children, daughter Jamie (10) and son Jake (8). "It is hard to be at the track sometimes," Lyon said. "My kids are growing up and they are involved in sports and other activities, it is tough to miss those times. I love my family and racing. I still have a lot of racing to do."

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