BUZZ SODEMAN / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Racing is a family affair for the Pike clan. Wife Tanya holds Jaiden while Jake, obscured, and Jacey sit high on the custom "golf cart." Family friend Brandy Tarone joins the family. Advertisement

Unless you're a personal buddy, or quite possibly very observant, you may be oblivious to who is sharing that metal bleacher with you at the speedway. That young lady trying to harness the energies of her brood is probably one of the most important crew members for one of those "Saturday Night Heroes" you've been watching circle the track.

And who might that be, you ask? That VIP just happens to be the wife and probably the most vocal supporter, if not the loudest, of one of those drivers.

I interviewed four wives, two from the IMCA ranks (Tanya Pike and Casey Kiefer), and one each from the Super Stocks (Nicole Henderson) and Pro4 (Jessica Slusher). After asking them the same questions, I realized that I should have had the strains of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" playing in the background.

Their worst fears concern the inherent reality of anyone who buckles himself into a race car -- suffering a debilitating accident or the worst case scenario, a fatality.

None addressed what I see as an even worst fear: fire.

Nicole, married to Eric Henderson, is a newlywed and did say this was a secondary concern to her. Tanya, who has been married to Jason Pike for eight years, said she isn't worried about his ability to drive but that he might get caught up in an accident not of his making.

Many of you will remember that Jason was involved in what could have been a fatal accident while participating in the IMCA Supernationals in Boone, Iowa, a few years ago. It wasn't all that long ago that Levi Kiefer experienced perhaps the worst accident ever at Pahrump Valley Speedway. He spent seven days in ICU after contacting the wall and being mechanically extricated from his IMCA -- just imagine what Casey was going through. Jessica was already married when her husband, Steve Slusher, decided to get involved in the racing game.

"Give him two arms to cling to / and someone warm to come home to / when nights are cold and lonely."

Another common thread was that time was the most important aspect that is sacrificed when your spouse is racing. To deal with the time factor, the wives all admitted to doing whatever they can to assist their husbands. Some help unload and load the car into and out of the hauler, although Jessica isn't allowed to drive the car. (Come on, Steve, let her wheel-pack, if nothing else.) Tanya makes sure that Jason's fire suit is laundered, and she has double-checked what he usually might not think of. Jessica videotapes any race that Steve is involved in, then runs up and assists with the concession stand.

Casey, while freely admitting that she isn't all that much of a racing fan, makes sure that Levi's crew has food and liquid refreshments while working on the car at the shop. She also serves as the "gopher" when it comes to running into Vegas for car parts and ordering fuel.

Nicole uses the time that Eric is working on the car to talk with him. All pretty much agree that any racing related issues are a shared decision. Tanya said that those decisions are becoming fewer as Jason has chose to curtail his racing to spend more time with their children -- one goal that Jason is trying to accomplish is reaching the "high water" mark of recording his IMCA victory. I was surprised to hear this -- I thought that he surpassed that milestone years ago.

"And if you love him, be proud of him, / 'cause after all, he's just a man."

The last question provoked the most thought: "Do you want your children to follow in their dad's footsteps?"

Jessica and Steve are holding off having children, at least for a little while, but she doesn't know if she is ready to make that kind of decision. Tanya is already facing the reality, as her oldest, Jacey, 7, is giving those Outlaw Karts the once over and has already expressed a desire to race one. Could we see the making of an Erin Crocker or Danica Patrick?

Tanya said she would have no problem allowing her children to race. Jacey has two younger siblings, Jake, 2, and Jaiden, 1.

Casey has addressed the question already. Her stepson Austin, 7, and son Cole Hammock, 8, race in the Outlaw Karts division, and she has at least four or five years before having to face the question again. Blake Kiefer is 2.

Nicole inherited a family, a five-year old and an eight-year old. She is taking a "wait and see attitude."

She said, "If it will make them happy, I'm all for it." She added, "I hope that they approach the sport with a better attitude than what is being seen and exhibited by adult race drivers."

"Stand by your man / and show the world you love him / Keep giving all the love you can / Stand by your man."