KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Just because you race without any pit stops doesn't mean you can get to the race without any. That's just one ofthe reasons why Garry, Angie and Wayne Pennington of Pennington Racing selected a 1996 Kenworth W900L to haul themselves and sprint car #71 across the country during a grueling racing season.

Today's high stakes field of motorsports demands that teams approach racing as a business. It comes as no surprise that entrepreneurs like the Penningtons apply their business expertise to high-performance auto racing as well.

"We decided that if we're going to compete on a professional level, we needed to move up to a professional level of transportation that would meet the demands of a full racing season," Angie said. "Kenworth's W900L more than met our requirements for performance and comfort."

Garry and Angie Pennington own and operate several Kansas City, Mo.-based businesses that serve the fast food industry. Their son Wayne, 17, serves as Pennington Racing's primary driver, mechanic and technician on the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) circuit. A hired professional driver rounds out the Pennington Racing team.

With help from MHC Kenworth in Kansas City, the Penningtons retired an RV averaging 4 miles per gallon, and replaced it with the '96 W900L to which they added some new chrome accessories and lighting, and a custom 102-inch sleeper.

Their W900L allows Garry, Angie and Wayne to move about the cab standing up. This added comfort was a high priority for the Penningtons, who spend almost every weekend from April through November traveling from race to race pulling a custom-built Showtime trailer. Built from the ground up, the trailer comes outfitted with a fully-equipped drivers' living quarters, and enough room for two sprint cars, spare parts, and all the tools necessary to compete at a professional level.

In the 2001 season, Wayne's on and off-the-track skills guided him to an 11th place finish out of a field of 50 drivers ages 17-70. His outstanding performance earned Wayne runner-up Rookie of the Year honors. He was in sixth place in this year's points standing through mid-September.

In the wild world of winged sprint car racing, there's no margin for error. That's why Wayne insists on working on his own car. With virtually a lifetime of racing experience, including go-carts and micros, Wayne personally makes or supervises all repairs and adjustments to #71. The car alone represents a $100,000 investment, with a custom frame by Avenger Chassis, and a power plant built by Madcap Motors. Pennington Racing's #71 boasts 750 horsepower, and a top speed of 180 miles per hour. While the ASCS utilizes the same safety features and rules as NASCAR, it demands even greater driving skills. "Winged sprint cars can run 150 miles per hour on a dirt track, and 180 miles per hour on a paved course," Wayne says. "Oh, and there are no pit stops. All adjustments to the car must be made up front to meet the conditions of each specific track. Everything has to be just right at race time."

Driven by the need to succeed in business and in racing, the Penningtons will be driving to victory this racing season in the customized comfort of their Kenworth W900L.