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Randy
Triplett-Type
I
Jeff
Gordon
knows
his
way
around
Nascar
Winston
Cup
Race
tracks.
When
getting
to
and
from
the
tracks,
Jeff
leaves
the
driving
to
Randy
Triplett.
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Randy
Triplett
was
the
first
employee
hired
by
Jeff
Gordon.
It
was
in
1994
when
Jeff
was
driving
in
the
Winston
Cup
series
following
his
rookie
season.
At
the
time,
Jeff’s
Winston
Cup
effort
was
a
family
affair.
His
stepfather,
John
Bickford
served
as
team
manager,
publicity
department
and
drove
the
family’s
motor
coach
from
race
to
race.
The
family
met
Randy
while
he
was
driving
a
motor
coach
for
another
Winston
Cup
team.
With
all
the
duties
associated
with
running
and
maintaining
a
full
race
schedule,
the
family
decided
to
leave
the
driving
to
Randy.
Even
then,
the
importance
of
chemistry
between
team
members
was
recognized.
John
and
Jeff
met
with
Randy
several
times
track
side,
then
invited
him
to
dinner,
discussing
each
other’s
objectives
before
offering
him
the
position.
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Jeff
Gordon’s
determination,
dedication
and
desire
to
succeed
are
akin
to
Randy’s
own
objectives.
Randy
knew
what
it
meant
to
be
faced
with
obstacles,
as
two
years
earlier
he
had
been
diagnosed
as
a
Type
1,
insulin
dependant
diabetic.
He
was
determined
that
the
illness
would
not
be
an
obstacle
to
his
goal
of
being
a
member
of
a
Nascar
Winston
Cup
team.
Randy
recalls
when
diagnosed
as
a
diabetic
and
administered
his
first
insulin
shot
by
a
nurse,
she
commented
that
he
didn’t
flinch
like
most
patients
receiving
their
first
shot.
"Heck,"
Randy
remarked,
"It’s
either
take
the
shot
or
die.
Insulin
shots
are
an
easy
alternative."
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Controlling
blood
sugars
while
criss
crossing
across
the
country
34
weeks
a
year
can
be
challenging.
Randy
takes
the
challenge
in
stride.
During
a
race
weekend,
everyone
works
a
blistering,
hectic
pace
with
twelve
to
fourteen
hour
work
days
being
the
norm.
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"My
meal
times
are
governed
by
track
side
schedules,
and
I
have
to
watch
my
diet
closely,
because
I
am
always
tempted
by
the
track
side
concession
stands."
Randy
admits
his
blood
sugars
normally
are
higher
than
recommended,
but
has
been
able
to
maintain
consistency
in
a
range
his
doctor
states
is
acceptable.
Randy
states,
"It's
hard
sometimes,
but
like
the
race
team,
I
just
have
to
keep
making
adjustments."
Randy
credits
current
control
of
his
blood
sugars
to
his
doctor,
Dr.
Gary
Rolband
of
the
Meckenburg
Medical
Group
in
Concord,
North
Carolina.
"
Because
of
my
lifestyle,
Dr.
Rolband
has
prescribed
four
insulin
shots
a
day.
"
I
take
three
different
kinds
of
insulin,
starting
the
day
with
Humulin
and
Humulin
Ultra
Lente.
At
lunch,
I
take
Humulin,
and
before
dinner,
Humalog.
At
night
I
take
Humulin
NpH,"
Randy
says.
He
stresses
the
importance
of
maintaining
a
close
relationship
with
your
medical
doctor.
"
Your
doctor
needs
to
know
your
lifestyle,
eating
habits
and
a
history
of
your
blood
sugars.
I
check
my
blood
sugar
before
each
insulin
shot
and
more
frequently
depending
on
my
day’s
activities."
Randy
uses
a
glucose
monitor
that
stores
the
readings
which
he
transfers
to
a
log
book.
He
also
records
any
changes
in
activity
and
health
in
his
log
book.
"Just
like
a
race
driver,
I
want
my
doctor,
who
is
my
crew
chief,
to
have
all
the
information
he
needs."
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Like
racing,
controlling
diabetes
is
a
team
effort.
Randy
credits
his
medical
advisors,
his
wife
Kristine,
and
friends
for
helping
him
stay
on
track.
Counted
among
Randy’s
friends
are
Jeff
and
his
wife,
Brooke.
Randy
is
quick
to
add,
"Jeff
is
my
boss
and
mentor.
I
have
worked
for
the
team
for
five
years
now,
sharing
a
lifetime
of
experiences.
I
have
had
the
privilege
of
seeing
Jeff
and
Ray
Everham
work
and
win
together.
I
have
been
in
victory
lane
with
the
team
sharing
the
thrill
with
Jeff
when
he
won
his
first
Winston
Cup
Championship,
and
his
second
and
then
his
third.
The
thrill
of
winning
never
leaves
you." |
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During
race
weekends,
Randy
stays
close
to
both
Jeff
and
Brooke,
accompanying
them
wherever
they
go.
With
his
ever
present
sunglasses
and
radio
ear
piece,
many
fans
mistake
Randy
for
a
bodyguard.
Randy
quips,
"I’m
always
ready
for
the
unexpected
but
I’m
more
of
a
companion
than
a
bodyguard.
I’m
there
to
help
Jeff
if
he
needs
anything,
and
to
be
sure
he’s
stays
on
schedule
for
driver
and
team
meetings,
press
conferences
and
appearances.
Working
for
Jeff
Gordon
there
is
always
the
fans.
Jeff
enjoys
meeting
with
the
fans
and
most
race
fans
are
courteous,
polite
and
considerate."
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Randy
reminisces
about
the
time
he
and
Jeff
were
sitting
in
the
crew
van
behind
pit
road
before
the
start
of
pre-race
introductions.
They
watched
as
another
Winston
Cup
driver
walked
down
pit
road
almost
completely
unnoticed.
The
driver
stopped
and
paused
a
few
moments,
...
and
nobody
approached
him.
"I
asked
Jeff,
'wouldn’t
you
like
to
be
able
to
walk
down
pit
road
like
that,
completely
unnoticed?'
"
Jeff
replied,
"No,
it
would
probably
mean
that
I
stopped
winning,
and
I
don’t
want
to
stop
winning." |
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Randy
Triplett
is
in
a
race
every
day
against
Diabetes.
He
doesn’t
plan
to
stop
winning
either!
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