As Amherst resident Drew Ramsey reflects on how he got where he is today, he has a message to share: set goals, follow your dream, work hard, accept help, and don’t let a little thing like a serious car accident derail you.

Now just 22 years old and a K & N Pro Series East Official with NASCAR, Ramsey claims he was "born racing."　 With an uncle and cousin who raced, he always wanted to be behind the wheel. As an adolescent, he and his dad started go-kart racing just for fun, and it soon morphed into competition.   "While other kids were hanging out at the mall, I was getting dirty behind the wheel of a go-kart," he said.   At age 12, he was advised by his father that if he wanted to continue, he would have to get his own sponsors. He did that by approaching family and friends and one day on a return trip from the WKA (World Karting Association) World Nationals in Daytona, he hit pay dirt.　 On the plane, a stranger noticed his WKA ball cap and struck up a conversation with Ramsey and his father.　 This stranger soon became a benefactor and over time supplied tires, a chassis, and even an engine to the young driver.　 As Ramsey says, he was "beatin’ and bangin’ on a go-kart track" before he earned his drivers’ license.   Graduating from go-kart to race car, Ramsey logged some time in 2008 and 2009 as a crew member with Taylor Brothers Motorsports out of Madison, Virginia.　 In that job he worked with tires, race car preparation and repair in the shop, and other common race track duties. But racing is extremely competitive, and Ramsey opted next to enroll in general education courses with an eye to go into the emergency medical services program at Central Virginia Community College (CVCC).　 Recognizing that his heart was really on the track instead of the in back of an ambulance, Ramsey gave up his seat in the paramedic classroom and instead enrolled at the University of Northwestern Ohio in the High Performance Engine program.   Unused to the frigid temperatures and all the snow, Ramsey soon discovered that he would have to take regular mechanic classes for one year before he was ever allowed to touch a race car.　 That’s when a family friend said, "Why aren’t you at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville? They work on NASCAR late models and are right beside a truck series team.　 That’s where you need to be." After learning about PHCC’s pull-down rig, shock dynameters and telemetry system, Ramsey determined that PHCC was where he could learn more about the technical set-up aspect of the race car and expand his knowledge.　 He enrolled in PHCC’s motorsports program in fall 2009, and because his instructor Talmage Thomas knew about his past experience with Taylor Brothers, he was turning wrenches on a brand new race car on his first day.   In the second year of the program, students study under Lou Larosa, known in racing circles for his work as engine builder for Dale Earnhardt and Kale Yarborough.　 Racing engines were new to Ramsey, and he would come out of class each night with a headache.　 Larosa made the students think so much they would be "steaming," Ramsey said, but he is proud to be able to say that Lou Larosa taught him everything he knows about a racing engine.　   Just as he was getting a good start in the program, Ramsey – who had always wanted to be behind the wheel -- fell asleep behind it.　 On his way to class in his second semester, Ramsey woke up sitting in the middle of the road. He was airlifted out and en route to the hospital couldn’t help but worry:　 "Will I walk again?　 Live? My dream is shattered."　   It turned out that his physical injuries were not as serious as he feared, although they did keep him bedridden and wheelchair-bound for some time.　 What didn’t happen was the loss of classroom time, thanks to Thomas, who showed up at Ramsey’s bedside to give him lesson plans he could work on from home.   "He kept saying, when are you coming back? We want ya, we need ya to come back," Ramsey said. And so he did wheelchair, crutches and all. It’s not easy poking around in a race car from a wheelchair, and Ramsey’s classmates offered lots of support, after dubbing him Bootie Barker after the Sprint Cup series crew chief in a wheelchair, and Lieutenant Dan after the character in the Forrest Gump story.   "I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be . . . to have that kind of thing happen, and to be fortunate enough to come back.　 When I got back, I picked right up and kept diggin’."   Ramsey earned his Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies – Motorsports Technology in May 2011. A friend of a friend of a friend who happened to be a NASCAR official suggested that he put his name in for a job at NASCAR.　 A bit skeptical ("What are my chances of ever landing a job at NASCAR?") Ramsey procrastinated for a few months until he was urged to fill out an application again.   When invited for an interview, Ramsey – who had never had a job interview before – found himself in a chance face-to-face encounter with Mike Helton, president of NASCAR when he opened the door and wished him a good morning.　 "That was kind of an ‘Oh Boy’ moment," Ramsey marvels.　   After a series of interviews and multiple nerve-wracking trips in ensuing months to the mailbox looking for a job offer, Ramsey finally landed his position in the K & N Pro Series.　 Working with the NASCAR family is a dream-come true, he says.　 Not only is he employed by   As for others who may be seeking a job in the racing industry – or following a dream of any kind, for that matter – Ramsey has this advice:　 Never give up.　 Always work harder than the next guy.　 Believe in yourself. Learn the work ethic. These are things that Lou Larosa taught him, he said, along with: Always be doing something and never stand around with your hands in your pockets.　 If you are 15 minutes early, you are late.   And this from Drew himself: "Don’t do only what’s required. Work harder and exceed expectations. If you work your butt off, you can accomplish anything." the largest sanctioning body of stock car, he gets to travel from track to track throughout the season, from March through November. racing in the United States

As Amherst resident Drew Ramsey reflects on how he got where he is today, he has a message to share: set goals, follow your dream, work hard, accept help, and don’t let a little thing like a serious car accident derail you.

Now just 22 years old and a K & N Pro Series East Official with NASCAR, Ramsey claims he was "born racing."　 With an uncle and cousin who raced, he always wanted to be behind the wheel. As an adolescent, he and his dad started go-kart racing just for fun, and it soon morphed into competition.   "While other kids were hanging out at the mall, I was getting dirty behind the wheel of a go-kart," he said.   At age 12, he was advised by his father that if he wanted to continue, he would have to get his own sponsors. He did that by approaching family and friends and one day on a return trip from the WKA (World Karting Association) World Nationals in Daytona, he hit pay dirt.　 On the plane, a stranger noticed his WKA ball cap and struck up a conversation with Ramsey and his father.　 This stranger soon became a benefactor and over time supplied tires, a chassis, and even an engine to the young driver.　 As Ramsey says, he was "beatin’ and bangin’ on a go-kart track" before he earned his drivers’ license.   Graduating from go-kart to race car, Ramsey logged some time in 2008 and 2009 as a crew member with Taylor Brothers Motorsports out of Madison, Virginia.　 In that job he worked with tires, race car preparation and repair in the shop, and other common race track duties. But racing is extremely competitive, and Ramsey opted next to enroll in general education courses with an eye to go into the emergency medical services program at Central Virginia Community College (CVCC).　 Recognizing that his heart was really on the track instead of the in back of an ambulance, Ramsey gave up his seat in the paramedic classroom and instead enrolled at the University of Northwestern Ohio in the High Performance Engine program.   Unused to the frigid temperatures and all the snow, Ramsey soon discovered that he would have to take regular mechanic classes for one year before he was ever allowed to touch a race car.　 That’s when a family friend said, "Why aren’t you at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville? They work on NASCAR late models and are right beside a truck series team.　 That’s where you need to be." After learning about PHCC’s pull-down rig, shock dynameters and telemetry system, Ramsey determined that PHCC was where he could learn more about the technical set-up aspect of the race car and expand his knowledge.　 He enrolled in PHCC’s motorsports program in fall 2009, and because his instructor Talmage Thomas knew about his past experience with Taylor Brothers, he was turning wrenches on a brand new race car on his first day.   In the second year of the program, students study under Lou Larosa, known in racing circles for his work as engine builder for Dale Earnhardt and Kale Yarborough.　 Racing engines were new to Ramsey, and he would come out of class each night with a headache.　 Larosa made the students think so much they would be "steaming," Ramsey said, but he is proud to be able to say that Lou Larosa taught him everything he knows about a racing engine.　   Just as he was getting a good start in the program, Ramsey – who had always wanted to be behind the wheel -- fell asleep behind it.　 On his way to class in his second semester, Ramsey woke up sitting in the middle of the road. He was airlifted out and en route to the hospital couldn’t help but worry:　 "Will I walk again?　 Live? My dream is shattered."　   It turned out that his physical injuries were not as serious as he feared, although they did keep him bedridden and wheelchair-bound for some time.　 What didn’t happen was the loss of classroom time, thanks to Thomas, who showed up at Ramsey’s bedside to give him lesson plans he could work on from home.   "He kept saying, when are you coming back? We want ya, we need ya to come back," Ramsey said. And so he did wheelchair, crutches and all. It’s not easy poking around in a race car from a wheelchair, and Ramsey’s classmates offered lots of support, after dubbing him Bootie Barker after the Sprint Cup series crew chief in a wheelchair, and Lieutenant Dan after the character in the Forrest Gump story.   "I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be . . . to have that kind of thing happen, and to be fortunate enough to come back.　 When I got back, I picked right up and kept diggin’."   Ramsey earned his Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies – Motorsports Technology in May 2011. A friend of a friend of a friend who happened to be a NASCAR official suggested that he put his name in for a job at NASCAR.　 A bit skeptical ("What are my chances of ever landing a job at NASCAR?") Ramsey procrastinated for a few months until he was urged to fill out an application again.   When invited for an interview, Ramsey – who had never had a job interview before – found himself in a chance face-to-face encounter with Mike Helton, president of NASCAR when he opened the door and wished him a good morning.　 "That was kind of an ‘Oh Boy’ moment," Ramsey marvels.　   After a series of interviews and multiple nerve-wracking trips in ensuing months to the mailbox looking for a job offer, Ramsey finally landed his position in the K & N Pro Series.　 Working with the NASCAR family is a dream-come true, he says.　 Not only is he employed by   As for others who may be seeking a job in the racing industry – or following a dream of any kind, for that matter – Ramsey has this advice:　 Never give up.　 Always work harder than the next guy.　 Believe in yourself. Learn the work ethic. These are things that Lou Larosa taught him, he said, along with: Always be doing something and never stand around with your hands in your pockets.　 If you are 15 minutes early, you are late.   And this from Drew himself: "Don’t do only what’s required. Work harder and exceed expectations. If you work your butt off, you can accomplish anything." the largest sanctioning body of stock car, he gets to travel from track to track throughout the season, from March through November. racing in the United States

(NewsUSA) - Tax season tends to be people's least favorite time of the year, which is only compounded for small businesses. Don't live in fear under the ever-nearing tax thundercloud, make sure your business is prepared to meet the daunting season. Here are five basic rules to keep your business ahead of tax season.

1. Regularly update accounting records. Knowing the intricacies of your company's financial situation throughout the year makes tax season much less intimidating. Plus, if all records are up-to-date and exact, your accountant has more time to spend on finding ways to save the business money instead of organizing information.

2. Triple check your tax bracket. Marginal tax rate analyses help guarantee that your small business isn't needlessly pushed into a higher tax bracket. This is especially beneficial if your business is teetering on the edge. Recognize income when your tax bracket is lower; pay deductible expenses when the bracket is higher.

3. Take inventory of supplies, equipment and other potential write-offs. Equipment might be damaged or too outdated to maintain productivity. Replacing office supplies and obsolete assets before the new year gives the company added deductions. For costly technology, confer with your accountant to see whether an immediate or depreciable write-off is preferable. Financial planners like On Call Accountants help maximize deductions and increase expenses to prevent owing exorbitant fees. Learn more about possible deductions at www.oncallaccountants.com.

4. Contribute to a retirement plan. If you haven't set up a retirement plan yet, do it before the year-end to reduce this year's income. Qualified retirement plans afford tax deductions for all contributions. Find an appropriate plan for your business, and explore contribution limits. A retirement savings opportunity will also garner loyalty among employees.

5. Look into business tax credits. Small businesses may be eligible for numerous tax credits, as listed on the IRS website. Examples of possible credits are Low-Income Housing, Credit for Increasing Research Activities and Disabled Access Credit.

• BASSETT – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Friends of Philpott, Inc. organized a lake cleanup at Philpott Lake this past Saturday. Forty-two volunteers, including members of the Ferrum Recreation Club, Friends of Philpott, and several Benjamin Franklin Middle School students from teacher Melissa Talley’s 7^th grade science class, assisted Philpott Lake staff with removing trash from the shoreline of the lake. Ms. Talley’s students also performed stream monitoring on Nicholas Creek to assess its water quality by collecting and identifying the aquatic benthic macro-invertebrates, or “bugs”.

 

Trash removed from the lake consisted mainly of plastic beverage bottles, aluminum cans, and food wrappers. Other trash included bait containers, bottle caps and several tires. Some volunteers used motorboats and kayaks, while others picked up trash on foot in park areas and along trails. An estimated half ton of trash was removed by participants from various areas in and around the lake, including Twin Ridge, Jamison Mill, Salthouse Branch, Goose Point, Maple Springs, and upper Smith River area.  Mary Lawson, Philpott Lake Conservation Biologist, said, “Participation almost doubled this year, and the event was a major success.”

 

The cleanup was a part of National Public Lands Day as well as the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Much of our land-based trash never makes it to landfills. Instead, it is carried by wind and water, eventually winding up in the ocean. Today, many products last for centuries and are buoyant, traveling for years in water, endangering ocean ecosystems and wildlife along the way. Data collected during clean-ups about the amount and types of litter removed can be analyzed by the Ocean Conservancy in order to help reduce the problem of ocean litter. We all rely on our precious waterways in some way. We all have a responsibility to care for them, not just one day a year, but every day throughout the year.

 

Photo Description: Volunteers stand in front of a pile of trash that was removed from Philpott Lake this past Saturday.

 

What began as an experiment last year for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 will be standard operating procedure in 2011.

Again this year there will be two test dates heading into the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race at Martinsville Speedway on October 9.

The first test session is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 21, with the second date a week later on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

“We knew teams weren’t getting much track time the way we had been doing it, so we tried the two days last year just to see how it would go,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “It turned out to be a huge hit last year. The teams weren’t nearly as rushed and got plenty of track time before coming in for the race weekend.”

Teams will be allowed to test on both test dates. The grandstands will be open for fans free of charge both days.

Registration will begin at 7 a.m. on both September 21 and September 28 at the main ticket office. Haulers can begin staging the day before each test session.

Cars will be on-track from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with an hour break at noon each day.

Pit passes for each test day are $25.

On the second test day, pit passes for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 will be available for purchase. They are $50 for the entire weekend.

Anyone under 18 must have a NASCAR license to enter the pits for either test day. NASCAR licenses will be on sale at the track each test day. A parent must be present to sign a minor’s release form to purchase a NASCAR license during the registration process. No faxed or mailed releases will be accepted.

On a campus where star athletes are the norm, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kevin Harvick turned some heads Tuesday.

Harvick, who won the NASCAR Sprint Cup regular-season finale at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night, spent several hours at Virginia Tech Tuesday as part of a media event with Martinsville Speedway. He toured the football facility and visited with the 13th-ranked Hokies’ coaching staff and team members.

And everywhere he went, people were interested. When he dropped in on the weekly coaches’ meeting, head coach Frank Beamer literally welcomed him with open arms. The Tech coaching staff listened intently as Beamer and Harvick talked racing.

“We got back in time Saturday night (after a17-10 road win over East Carolina University) to watch the end of your race,” Beamer said to Harvick as they were shaking hands. “That was exciting stuff. I know NASCAR and I know when Kevin Harvick gets out front, it’s hard to get by him.”

A little later Harvick was introduced to Josh Oglesby, the Tech tailback who scored both of the Hokies’ touchdowns Saturday. Oglesby immediately said: “great win Saturday night, sir.”

Harvick sat with Oglesby, cornerback Chris Hill, linebacker Bruce Taylor, and defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins during lunch. The players peppered him with questions about racing and what it took to be a championship caliber driver.

While players and coaches were taken with Harvick, who has four wins this season, he was equally impressed with what he saw during his first trip to Virginia Tech.

“For me, I’ve learned a lot about Virginia Tech football today and about Virginia Tech,” said Harvick. “For me, not going to college, being able to see these facilities and everything that goes into it … this is a first-class facility and there are a lot of people to make it go round.

“I’ve seen today there are a lot of similarities to making a race team go around and a football team go around. It takes good people. It takes dedication and it takes determination to do what you have to do.”

Before the day was done, Harvick, Beamer and Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell swapped memorabilia. Harvick presented Beamer with an autographed Budweiser racing helmet. Beamer gave Harvick a Virginia Tech football jersey, personalized with Harvick’s name and car number. And Campbell gave Beamer, a regular at Martinsville Speedway races, a pair of lifetime suite passes.