By Robin Smith Miller

Nobody knows the three-eighths mile banked asphalt track named Charlotte County Speedway better than Randy Fox. He has been driving stock cars there since the day the track opened. Last season he did what no other limited late model driver has been able to do in the track's history, he won both the regular division and Six Pack series title championship in the same year. This season he has won all three of the regular division races and appears to be on his way to setting more records.

Fox's racing nickname has been "Hondo" for a lot of years but he has more than earned a new that this writer is now bestowing on him, "Iron Man". Fox has more than one fish to fry this year. First, he is building the first full-service race shop that Southwest Florida has seen in quite awhile. More importantly, he is running the race for his life.

Last November Fox started having neck pain and thought that maybe an old back injury was acting up again. He went to Dr. David Anthony for treatment and Anthony immediately referred him to a specialist. It seems the neck pain and accompanying lump growing on his neck was Hodgkins lymphoma. Fox then went to cancer specialist, Dr. Lowell Hart, who has been treating him with chemotherapy, radiation and anti-oxidants. Fox credits Dr. Anthony with saving his life thanks to the early diagnosis and treatment. The Iron Man will now be a cancer survivor rather than a casualty.

Cancer has not slowed Fox down at all. He won two of his feature races this season, the same week he took chemotherapy. He is still overseeing the day to day operations of his business, Randy Fox Inc., as well as the construction of his new business at 217 Wallace Avenue, off of Leonard Boulevard. After its completion in July, Fox and wife, Scarlett, will offer a full race shop operation including chassis set-up, fabrication and race parts for all types of racing vehicles. Phase II of the operation will include 25 and 50 foot stalls that will be rented to area race teams.

Fox has learned the ropes of building racecars from the likes of past Busch Grand National champion, Randy Lajoie, and American Speed Association legend, Mike Garvey. His true mentor is legendary Florida short track specialist, Dave Pletcher, who has the closest race shop facility in the area in Clearwater. Pletcher and Fox designed the chassis for his winning racecar, owned by Mark Bruno and his father, Sal. Fox designed it from his extensive knowledge of the Charlotte County Speedway track and says "It's the car that's winning, not necessarily me. Racing is all about finding out what the competition hasn't got."

This is only half of Fox's operation. The other half of the shop will be a full service fleet maintenance shop for area dump trucks. He will offer nighttime maintenance service to area drivers who rely on their trucks to make their living during the day. Fox also envisions commercial parking for dump trucks and tomato haulers on the property. Fox's partner in the operation is attorney, James Neal. For the past few years Fox has partnered with best friend, Clayton Olding, who has decided to downsize his operation. For more information on Fox's new operation, call 369-0300 or 565-8411.

Fox says he would have never made it through the past few months without the support and prayers of the local racing "family". They serve as his inspiration to keep winning all of his races and the "Iron Man" will continue to race and build his business thanks to early diagnosis and the excellent care of his physicians.

-Robin Smith Miller

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