I have to tell you that being born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., I wasn’t at all familiar with auto racing.

Fast forward to my move to Daytona Beach in 1986 and my introduction to the world of speed and the world famous Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR got its start on the hard packed sand of Daytona Beach in the early 1940s, and in 2013, the sport is bigger and better than ever.

I quickly learned that racing fans are some of the most loyal sports fans I’ve ever seen and none more so than the head man in charge.

Joie Chitwood III is the speedway's president. We met on a warm, sunny afternoon at the International Motorsports Center across the street.

Entering the terrace with a brisk walk and a giant smile, I saw a man who loved his job and was all too willing to talk about it. As we sat on the terrace on the eighth floor, we could see the historic $400 million Daytona Rising project in progress.

To say that racing is in Chitwood’s blood is an understatement. His family has been in in it, according to him, “forever.”  His roots go back to his grandfather who was a racecar driver back in the ‘40s. Not only that, his grandfather raced in the Indianapolis 500 and was the first man to wear a seatbelt in the Indy 500.

"Back then they thought it was safer to get thrown from a car in an accident than to stay in it,” Chitwood recalled.

During World War II, racing was outlawed so Joie’s grandfather bought the remnants of an automobile stunt show and named it the Joie Chitwood Stunt Show. From 1943 to 1998, Joie’s grandfather, dad and later young Joie performed as stuntmen.

For 20 years from age 5 to age 24, Joie traveled the country. “It was definitely an interesting way to enter the motor sports world and I didn’t know any different.”

During our conversation with construction noise in the background, Joie continued his story about his road journey in the racing world to the position he holds now. While proud of his accomplishments, he is quick to talk about the commitment to community. Bill France may have built the property, but Joie speaks with pride about Betty Jane France. He calls her the matriarch of the family that has invested so much in Speediatrics, the pediatrics program at Halifax Health Medical Center of Daytona Beach, along with many other charities.

He said it’s what this racing family does -- providing support for those who need it.

I see before me a man with a passion for his job, thinking ahead on how to make the speedway and what it represents even better.

And the race isn’t over yet.

You can watch raw version of my interview by clicking on the clips in the top right-hand corner of this article.