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Category: Motorsports

Kid Rock and The Schwartz got them started at MIS

They were just a couple of regular guys, sitting side-by-side at a NASCAR race. But, Kid Rock and new Detroit Lions' head coach Jim Schwartz are playing special roles today here at Michigan International Speedway.

Rock very enthusiastically made the call for drivers to start their engines. Schwartz was the honorary starter -- dropping the green flag on the field for the initial start.

They both also recognize their roles as missionaries for their beleaguered home town -- Motown. They joked, and got serious about their feelings about hard times.

Schwartz talked about being impressed that Lions fans are like NASCAR fans -- extremely loyal even through hard times.

"I feel it every day," Rock said. "I still live here. I live in Clarkston, Michigan. I see a lot of stuff, a lot of my friends, houses foreclosed, losing their jobs, trying to find work. They're embarrassed about it. One thing I've known about this town, the reason why I stay here -- and I could live any where I want in the world -- is because of the people. Because of who they are. It's a hard working town. Great people in it. It's not the first time we've been down. We'll get back up. I'm sure of that. I see hope every day in a lot of people's eyes. You know, my buddies at the race, they're talking about Tony starting his own thing now and especially at a time when it's very difficult to do it. He's doing very well and I think it's like anything else, it's persistence and hard work and doing the right thing when times get tough. That's what I've always seen about Michigan and especially Detroit."

Rock said he's working on a couple of songs about hard times and the Midwest. He said when he was younger, he wrote about wild times and women. Now, he's older, His son is growing and he sees more serious things to sing about.

But Schwartz brought Rock back to his base by declaring the particularly raunchy "Cocky" as his favorite song. He even recited a view lines .

"It's ain't bragging if you can back it up," Schwartz said.

Kid Rock laughed, "He even knows the lyrics. He's my man. He's the best coach we've ever had in Detroit."

"I just hope you're saying that in about six months," Schwartz said.

"It couldn't get worse," Rock reminded him.

Schwartz earlier talked about hanging out at a quarter-mile dirt track near his home as a kid.

"We would go on Friday and Saturday nights, probably mostly to drink beer more than anything. Obviously it was a lot different racing. Lot of paint swapping and things like that. This is, obviously, a two-mile track. They're going to get going. It's a completely different style of racing. I can't wait to see it."