My dad was a football coach, so I played and had a great time doing it. But when our team would lose, I didn't like that. So I finally found something that was all up to me, and I enjoyed that aspect of it.
I spent two years as a pro. I was AMA Rookie of the Year in '85 and 10th in the 500 Nationals, so I had a pretty good ride, but I wasn't winning Nationals by any stretch-I knew I had to get back in college and get on with my life. So I did that and then went to work at the Kennedy Space Center.
When I was a teenager, a high school guy could work part time and have a 125cc bike and afford to go racing. But now, I think you really need to have your folks involved. Some people go off the deep end, but I hope they can still have fun.
I worked in aerospace for seven years. My role was to put the space station in orbit, and it's very much a team effort. At the end of the day, you're really just working with people. It's a really cool machine you're toiling over, but it's the personalities you work with and trying to get the goal accomplished that matters.
Race 4 Rett is a benefit for my daughter, Emma Foley, who was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome when she was about two years old. We started [the benefit] in '06 as an awareness function for her, and in the first year we raised almost $30,000 just through that event. People pledged dollars for laps turned at the Loretta Lynn's Amateur National, and placed pledges at www.race4rettmx.com. The motocross community is full of great people.
I like to be a team player at my job and work with people, but on Sunday, if I've done everything right Monday through Friday, things just might go my way. I've got some control over it, and if I put the time in to train and practice, I can control my destiny a bit more.