Larry Sanders was recently named Rookie of the Year in the modified class at Texas Thunder Speedway in Killeen. Some pastimes are begun in adulthood; others are forged during childhood, then set aside as career interests overtake.

In the case of Larry "The Colonel" Sanders and car racing, it was the latter. Sanders, named Rookie of the Year last week in the modified class at Texas Thunder Speedway in Killeen, got his first taste of racing as a high school student at the side of his uncle, Plummer McDaniel.

Sanders watched his cousins, Randy and Ryan McDaniel, on the speedways around Marysville, Calif., and racing left an indelible impression on him. It was a mark that would remain across continents, career and family.

After joining the United States Marine Corps in 1987, racing became part of Sanders' past. He pursued the life of a career serviceman, married his wife Tammy and started a family.

Stationed in numerous locations around the world -- including Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, four tours in Okinawa, one tour in Korea, as well as various stateside duty stations such as 29 Palms, Calif., Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C. -- Sanders was busy working and raising two children, Christopher and Bree.

After a short stint out of the service, he enlisted in the Army in 2000 and moved to Texas, where he was stationed at Fort Hood. Settling his family in the Lampasas area, it was business as usual for the military family.

Sanders' transition back into the military and his subsequent relocation proved a fateful move for the soldier. In 2001 when an accident left his vehicle damaged, he happened to drop into Phil's Paint and Body in Copperas Cove. The business is owned by Phil Egbert, sponsor of the 2005-2007 Texas Thunder Speedway Mini Stock Car Champion Colton Monroe and the 2008 IMCA National Champion P.J. Egbert.

Catching sight of the trophies on display in the shop, Sanders' interest was piqued. After asking where the race track was located, his interest in racing returned.

"I went out for a couple of years and watched the racing and helped in the pits," Sanders said. "I met drivers and learned a little bit about racing."

In 2003, he purchased a modified race car, and it seemed his racing career was off to a good start. The Army had other plans, however, as in early 2004, Sanders was deployed to Iraq. After completing his tour, he stayed in the Middle East as a security contractor until returning home to his family and his love of racing in 2008.

While deployed to Iraq, Sanders' car stayed with Gary and Andrew Simmerman of Evant, who completed work on it to make sure it was ready for racing when Sanders returned on leave.

After attending the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa., last year, Sanders was free to pursue his dreams. "In March, I began my quest for Rookie of the Year," he said.

Since then, it has been a rough and tumble journey, but Sanders' sponsors and fellow racers have aided him in the quest for the title. "Whatever I need, they will get for me," he said.

After a wreck during an August race virtually destroyed his car and forced him to start over, Sanders now has a new vehicle with which to familiarize himself.

"We basically had to start over with the car. I had just learned that car and gotten it right," the racing enthusiast said. "I'm learning the track and what the car can do, but really, races are won in the shop, not on the track."

Each week, in excess of 10 hours are put into preparing a car for a weekend race, Sanders said.

He finds the excitement of driving keeps him on the track. Armed with the best safety equipment on the market, with no speedometer and only a tachometer to guide their actions, race drivers employ strategy and quality car maintenance to overtake their competitors.

"The thrill of racing and the camaraderie of the team are what keep me going," Sanders said. "If someone breaks something, there is always someone to help out."

In addition to Egbert, Sanders is sponsored by S&S Motorsports of Lampasas, Pro Image Signs of Salado, Phil's Motorsports of Kempner, Dawn Over Zero of Austin, 121 Towing of Belton, E&E Collision Center of Belton and Kritickill of Killeen.

An independent contractor who installs corporate GPS systems, Sanders travels throughout Texas and often ventures across the United States. Although his job takes him away during the week, on Friday nights he may be found at the football field as son Chris plays tight end for the Lampasas Badgers. It is a family commitment Sanders takes seriously.

Serving as the entire pit crew at out-of-state races, the Sanders family is quick to return the devotion. Sanders' mother, Rita Rowland, is involved as well, filming her son's races so he can review them later and correct errors in his racing strategy.

"They are the ones that let me do this, supporting me and helping me race," said Sanders.

No better proof of family unity is evident than on a weekend with the Sanderses. After the Friday nights of cheering on his son, the roles are reversed a day later. Most Saturdays through racing season, a row of blonde heads in the stands cheer on the race car, as Tammy, Bree and Chris have kept their fingers crossed and hopes high that this would be a season with a title, "Larry Sanders, Rookie of the Year."

With the coveted trophy now in hand, the Sanders family knows their hope, determination and hard work have paid off.