The Undertaker

Story and Photos By Richard Cunningham   From Muddslinger Magazine (Jan. 2000)

Back around 1974 or 1975 Frank Law pulled in the gates of Keeling Raceway in Reidland, Kentucky, unloaded his white Chevy and immediately caused quite a commotion.

It wasn’t that the car was tricked up for the new season with the latest parts and pieces, it wasn’t because Frank was the Billy Moyer of the area, in actuality it was a little paint on the trunk of the Camaro.

Hand painted on that early Camaro was a hillside and tree below a blue sky. It was a mural belonging on any living room wall, except for some little details on the hillside. It was those little details that cause the commotion at the racetrack as well.

The rather quiet Frank Law just was smiling up a storm. He had ‘em where he wanted them.

The crowd gathered around the trunk of the #22 featured some with their mouths dropped to the dirt, while some were laughing uncontrollably… but all couldn’t take their eyes off that hillside scene with tombstones of all the area’s hottest race car driver’s numbers on it.

Yes, Frank Law had pulled off one of the best attention grabbers of dirt late model racing in Kentucky. Area hotshots like Jesse Ladd found his #77 on a gray marker, Wayne Coakley’s #33 was listed too. In the true spirit of Scott Bloomquist, even before there was a Scott Bloomquist, a quiet driver from Elkton, Kentucky had created quite a buzz- and hadn’t even pulled his new race car on the track yet.

It was all done in good spirits, nothing but a funny conversation piece, but if memory serves me correct, ole’ Frank had one of his better seasons winning a few races. Maybe it was because he was having a little more fun, maybe it was just luck, or maybe he intimidated his fellow competitors that he was indeed… burying the competition.

Flash ahead some 25 plus years to 2001.

Unloading his Chevy in the pits of Brunswick, Georgia for the opening race in a two week stretch featuring the best late model drivers in the country, another Kentucky driver is set to pull a classic Frank Law on the best of the best.

Thomas Ware’s #w7 comes out of the trailer and their in big bold white letters across the spoiler it reads… The Undertaker. Inside the cockpit right next to the drivers compartment it reads with a little more detail… The Undertaker, Burying the Competition.

“Roby Helm introduced me as the Undertaker at Hav-A-Tampa race last year and we decided to just go with it,” Said Thomas upon preparing for his journey South. “We put it on the spoiler then and it seems the fans really caught on to it. They seem to get a kick out of it.”

The nickname comes from the fact that up on a hill over looking the small town of Cynthiana, sits a nice four car or so family garage that has been filled with race cars, tires and parts; all sitting behind a big nice red bricked, white column… funeral home, Ware’s Funeral Home.

“At first I thought it was a little much,” comments Thomas about putting ‘The Undertaker’ on his race car, “but we went ahead and did it and it’s been a lot of fun. It’s just really taken off.”

The son of a mortician, Thomas Ware is anything but the stereotypical you could imagine. Instead of a gothic, morbid approach, Thomas Ware comes straight out of the World Wrestling Federation mold… and that’s why The Undertaker and Thomas Ware have become a crowd favorite.

“You know my old man kind of thought me dying my hair blonde wasn’t the thing to do,” said Thomas, “but the fans have eat it up! It’s fun, they love it. It’s just something different.”

Different is Thomas Ware.

Twenty-year-old Ware grew up just north of basketball and horse country of Lexington, Kentucky. “I played sports in school and hung out with the crowds.” Thomas said. “I hung with the farmers, the jocks, whoever, didn’t make any difference to me. I was outgoing definitely.”

“I quit playing sports in school my sophomore year cause they didn’t understand my racing and what it took.” Thomas continued. “That was my main love and they didn’t understand how important it was to me and was my main sport.”

“I love racing. It’s all there is to me.” Thomas shared. “We’ve been out here all winter long, keeping late nights in the garage getting ready for this season. I’m more prepared than ever and just can’t wait to get started. I’m type if I can’t give it 110% then there’s no point in doing it at all.”

“I’ve always been the go to the front kind of guy in anything I do.” Thomas viewed. “It’s just me. Always been like that. I look around and see where others aren’t doing all that they could and wonder. You got to be the best you can be.”

That go to the front approach has taken Thomas to two noteworthy races, both concluding season events. “Ya that race at East Bay really was almost like a win.” Thomas said of a near victory in the season ending STARS series event in Tampa. “I think we was one of only a couple of cars that made all three races and we were competitive in that we almost beat (Rick) Eckert that last night.”

Thomas raced and bounced his way on the topside in that go to front approach which almost resulted in the win, until mechanical failure knocked him out from his race long battle for first with Eckert.

It was the kind of run to the front race that gained Thomas a lot of fan support and attention. “We set the new track record down there (which had been held by another Kentucky for several seasons, Jack Boggs) and that had the fans on our side,” Said Thomas. “Then with that run they were really pulling for us.”

That ending to the 2000 season almost mirrored the season before in exciting the crowd as in the historic National 100 at Phenix City, Alabama, in his first appearance put together a fourth place finish in gaining the attention of the crowd. “Ya if we can start out the way we finish, we might have something,” Said Thomas.

Knowing from this past November’s strong performance Thomas is ready for 2001. “I’ve got a great crew now with Eddie (Carrier) and Matt (Angel). We all work good together, there’s no power struggle. It’s like what can we learn from each other.”

“We got Eddie and his son, Eddie Jr., to build our Rockets last year when we first made the swap. We got to talking and asked Eddie if he was interested in going on the road with us.” Remembered Thomas. “They talked it over and he decided it sounded good. So with his experience, we’ve really come together as a team.”

That approach has “The Undertaker” ready for 2001 and is apparent why Tom Ware, the real mortician is backing his son’s effort. “He loves this racing and he’s really gotten in to it,” Thomas said. “I couldn’t do it without him. My family has been great in supporting me.”

Tom Ware was instrumental in getting the team sponsorship from The Home Team Inspection at the conclusion of the 2000 season. “They are with us for the full 2001 season and fit in to our plans.” Thomas said. “There’s no pressure from them, they love racing, the owner races some, so he understands the sport and just wanted to be apart of our team.”

It also doesn’t take long to see where the dyed-hair younger Ware gets his humor and out-going demeanor. After getting choked up when asked to describe himself, Thomas turned to his dad and asked, “How would you describe me?” The elder Ware could only laugh.

“He’s not as wild as he comes off,” shared Matt Angel, the newest team member. “It’s image a lot. He’s really great. This is the most business approach to racing I’ve come across and I think we are gonna have a good year.”

In the world of WWF wrestling and the so-called MTV generation Thomas understands his role. “Look at Scott, he’s known how to play it. He’s got the best selling T-shirts, not because everyone likes him, but because they are something different.” Thomas said. “That’s why I dyed my hair, or the graphics on the car. You gotta do something just a little different to stand out from the crowd."

Standing out in the crowd might be something several fans are doing come the 2001 season if they wear The Undertaker look Thomas has planned for debut during Speedweeks. “We hope to have the new T-shirts for Brunswick and Tampa.” Shared a grinning Thomas. “They got the car on front and on the back of the shirt, it’s got a graveyard with tombstones and all. Eckert’s name is on there, I think Francis is on there… I dunno all the big ones. We just wanted to remind them we are going to bury the competition this year, that’s our plan!”

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