When Bruce Quigley of Independence Township was looking through the newspaper, he came across an ad for an ‘Irwin’s Ultimate Tradesman? competition at Performance Line Tool Center in Waterford.
‘I looked at my wife and said ‘I can do that,?? said Quigley.
He almost forgot about it, remembering the day of, but managed to ‘squeak in? with a time of 26.7 seconds. In that time, he had to accurately measure, mark, and drill a piece of wood.
To advance to the regional round, Quigley had to make the top 10 ? his finish was good for 10th place. His winnings included a bag of tools and an Irwin Tools racing jacket.
At the regional championship, Sept. 2 in Fontana, Calif., he won again, this time earning a check for $10,000 and an official pit crew shirt.
‘I had a real good time out in Fontana,? said Quigley. ‘I was actually kind of surprised (that I won) with my time being as high as it was. I didn’t think I was going to win it, but it worked out that way. I was quite excited and still am.?
For a long time, it didn’t even feel like he had won, but now it’s starting to, he said.
‘I am nervous already for the November competition,? he said. ‘That was the biggest thing hurting me out there, was my nerves. I was shaking so bad when I was trying to do this stuff.?
However, Quigley was still able to pull off a time of 22.16 seconds.
‘It’s all different when the pressure is on you and you have a couple hundred people staring at you,? he said.
Quigley said he is practicing with at least two boards a day as he prepares for the final round in Phoenix, Ariz.
‘It will be exciting, because there are only three guys in the next round,? he said.
The winner of the next round will get an Irwin-branded Ford F-150 truck customized by Roush Performance, a barbecue in their home with NASCAR star Jamie McMurray, and a chance to win up to $1.26 million in prizes.
‘There are 26 Irwin tool bags to choose from: 12 of them have $10,000; 13 of them have $20,000, and one of them has $1.26 million,? said Quigley. ‘So you know you can go home with at least an extra $10,000.?
He really hopes to win, but even if he doesn’t, he still enjoyed the ride.
‘Even if you don’t win, you get to go to race and have a good time,? he said. ‘There is a lot more at stake in this one. Either way, win or lose, it’s still been a heck of a ride.?
Quigley said that he is not new to Irwin tools.
‘I have been using Irwin tools for years,? he said. ‘I have been in the building trades for 20 years plus.?
When not working or competing in tool contests, Quigley said he enjoys jet skiiing, hunting, and spending time with his wife, Amy, and two sons Kyle, 20, and Ben, 13, which is most important.
‘I like my simple life,? he said.