GLADEVILLE, Tenn. -- Nights are the hardest for Jason Keller.

The NASCAR Busch Series driver finishes his work at the track each weekend by heading to his motor home in the infield. He phones home to Greenville, S.C., and tells 5-year-old son Joe and 3-year-old daughter Jade good night.

	Jason Keller is one of the few drivers in the Busch Series who is a threat to win each and every race.

Then he's all alone.

"That motor home can get really, really big when you're by yourself. Really, really lonely," Keller said.

Keller doesn't like being alone. A man who grew up accompanying his father to motorcycle tracks in South Carolina before getting behind the wheel himself, he's happier with his family. Having his wife, children and his father close by allows him to do what he does best -- drive fast.

"He's always been a real family-oriented person," said crew chief Steve Addington, who's worked with him for most of the past 15 years. "And he's real intense about his racing."

Keller, 31, is poised for his best season since joining the Busch Series full time in 1994. He ranks third in the points race after his third finish in the top five this season to go with a victory at Rockingham.

Credit familiarity for a driver who finished second in the Busch title race in 2000 and third in 2001. He is competing for ppc Racing for a second straight season with the same crew chief, team and car make.

"It's the best chance I've ever had," Keller said.

"The more you can keep the same, the better off you're going to be to take advantage of it. It probably puts a lot more pressure on myself. I feel a lot more comfortable behind the wheel than I ever have."

Keller has been at home behind the wheel since racing his first go-kart at age 9. His father, Joe, spent his life racing motorcycles and had hoped his son would follow him when he gave him a small motorcycle when he was 3. Jason was riding without training wheels by age 4.

He won go-karting championships in 1984 and 1985, then moved to dirt tracks. That's where he hooked up with Addington.

He partnered with his father on Keller and Kel Racing and moved up through the ranks before joining the Busch Series full time in 1994. He won his first Busch race at Indianapolis in 1995 but decided to sell the team after the 1997 season to Greg Pollex.

It wasn't an easy decision, but Joe Keller said it has turned out for the best.

"It was good for both of us. He's my best buddy, and I enjoy watching him. I'll be cheering, and I hope I cheer him in Winston Cup," Joe Keller said.

Jason Keller keeps himself under control on the track, able to race side-by-side someone without touching. He picks his spots to be aggressive, unless he gets angry.

It's a combination that keeps the equipment in good shape, but can be frustrating to Addington.

"I've thought about reaching in and slapping him sometimes to make him mad. But no. He's going to be himself," Addington said with a laugh. "That's what makes everything work on this race team. Everyone's got their own personality, and all the guys accept everyone else's personalities."

For Keller, it means putting family first, taking his son to school, going to T-ball games and playing on the floor with his daughter. His father shows up to cheer him whenever possible, while his wife stays at home in Greenville, S.C., where his son began kindergarten last fall.

He even took his Rockingham trophy to school for show and tell earlier this year, although he drew the line at letting the children touch it.

"I was still pretty proud of it and didn't want them to tear it up," he said.

Keller has the same birthday as his son, and there will be a big horseback-riding party on April 23 with 21 kindergartners

During the summer, Deborah will join him with the children, and the whole family will be in the motor home. It's a tradition Keller hopes will continue whether he stays in the Busch Series or moves up to Winston Cup -- at least as long as the kids think living in a motor home is cool.

"When they're there, it can get really small. It's a great place to spend time because you can't get away from each other. It's closeness. I'm very blessed," Keller said.