From rock bottom, Caisse is building his career back (cont'd)

Hattori formed Hattori Racing Enterprises out of his love for American auto racing and is working with Germain Racing to develop young racing talent, sharing with HRE the race team's championship-winning experience and long-standing relationship with Toyota.

"I couldn't believe it," Caisse said. "I more or less walked into my job interview."

Right away, Caisse was set to make some starts in the ARCA Series running Hattori's No. 01 Camry. This season he has made four starts producing one pole at Kentucky Speedway and a second-place finish at the same track.

"We've made a statement but we also have some work to do at some tracks we could've won. But we either lost breaks or were taken out," Caisse said.

Meanwhile, Caisse is also preparing for his Craftsman Truck Series debut with Germain Racing. He toils away in the shop through the week and then goes on the road with the crew and championship driver Todd Bodine to glean pertinent information as well as spot for driver Justin Marks in the No. 9 Toyota.

"I'm just excited to have the opportunity," Caisse said. "I've had teams talk to me and I've even tested for [Roush Fenway Racing] and had meetings with Richard Childress Racing, but I have a lot of trust and respect for Germain Racing."

Caisse's path to NASCAR reads like any other young driver's path.

He came from years of go-kart championships and a successful career of Hobby Stocks and Late Model racing as a teenager at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire. He also ran NASCAR's Modified Series in 2004 and with team owner Art Barry won a pole and drove in the NASCAR's Busch North Series.

In addition to his driving talent, Caisse has a special place in his heart for the sea. He grew up in New Hampshire but was born in Massachusetts.

During the summer, he was a first mate on a tuna boat salt water fishing for 1,200-pound blue fin fish.

At 16 years old, he worked about 250 miles off the coast in Newburyport, Mass. Caisse would stand in a 75-foot tower and spot fish with binoculars and radio specific coordinates to the captain below. It was a stark contrast from life today outside of Mooresville, N.C.

His older sister Danielle, 24, is moving to his new NASCAR town in the fall.

The pair bought a three-bedroom home and together will face whatever hurdles life brings. And Caisse will teach his sister what he's learned about life on a budget.

"I now know the value of a dollar," he said, "especially if and when you find yourself with only 86 of them left."