Meet the "Biggest Little Kid in the Pits" Name: Norman D. McKay Jr. (Bud) Age: 49 Homeport: Beautiful -- Belfair, Wash. Occupation: Public Affairs Specialist, primarily working community relations for the 62nd Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wash.; also retired Public Affairs Superintendent for the 446th Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, United States Air Force Reserve. Awards: 2006, 2007, 2008 -- 8-cylinder Lighter-Than-LIGHTS High Points Champion. 2008 -- Elected TIRA commodore 2007 -- TIRA Sportsman of the Year

Bud McKay is the primary-owner and driver of Namron Racing Team's 5-Litre hydroplane. Bud, among the world's tallest hydroplane drivers at 6-foot-5, has held a life-long passion for hydroplanes. He spent 1984 on the limited hydroplane circuit as a crew member for limited hydroplane veteran the late Jack Philpott in the 2.5 Litre modified's Voodoo VI. Occasionally, Bud helped another Seattle hydroplane veteran, Bud Burns in the then, 5-Litre (now National Modified class) Shady Lady IV. After learning the ropes of hydroplane racing from these two, long-time and successful racers, Bud decided that he would join the world of hydroplane racing and bought a 2.5 Litre stock hydroplane at the end of the 1984 season. But the boat had to be sold as Bud entered the active-duty Air Force in 1985. Bud made a career as a journalist for the Air Force. After serving six years on active duty, Bud joined the Air Force Reserve at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., in 1991. He retired from the Air Force Reserve in August 2005. He continues to work for the Air Force as a civilian at McChord. He's earned more than 50 major public affairs awards including four Thomas Jefferson awards -- the highest news writing award for the entire Department of Defense.

For the Air Force Reserve, Bud wrote a couple of stories about cancer-related topics. Bud wrote all of the news releases about the emergency airdrop of medical supplies for a doctor at the South Pole who was isolated and self diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. In 2003, Bud meet a young woman who was discovered she had cervical cancer when she was pregnant and risked her own life by delaying any treatment until after the baby was born.

You'll notice Namron Racing Team features the MIA/POW symbol on the hull. Bud's passion for Missing in Action Americans from Southeast Asia started in 1995 when he went on his first repatriation mission into Hanoi, Vietnam, to return the remains of 10 missing American servicemen to their familiy. In 2001, Bud returned to Vietnam and helped deliver a search and recovery team to Hanoi. In 2004, Bud was invited by the family members of Col. Lester Holmes, listed as MIA since 1967, to cover the repatriation and burial services after Colonel Holmes' remains were identified and returned to the family for burial. Click here to read the story from the Air Force Reserve Command's official magazine -- Citizen Airman. Bud wrote another MIA-related story about a member from McChord's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight who left March 13, 2005, for North Korea to help in the search of MIA American servicemen. Click here to read the national story on the Air Force Reserve Command's offical website.

Throughout his Air Force career, Bud has tried to keep his hands in hydroplane racing. From 1992 through 1995, Bud was a member of the Tacoma Inboard Racing Association and editor of its newsletter. Finally in the winter of 2004, Bud bought his second limited hydroplane and started the Namron Racing Team.

"For me, the goal for the team is not to set the world on fire," Bud said. "I want to be competitive and field a first-class and professional team. More than anything, I just want to be an ambassador for what has to be the most beautiful motor sports event in the world - hydroplane racing."