The Mexico Ledger's new sales representative keeps pretty busy. Stephanie Hampton not only spends her days calling on businesses around Audrain County, she also has her hands full renovating Callaway Raceways in Fulton.

Hampton was born and raised in Mexico and has served as the communications coordinator for the Callaway County Chamber of Commerce ("I love marketing," she said). She has been in the newspaper industry before, with the Columbia Tribute and the Fulton Sun.

1. Why buy a racetrack?

Everybody wants the track back. It's been closed four years. There's a demand for it.

2. Do you drive race cars?

I drive like a race car driver. I like watching derbies, tractor pulls, mud runs. But I've never driven a race car.

3. Are you a race fan? Do you sit in front of the TV on Sundays?

No, I'm more of a baseball gal -- and soccer -- on TV. Going to games, football is too cold. I do love basketball.

4. What's it like to be back working in Mexico?

It's a little different. But I love small towns and I'm meeting people I know. I like the fact that this is a community paper.

5. Why take on sales?

I like the personal touch. I like to know clients on a business level and a personal level.

6. Do salespeople have to be talkative?

Yes. And I love to talk a lot. That's part of getting to know each other.

7. It seems like a hard job.

Yes, there are challenging times. And you can feel defeated. But that's part of it and you keep going.

8. Between this and the track, do you find time off?

I go home and jump in the pool. That's my time off. But I really like to stay busy. There's always something to be done.

9. Pretty soon you'll have to winterize the pool.

We need to put it in an enclosed area so I can swim all year long.

10. So work and swimming?

And making crafts. I make wreaths, centerpieces. I like to create.