The 8th Congressional District is shaping up to be a tight race this general election.

Incumbent Republican Robin Hayes is facing two-time challenger Democrat Larry Kissell for the seat representing an area including Cabarrus, Stanly, Anson, Richmond, Montgomery, Hoke, Scotland counties and part of Cumberland County.

Hayes hoping for sixth term

When it comes to NASCAR and elections, Rep. Robin Hayes has a simple philosophy.

"The lap that counts is the last lap," he said.

For five terms, the Republican has represented the 8th District. There's a lot at stake, and Hayes hopes he's in the driver's seat for a lot longer. But with a little more than a week to go, the congressman has shifted his campaign into overdrive.

"It has been very busy," Hayes said. "You miss your family a lot."

His foot-to-the-floor attitude just before the Nov. 4 general election is accelerated by a neck-and-neck race -- two-time challenger Larry Kissell is hoping to spin him out.

The last time the two went head-to-head, Hayes won by only 329 votes.

"In the last election I was on the top of the ticket, down ballot races and people weren't as interested," Hayes said.

Hayes doesn't suspect that will happen again.

He said interest will be high, and straight-party voting won't be as prevalent, leaving his competition vulnerable to Hayes' record and issues.

On education, Hayes supports updating No Child Left Behind. He wants to expand the country's oil-refining capacity. He proposes lowering health care costs by curbing lawsuits and helping small businesses.

He's also in favor of stricter border control and wants to protect agriculture and manufacturing jobs.

He said he's a strong advocate for the military and said national security is a top priority.

"I listen to the people at home and do what they ask me to do," Hayes said.

Kissell focusing on jobs

It's round two for Larry Kissell of the small Montgomery County town of Biscoe, N.C.

"We feel like we have an opportunity to make a difference and that's all we wanted," Kissell said.

He said a fading American dream inspired him to run again for the seat he lost by a slim margin two years ago against 10-year incumbent Hayes.

But Kissell said that's not why he's running.

"The closeness really didn't make that much of a factor in my decision," he said.

He said, however, it was a desire to stop layoffs, especially those hitting rural areas in the 8th District.

"You're twice as likely to be unemployed now as you would have been when Robin Hayes first went to Congress," he said.

Kissell said he and his opponent differ on policy that would stop the bleeding. He wants to pursue sources of renewable energy and plant jobs in the area.

"We've got to make the technological gains and changes to incorporate new ways of energy technology," he said.

He also takes aim at Hayes' support for trade deals like CAFTA and NAFTA.

"No free trade deals until we get good jobs back," he said.

Kissell said he knows job loss firsthand. For 27 years in Biscoe, he was a mill worker. He said a career change was inevitable, so he and lifelong friend Jack Cagle chose education.

"We saw job losses on the horizon, nothing was certain out there and then the school system needed some strong role models," Cagle, now an assistant principal, said.

And fellow teachers said the candidate’s passion to make a change in government developed in the classroom.

"He's very knowledgeable, he knows not only history, but economics, he was an economics major at Wake Forest," Mary Gilman said.

Colleagues said if Kissell wasn't on the campaign trail, he'd be in his classroom. He's known to students as the go-to person for all things civics.

"And just some advice about their future, they would go to Larry," Gilman said.