Monday Morning Crew Chief
Written by Jonathan Ingram · January 28, 2008
Top Ten Quotes From The NASCAR Media Tour: ‘If it gets me into the Super Bowl, I’ll ride a camel.’
1. “Part of the driver I am today was shaped by Dale Earnhardt’s hands — or fenders.”
Mark Martin, who now drives for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
2. “Level Cross. That’s home. We’ve been there for 60 years. It’s tough to move. We feel like this is the first step to getting back to where we need to be.”
Richard Petty on the move to Mooresville, N.C. by Petty Enterprises, where the team now occupies the space previously owned by Robert Yates.
3. “I used to be the token guy on this team. Now Chip Ganassi’s the token guy.”
Felix Sabates, a Cuban-American, on the international driving line-up employed by team co-owner Chip Ganassi that includes Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia and Dario Franchitti of Scotland.
4. “Do you know anybody who built a home nearby that didn’t know there was a speedway here?”
Bruton Smith, owner of the Lowe’s Motor Speedway, during the announcement of his new NHRA drag strip, which was delayed by protests over noise by area residents.
5. “The Car of Tomorrow is just a different body style. I used to drive a Dodge Magnum. That thing was so big it wouldn’t even fit on this stage I’m sitting on. Several years ago we had some drivers killed — my son Adam, Kenny Irwin, Tony Roper and Dale Earnhardt — and there was a huge uproar. Everybody’s forgotten about it because the sport has gotten safer. We need to continue to focus on safety.”
Kyle Petty on the Car of Tomorrow.
6. “Last year when we started we made changes of 25 pounds in the springs. Now we’re making changes of 100 pounds and I can still drive it. If he (Crew Chief Donnie Wingo) makes a 200-pound change, I’m going to get out of the car and kill him.”
Juan Pablo Montoya, Sprint Cup rookie of the year last season, whose joking threat to “keel” his crew chief drew a round of laughter from journalists.
7. “Since the house was right next door, Richard used to go back to the house and lie down to rest during lunch while we played football. One day I think(wife) Lynda told him to get out and play football with us. We threw Richard a pass and he broke his finger and couldn’t drive. Marvin Panch had to drive six races for us that year. When we got to Bristol, people were saying, ‘Where’s that football star of yours?’”
Dale Inman, crew chief for Richard Petty’s seven championships, on the football games played by the Petty Enterprises crew in the front yard of the Petty home.
8. “There’s a reason why Ferrari paid Michael Schumacher as much money as they did. I was available for much less.”
Ken Howes, vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports, commenting on whether drivers are more important due to the limited choices of chassis adjustments on the Car of Tomorrow.
9. “I think NASCAR finally figured out they’re a fiddle not a violin. It’s the same instrument but it’s a matter of perception. After Dale Earnhardt died, a lot of people took this thing the wrong way. I’m glad everybody’s seen that.”
H.A. Wheeler, president of the Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
10. “I think they ought to let the drivers express themselves. I think they ought to let them fight when they get out of the cars as long as they’re not doing it in the cars.”
Rick Hendrick, the winningest car owner in NASCAR among current teams.
11. (Bonus) “If it gets me into the Super Bowl, I’ll ride a camel.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on making a TV ad for new sponsor Pepsi, which is slated to appear during the Super Bowl.
Jonathan Ingram can be reached at jonathan@jingrambooks.com
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re: Hendricks let them fight out of the cars not in them. you know who pays that bill.
Please correct the following from “Juan Pablo Montoya of Columbia and ” to “Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia” Pretty simple mistake but you wouldn’t want to be called “Jonathan Ingram from the Onited Stuts” but Jonathan Ingram from the United States. Thank you for undrestanding.