Motorsports Owners and CEOS
Champion Traits Quest
Two active seasons in top sanctions gathering nearly 150 answers from highly skilled motorsports racers to one champion-traits question has produced many thoughts and no simple explanation.
Jack Roush Chip Ganassi Richard Childress Bob Germain
Motorsports Owners & CEOS
The basis behind the single question is looking for a way to measure the complex human ingredients it takes to produce a top sanction champion. If found there would be a mad rush to buy the formula, especially among owners. As we know life and science works in other ways.
That knowledge didn't stop the question or the answers.
Tony George Don Schumacher Tom Compton George Bryce
One question never needs asking. It takes a very brave person to have the fire to fly on a solid racetrack. The question asked results in many reasons in many minds. The only consolation to this dedicated question quest is the more answers, the better.
THE QUESTION: Do you think that champions have common traits and abilities? If so, what are they?
Jack Roush (Roush Racing)
"Champions have got to be gun fighters. Champions have got to be conservative in a way. Champions have got to have the experience and the wisdom and the talent to be able to place the deal. There's a lot of talented and able people out there to win championships.
"Championships and things that bring people together are a part of an elite group that develops over time to be a ferocious and vital influence."
Chip Ganassi (Ganassi Racing)
"They are certainly in a class of their own. It's one thing to have a race winner, but it's another to have a champion. No question about that. Now, champions have a lot of traits and I'll try to think of some off the top of my head. I mean it would be more like a champion sees things in a sport that normal people don't see. They see things around them. They have an awareness and a vision and sight that normal athletes don't possess."Tom Compton (CEO NHRA)
Do champions have common traits and abilities and if so could you identify a few? "I think one the first things a champion has is stick-to-it-tive-ness. Through thick or thin they got to keep persevering. They got to love it enough to do that. A lot of people don't have that. It takes a lot of drive, motivation and determination to stick with something you love until you're successful. Not every one is successful right out of the gate. I think that's one of the great points of and difference between a champion and those that aren't champions."Bob Germain (Germain Racing)
Germain Racing
"For the drivers, you've got to have a lot of heart. That's the thing I like about Todd (Bodine). He drives with so much heart. We don't have a lot of experience with a lot of other drivers, but the difference between Todd is just the heart that he drives with and the determination. The guy just will not go backwards under any circumstances. I think this year for us and Todd was that we tried to make him really at home on our team.
"We felt like he was really a part of our family. We told him at the beginning of the season, we split up for a while and got back together, I told Todd if there was anything at all that we could for you to make your life better in any way, personally or professionally you let us know what it is. We want you to come to the track and be as happy in your life as possible. I think it really struck a cord with him, because he had been with a lot of owners that made promises to him that ended up not happening.
"When we told him that and we did quite a few things over and above just giving him a paycheck to make his life better. I think he really felt a part of the team, part of the family and I think it helped give him a little more incentive to win the championship, not just for his family but for our family and for the rest of the guys on our team."
Tony George (Indianapolis Speedway)
Do open-wheel champions and motorsports champions have common traits and abilities, and if so could you identify a few? "Ultra-competitive."Michael Shank: (Shank Racing)
Owner: Michael Shank Racing Lexus Riley drivers Do Champions have common traits and abilities and if so could you identify a few? "I think the biggest thing is confidence. They have confidence. Even though Sam Hornish Jr. is the best at what he does. In his case in particular, he just comes out and does it. Same with Helio (Castroneves), same with A.J. (Almindinger). I think it's confidence, knowing their abilities. They know it's going to take me 10 laps around Daytona and I'll be right up to speed. "Don Schumacher (Schumacher Racing)
Do champions have common traits and abilities and if so could you identify a few? "The common trait and abilities that they have is they are driven that they give 150 percent. Beyond that everyone of them is a very individual character that has a very strong personality and beliefs. That's what makes champions."George Bryce (Star Racing)
"Absolutely they have common traits and abilities. You don't see common people become champions, you see uncommon people become champions. The unique ability to focus on the job at hand is paramount. A desire to be better than the people who sit on couches and criticize everything they do. The team, the support team, support in the family, support in the group, support from the company. Every single champion has an outstanding support group."Disclaimer: NASCARŽ is a registered trademark owned and controlled by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. Nextel Cup and Sprint Cup are registered trademarks. The operators of this site are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NASCAR organization. The Official NASCARŽ website is NASCAR ONLINEŽ at: www.nascar.com.