Champions Traits Story and photos by Dwight Drum
© 2004-7 Dwight Drum Web work by Larsen & Drum
ARCA RE/MAX Champions & Contenders
Andy Hillenburg Andy Belmont Dan Radebaugh Erin Crocker Chad McCumbee
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.
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. As we know life and science works in other ways.
That knowledge didn't stop the question or the answers.
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 quest is the more answers, the better.
That said, smart drivers have a bright way of defining what it takes to be the best. Their thoughts are worthy of attention.
Michelle Theriault Gabi DeCarlo Josh Wise Keven Wood
"I think any champion probably starts the day's first step in the morning knowing he is a champion."
Bobby Gerhart
"I think the most common thread is the intensity level."
Andy Belmont
"Some people just have that little bit of extra drive to get it done."
Josh Wise
"They've got determination. They've got passion."
Erin Crocker
"There are guys that haven't been in the situation to capitalize on those traits."
Andy Hillenburg
"They don't let things faze them."
Kevin Wood
"It's one big mind game."
Michelle Theriault
"They make good decisions on the track and off the track."
Don Radebaugh
"I think people who have the natural ability plus the learned ability are the champions."
Chad McCumbee
THE QUESTION: Do champions have common traits and abilites and if so could you identify a few?
Don Radebaugh ARCA RE/MAX PR/Media Director
"I think champions are very intelligent people. I think the very best race car drivers are the most intelligent race car drivers. They make good decisions on the track and off the track. One of the reasons that Frank Kimmel is so good at being a champion is that he is a very talented race car driver and so knowledgeable about the car. He's also very hands-on. So often when you've got a guy inside the hood working or underneath the car, his legs are sticking out. He works on that car right along side the rest of the crew. I think that adds to what they do. I suppose there are certain traits and you have to line them up, smart, hard-working and talented. Another thing is stick-to-it and never say never, stay up all night, whatever it takes to be one."
Veteran Drivers
Andy Hillenburg
"I think that you obviously have the will to win in all of them and to do better. There are guys that aren't champions that have that same trait, but yeah I would definitely say so. There are guys that haven't been in the situation to capitalize on those traits. I don't want to say being an ARCA champion we would be a breed apart. Definitely that's not the case. I would say the will to succeed is a little stronger probably."
Andy Belmont
"Oh,yeah. I think the most common thread is the intensity level. You can't do this stuff and be a champion if you're not really serious about what you do and focus. Lots of guys that are champions are accused of being asses, because they're just so focused on their job. People misunderstand that whole thing. People misunderstood Kulwicki because he was just so focused. I think that's the biggest thing. Them guys don't let stuff get in their way. This sport is full of adversity and you can complain about everything every day in racing. The guys that are winners, they don't complain, they just get the job done."
Youthful Drivers
Michael Faulk
"I feel like they do. You've got to be able to endure adverse conditions and you've got to be able to adapt to the situation given to you at any certain time. You don't always drive the best car. You aren't always going to be on the pole. You just got to basically work with it with the hand you're dealt and make the best out of it. I think Tony Stewart and guys like that's what they have done. They haven't always had the best opportunities, but they've made the best out of them when they could. I think to be a champion it takes a lot more than just having money or having a good car or having a good team. You've got to have a heart. That's what I think all these guys have in common."
Erin Crocker
"I think for sure they do. They've got determination. They've got passion. I think they all have it. Whatever the sport, business, music or whatever, every one of them has traits in common."
Michelle Theriault
"To me what makes a better driver is that it's all in your mind. It's one big mind game. The person that tells their brain to keep in the gas that one millisecond farther is going to be faster. What it all boils down to is it's a mind game and you just got to have the guts and trust the car, trust yourself to do it. Whoever has the most trust in their car and their team will come out at the top usually."
Chad McCumbee
"I think growing up when you're driving stock cars or race cars your hand-eye-foot coordination is huge. I think that some people have a lot of natural ability. I think you can also have learned ability. I think people who have the natural ability plus the learned ability are the champions. I think they are the ones that are successful. You've got a lot of different in this sport, a lot of different people from different backgrounds. It shows you there is a wide variety of talent out there."
Josh Wise
"Oh man. I think, I don't know. I guess I've never really tried to analyze that. I think that a common trait would just be the drive to want to win or try to be successful. Some people just have that little bit of extra drive to get it done."
Gabi DiCarlo
"Oh yeah, definitely. The first is probably competitive and confidence is huge. That's what I've been learning from these guys. They know they can run with these guys. They have faith in their equipment and faith in their crew. I think that's the biggest thing."
Keven Wood
"If you have a good car and a good team that always helps, but you've still got to have a driver there to do it. Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, you can figure out there they are real drivers. They do it when it counts. They can hold their own. They can back up their performance week in and week out. They don't let things faze them. Something gets to them they can go right back up front and make up for it. I think you can identify them pretty easily."