Crew Chiefs and Crew
Bill Wilburn Shane Wilson Lance Munksgard Scott Munksgard
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.
No driver wins anything without a crew and often their work and thoughts at least equal to drvier efforts.
Bill Wilburn, crew chief Kyle Petty
"I think all champions have one trait and that's they don't like to lose. But they're not afraid to lose. They don't like it, but I always say this, the answer is no if you don't ask, you're never going to win if you don't try and all this type stuff. I look at Richard Petty as being the most level, even, type personality I've ever met in my life. I think the reason he won 200 races is because he was always looking ahead, always had a good attitude, and he always made the best of what he had at the time. I think all champions do that. Some are more volatile than others. Some are more outspoken. Some are more brash. Look at Terry Labonte verses Tony Stewart. There's two champions that are totally opposite. But they both are here to do one thing and that's win. They had the resolve to stay after it through good and bad. I think that's the one trait is that they don't like to lose and they don't quit."
Shane Wilson, crew chief Kevin Harvick Busch Car
"Yeah. To be a champion in NASCAR one of the things you've got to be is confident. Basically the whole team needs to be confident and that's hard to get. We gained confidence as the year went on last year and we were very dominant at the end because we were very confident in all of abilities from driver on to the crew chief, crew chief on the crew. It all kind of feeds on each other. Just like good basketball teams and good baseball teams."
Lance Munksgard, Pit Crew Coach
"I believe they do have common traits. I think a lot of it has to do with their drive and their leadership. It's their ability to lead their teams into championship games or high stake races that put them into the next level. I think there are a lot of common traits that they have and the biggest thing is the drive that they have to get themselves there and also to lead their team to that next position."
Scott Munksgard, Spring Specialist
"I believe so. Actually I'm sure they do. It's not only an ability in anything to do with a champion of any sorts. Obviously -- their natural ability to do what they do. Their desire to do what they do. Their ability to handle difficult times as well as good times. A lot of this is mental what we do. Trying to keep the hills and valleys straight, so you don't let your bad weekends hurt your good weekends. I think champions make into OK weekends. Their ability to keep their crew members calm even upbeat maybe had they not run as well as they needed to. To make those people work better or harder for them. I think you see that in all of them. It's their personality and desire to do what they do not only with the drivers but with the crew guys. These guys on the team have as much desire to do this as anybody else or they wouldn't be here. Good traits."
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