Question Quest Story and photos by Dwight Drum
© 2007 Dwight Drum Web work by Larsen & Drum
Daytona Greats Event: 2007 Daytona Pepsi 400
Nearly every NASCAR driver remembers driving through the Turn 4 Daytona tunnel on their way to their first race at the renowned facility. Most watched races in the stands as kids. That tunnel is a huge pathway from their past to their fast future.
Everything seems larger at Daytona International Speedway. At 2.5 miles the track is longer than almost all race tracks and with its years of Daytona 500 history edging up on 50, DIS is heading for a gala celebration in 2008. Daytona has an aura that seems to permeate the atmosphere of racing events and other programs. Even an empty DIS commands respect.
While the drivers aren't any taller at DIS past winners become a part of racing history and present contenders dig deep and dream big. A win at Daytona goes straight to the top of a speedy resume.
The first three drivers featured here won the Daytona 500 and the four standouts joining them have a win at DIS as one of their top goals. Past accomplishments are a treasured ticket through the DIS tunnel. Current thoughts from drivers about racing reveal mindsets required to achieve an elusive win.
"I can't go out there and make a 20th place car a winning car."
Jeff Gordon
"Winning cures all problems."
Kevin Harvick
"It's not always going to be like that."
Dale Jarrett
"It's too quick of pace to let last week affect this week."
Carl Edwards
"Performance is what makes momentum and momentum can't make performance."
Jeff Burton
"That's what got us here and that's what's going to keep us here."
Martin Truex Jr.
"I think fans understand a lot about what we do."
Kasey Kahne
Daytona Greats Two Question Quest
Reporter Dwight Drum was among many members of the eager media but was able to ask at least two questions to many of the world's greatest drivers.
Dale Jarrett
You've had momentum a lot in the past. Is it as difficult to retrieve as it is to achieve?
"I think it's more difficult to retrieve. I think you get yourself in position that you feel like you can gain momentum through a lot of good effort, a lot of hard work but getting to that point is the most difficult part of it. Retrieving it is very, very difficult."
Is there a best way to handle success? You've had a lot of it.
"Yeah, just realize that one day that it's not always going to be like that. This business makes you have to live on an even keel as much as you possible can, because you realize there is going to be a lot of success hopefully for you. Along with that success there are going to days and times and years that things aren't quite good. Enjoy the success, because it's not always going to be there."
Jeff Gordon
Bobby Allison said that you are one of the best or the best of current drivers among other reasons besides driving, because you don't blame anybody and you don't take credit. Your comment on that.
"I take that as a huge compliment especially coming from Bobby. You know I think you've got to give credit where credit is due and I think there is a tremendous amount of talent in this garage area. But it's the total team effort that wins races on a consistent basis and wins championships. Throughout my career one thing that I've been very fortunate is to be get behind the wheel of good race cars and good teams.
"I'm going to give myself credit. I know I play a part in it and if I didn't belong here I wouldn't be here. But I know I can't go out there and make a 20th place car a winning car. It's not possible and I don't think any driver can do that. But if you are a good driver and you work with your team like Bobby did, you're going to be successful. I think you got to learn from those guys that were humble and appreciative. That's my style."
Momentum is so difficult to achieve and retrieve. Your comment on that.
Momentum is extremely hard to get, chemistry is hard to get as well as something that we work very hard at. I think that you can't predict if it's going to happen on its own. We had it with Ray Evernham. We had it at times with Robbie Loomis but I think that's one thing I see with Steve Latarte, he came in and instantly created chemistry and momentum. We've been building on it ever since he became my crew chief at the end of 2005 and we've been getting better and better ever since."
Kevin Harvick
Focus can be so important. Did you bring that with you or acquire it along the way?
"It's just something I've always been able to do is focus on what you're doing. Just kind of block anything out. I wrestled in high school and I think that helps you focus on things when you're hurt or when you're not feeling well or something like that. You still have to go out and do what you do. I think that helps."
Is it as difficult to retrieve momentum as it is to achieve it?
"Oh yeah. Any time you have momentum you definitely want to hang on to it was long as you can. You ride that wave as long as you can. It seems like once you don't have momentum it's hard to make everything go right even when you have good cars. It's kind of like what we were at the beginning. It seems like the last month and a half or so we've been able to kind of gain momentum back and keep performance levels at what it needs to be and have things go our way."
Carl Edwards
Is there any best way to handle frustration?
"You just have to go on. You have to fix the problem and move on. You can't let things bother you. It's too quick of pace to let last week affect this week."
Is there a best way to handle success?
"You just have to keep doing what you're doing. You can't rest on any laurels. You gotta just keep digging."
Jeff Burton
Momentum is very important. Is it more difficult to achieve momentum or retrieve it?
"I think momentum is highly - momentum and confidence are highly overused phrases in our sport. Confidence and momentum are built lap for lap in our sport not week to week. That's my opinion. Things move quickly. Things change quickly. If you caught up in what you did last week then you're more into that than what you're going to do this week. Whatever happens, it happens. You have to learn from it. You have to move forward. You have to use it as a learning experience, but when it's over you've got to go to the next thing.
"Momentum is created because your car is fast enough to make things happen. Things are going well for you and you're making things happen. When you aren't doing those things, you can't build momentum because you're not making it happen. It's a chicken and the egg thing. Performance is what makes momentum and momentum can't make performance. That's my opinion."
Focus is so important. Did you acquire that or bring it with you?
"No. Everybody is different. For me focus has been a learned thing. I've learned how to focus on what I need to focus on at the right time. I've learned I don't always have to focus on something when it doesn't need my focus. You can't focus on everything and you can't mentally do everything. You got to do what is important. You got to do what you need to do at that moment. If you try to do too much you can't focus because you're trying to do too much. So for me it's been a learned thing. I had to learn that's it's OK not to only race. I had to learn that to not be thinking about this 24/7 isn't a crime. I've had to learn that. For me I've learned the art of focus. I've learned the art of being in the moment at the moment rather than being in the moment before the moment. I've had to learn that."
Martin Truex Jr.
Do you see yourself as a leader?
"I think I can be. I'm pretty easy to get along with. I enjoy working with all the guys we've got around me. That's really all it takes, good communications, being a key player and not being out for your self. I think I've got what it takes."
Your relaxed attitude going forward, do you think you'll be able to maintain it?
"I think so. I can't say enough about all these guys on this team. The job they have been doing. That's what got us here and that's what's going to keep us here, I think. I'm just having a lot of fun and we'll just let it roll and see what happens."
Kasey Kahne
Is there any best way to handle the ups and downs in a season?
"Just how we're doing it. We're catching up. We're working together. We're perfectly fine. I don't want myself to go to another team. I don't want to change our engineers around. I just want to keep the thing going. We can all do it. We've done it together before. It's my hope to get back on track. Working together and communicating doing the things that we do each week. It's going to work at some point."
What do you think fans most misunderstand about your job?
"I think fans understand a lot about what we do. I think they understand a lot about what goes on in NASCAR and what's going on with the Car of Tomorrow and each different track. I think the fans definitely know what they're watching and who they're watching."
Disclaimer: NASCAR® 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 NASCAR® website is NASCAR ONLINE® at: www.nascar.com.