Quotes Page No. Three... More words from great drivers
RACER QUOTES Story and photos by Dwight Drum
© 2000-2007 Dwight Drum Web work by Larsen & Drum
More words from great racers, owners and crew chiefs. All quotes were acquired by RaceTake.com (formerly Zoomster.com) through face-to-face interviews, teleconference questioning, and motorsports press releases.
Answers selected represent the best thoughts of those who dare to push a motor to ultimate speed within the confines of a racetrack. It's no mystery that racers apply gray matter to asphalt and concrete routinely.
Fast thoughts from racers often describe the best about deep speed. The following words are just a few caught when wheels stopped and minds kept rolling.
"The wall always wins."
Boris Said talking about any wall you hit in motorsports.
"Today races are won with what you bring to the track. You have to unload -- when you pull that gun out of that trailer, that thing has got to be loaded with some heavy firing ammunition and it's got to be ready to go. And if it's not, you can't fix it at the racetrack anymore."
Jeff Burton about state-of-the-art environment that has developed in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing.
"I’m just trying not to get run over. That’s number one. Number two is you gotta catch the guy in front of ya.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. talks about racing at Bristol Motor Speedway
“I want to race and win as much as I want to breath.”
NHRA POWERade three-time Pro Stock Bike drag racing champion Angelle Sampey when asked to describe the drive within her.
“The thrill of racing and driving the car out of control with no police chasing you. ”
NASCAR Driver Boris Said when asked what he like best about his job.
For me, there is no such thing as an offseason… thankfully. We’ll continue to run the dirt car whenever we get the chance, and the thing about it is: once the Nextel Cup season is over, it kind of frees up your weekends. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Ken Schrader, NASCAR driver and (any track-any where-any time-driver) comments about the off season for rest.
Each week I just try to focus on a top-10 finish. It’s hard, and I try not to worry about where anybody else is on the track. You just get what you can get.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. about winning a race in the NASCAR Nextel series.
“You’ve got to be on the edge and have a little horseshoe with you every now and then.”
NHRA POWERade Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi when asked about his consistent speed records not being all luck.
“I first raced in 1976." With tongue in cheek he added, “I started last and finished second. That early success was bad because it made me think I could do what I’m doing now.”
Andy Belmont, ARCA and NASCAR driver about his start in racing.
"To win at Bristol, let alone sweep races at Bristol, it’s awesome. I came to a lot of races here when my dad drove them. He made this place magical if you're an Earnhardt fan, and me being one of 'em. I might not have done it like he did it, but that was pretty damn close. He had some great races here. That's why this place is so magical to me. Good Lord. What a great day!"
Dale Earnhardt Jr. about winning at Bristol.
"Other than the sun not being on the track, the Pro Stock cars, that don't have the luxury of the liquid dynamite or belt-driven tunnel ram that the fuel cars enjoy, will have to make the best of whatever air is there.
Warren Johnson, NHRA Pro Stock car legend speaks again.
“I’m ill as a hornet if I don’t run well.”
Bobby Hamilton when asked about the aging of his competitive spirit. (1957-2007)
"If we can send a guy to the moon we can certainly go a quarter of a mile and not get hurt."
Don Prudhomme's statement about drag racing teams keeping up with safer composites in racing tires.
"Funny Car racing at night? There's nothing more spectacular," Force enthused. "The fans love it, but it's fun in the car, too. Big ol' header flames shootin' up taller than the car. It's a rush. You don't need fireworks. We bring our own."
John Force describing NHRA POWERade drag racing at night.
"I'm still playing with Hot Wheels only now mine's a 2,400-pound Mustang."
Eric Medlen (1973-2007) Funny car driver for John Force Racing, thinking about his youth and his opportunity to drive in the NHRA POWERade series. (1973-2007)
"Us winning on fuel mileage is about as likely to happen as a blizzard in the Bahamas."
Rusty Wallace on the prospect of winning a race on fuel mileage.
"I don't think the DuPont crew would mind if they had to push the car to Victory Lane again."
Jeff Gordon about running out of fuel after winning a race.
"The heat of battle is serenity. That racecar is serenity. It's just just another day at the office. That's my dream in life, but as soon as they give you that trophy the gut-ache starts again."
John Force talking about enjoying his many wins.
"I don't have a job. I get paid to play."
Andy Belmont when asked what he liked about his job as a race car driver.
"If it doesn't hurt, it wasn't a big deal."
Michael Waltrip talking about his buddy Kenny Schrader's hard hit and high flames in a crash that didn't produce serious injuries.
"I'm just glad to have a lane."
When Kurt Johnson was told he didn't have lane choice.
"I'm going after Garlits' record. He won the first 50 years. I'm going to win the next 50 years!"
John Force adding his unrelated but great thoughts to a question.
"You drop the ball once in awhile."
Ray Evernham talking about the juggling of drivers, sponsors, and crew for his NASCAR team
"You look in all directions."
NASCAR crew chief Mike Ford when asked if he looked back for more data or ahead for more results
"I don't think a switch ever cuts on"
Elliot Sadler when asked if he knew when he realized he could be a race car driver
"It's hard work. There are no shortcuts, unless you're rich."
Tommie Johnson Jr. , Funny Car drag racer when asked if he could describe the drive within him?
"There's a shaft of light and then there's the shaft."
Fred Hahn, Pro Mod drag racer, when asked if a shaft of light ever brightened his path to success.
Robert Yates, NASCAR car owner
"A lot of racers I know want the armored car to back up to the shop, but they forget you've got to earn what's in the truck."
Andy Belmont when about obtaining sponsorships for his ARCA racing team.
"If you wake up every morning not wanting to learn something you might as well quit this business."
Tommy Baldwin, Jr when asked if the decision making process of a crew chief is an ongoing learning experience
"It's like having a big tractor sitting on top of your shoulder."
Robbie Loomis when asked what it making pit calls on the pit box goes go so fast that you don't feel it.
"It depends on what you hit."
Jimmie Johnson when what hurts most after a race?
"No such thing as bad win or a good loss."
Warren Johnson describing his thoughts about winning.
"It's a constant thing. If we were perfect why would we ever make a change during a race."
NASCAR Crew Chief James Ince about handling and tire adjustments during a race
"This is the first race of the rest of the season. Daytona is a great place to start the second half of each year too. It's kind of where you go to 'renew' yourself."
Jeremy Mayfield talking about heading into Daytona for the Pepsi 400.
"I guess I'd rather be lucky than good."
Mark Martin speaking about racing and fortuitous rain delays.
"Stock cars, Indy cars, school buses-and that would be a heck of a place for a school bus race-no matter what they run there, it's going to be big. Everybody's heard of Indy."
Kyle Petty describing Indianapolis.
"I'm not a big believer in the supernatural, but if there's any place on earth that has ghosts, it's Darlington."
John Andretti describing the difficult egg-shape track, Darlington Raceway, South Carolina
"Anger Management."
Dale Earnhardt describing the key to winning at the short .533 mile track, Bristol Motor Speedway, Tennessee.
"If you think, you lose."
John Force describing the electronic Christmas tree in NHRA drag racing.
"Don't ever bet on a drag race."
Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme when asked about a bad run that didn't work out as planned.
"After all, you wouldn't take a mule to the Kentucky Derby."
Warren Johnson when asked about his spare race motors.
"It's a kind of a verbal agreement. He tells me what to do, and I do it."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaking of the driver/ owner relationship and no formal contract with Dale Earnhardt Sr. in 2000
"Once you try to do more than your equipment is capable of doing you get yourself in trouble and you start wrecking."
Dale Jarrett…speaking about driving and the mechanics of a race car.
"I felt like I got drop-kicked a few times."
Scott Pruett describing his first short-track race at Martinsville, Virginia.
"If you have a goal or dream, go for it. Do everything to get there before life passes you by."
George Marnell when asked for additional comments.
"There's two ways to be successful; with youth and enthusiasm or age and treachery."
Warren Johnson speaking about his good luck and son Kurt Johnson's bad luck when they had to race each other.
"We've made plenty of deposits into the luck bank, now it's time for a withdrawal."
Top Fuel Driver Gary Scelzi speaking about luck.
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