Question Quest Story and photos by Dwight Drum Web work by Larsen & Drum
Select Racer Quotes
"It’s trial and error, but at the same time, it’s like pulling a pin on a grenade. You know through that process that if one guy makes a mistake, the car’s torn up for the race."
Tony Stewart talking about the need and consequences of practice time.
"It's man verses machine. You've just got to get out there and race the machine."
Marcos Ambrose describing what about racing he brought from Australia that helps him on NASCAR tracks the USA.
"It's like being on a bullet. Being on a bullet you get punched, you get beat up."
Ralf Kelleners, Grand-Am Rolex Series Autometrics Motorsports, describing what it's like inside a race car during a race.
"Slow down and go faster."
Darrell Waltrip talking about overdriving a car into a corner.
"With wins come momentum."
Jeff Gordon talking about winning.
"The wall always wins."
Boris Said talking about any wall you hit in motorsports.
"If you like losing, you will lose."
Crew chief Jimmy Elledge explaining what all champions don't like.
"Winning cures all problems."
Kevin Harvick when asked about winning after of drought of losing.
“If I knew that we’d win the championship every year. There’s no blueprint. Every year is kind of like a snowflake – they’re all different."
Tony Stewart when asked what will it take to win another championship.
"I think we have gotten through those brain dead moments on both our parts. Now we just love to race one another hard and clean."
Jeff Gordon describing racing with Tony Stewart during a joint press conference.
"Your eyes are always searching in front of you, behind you, beside you."
Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy" star and Grand-Am sports car driver talking about what it's like to be inside a race car during a race.
"I was driving the car around the high groove and all of a sudden the wall jumped out and slapped the side of the car."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. talking about a SAFER barrier at Talladega that wasn't aligned with the track all the way around… "So, it kind of jumped out and grabbed me."
"The right place at the right time happens if you let people know that you are there."
Max Papis explaining how a driver moves up to professional levels.
“I want to race and win as much as I want to breath.”
NHRA POWERade three-time Pro Stock Bike drag racing champion Angelle when asked to describe the drive within her.
“Your brain has never really caught up to what you are doing.”
Funny Car drag racer Ron Capps describing a typical 325 mph run.
“The madder I get, the faster I go.”
Martin Truex Jr. when asked about what goes on inside him during a race.
"It's going to be different kind of equipment, different rules. I don't care what year it's in. I think if you're a race driver, you're a race driver."
A.J. Foyt when asked if drivers have changed in his five decades of racing cars.
"After all, you wouldn't take a mule to the Kentucky Derby."
Warren Johnson when asked about his spare race motors.
"I go race to race to race, and that's how I've always done it. I focus as much as I can on the upcoming weekend and when we leave, I start focusing on the next race. Maybe I have a one-track mind."
Jeff Gordon talking about his approach to races.
"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.
"No such thing as bad win or a good loss."
Warren Johnson describing his thoughts about winning.
"Anger Management."
Dale Earnhardt describing the key to winning at the short .533 mile track, Bristol Motor Speedway, Tennessee.
© 2008 Dwight Drum
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