What kind of crew chief would former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith have made?
“He would have been an excellent crew chief when you really think about it. He’s obviously very tactical, very patient and able to influence everyone around him. That’s what a crew chief has to be able to do. He needs to keep his cool and relate that calm confidence when times get tough. Dean Smith could exude that confidence on the people around him.” You have become a NASCAR insider. But doesn’t a 7-foot black guy sometimes feel like an outsider in the garage? “Absolutely. I’m a sore thumb sticking out around most NASCAR garages or tracks or meetings that I go to. But that’s got to change. As the sport continues to evolve, with (TV) ratings that have been tremendous — with almost no equal over the last several years — the only way left for it growth-wise is to become more inclusive. We have to figure out a strategy to make that happen.” Are you part of the strategy at NASCAR or at ESPN? “I think a combination. I think NASCAR looked at the people who were available to come in and lend
