Whats the biggest misconception fans have about NASCAR or race drivers or racing as a whole?
I think the biggest misconception the fans have is that when they say things like Richard Petty was the best ever, or Dale Earnhardt is the best ever, I think that’s wrong. I think that they were graced with a good race team. But that’s not saying there’s not a lot of other drivers and a lot of other crews that can’t do that if they mixed things right. I think there are certain drivers who have abilities who do better in certain places, certain situations. But what people don’t understand is that it’s far, far from just the driver. If you don’t have the whole package, you will not win. If it was just the driver, that tells me that Bobby Labonte can get in someone else’s car — let’s use Jimmy Spencer’s, for example — and win the championship. And I don’t think that could happen. 9. So what percentage does a driver play in the success of a team? In my opinion, probably 25 percent. It used to be a lot more. But it is so critical, the team. They can’t lay down. There are so many circumst
