Conversation: The Rock

FT. WORTH, Texas - He prefers to be called Dwayne Johnson, we were told. We think "Sir" would be better.

AUDIO CLIPS Listen the The Conversation! / 7:44 Listen

Dwayne Johnson is better known as The Rock to wrestling fans all over the world, but his career has transcended wrestling. He's working on becoming a movie star, causing even more women to swoon at his rugged good looks and body-builder shape.

His latest movie, "Walking Tall," is in theaters now.

But The Rock is also a bit of a race fan, too, and he served as grand marshal for last weekend's Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR.com's Lee Montgomery drew the assignment to talk to The Rock - er, Johnson.

Montgomery reports that Johnson was a delightful interviewee, not a scowling beast like some stereotype wrestlers. Here's the Conversation:

My girlfriend and my sister were pretty geeked up that I got to interview you. What gets you geeked up? What kind of stuff do you like doing?

	Lee Montgomery sits down with Johnson at Texas Credit: Autostock

Johnson: Well, making movies for me is always a lot of fun, the process of production, pre-production, getting involved in casting. I'm working on a big movie now called "Spy Hunter," making this incredible car.

Things like that get me excited. And, of course, just going home, hanging out with the family gets me really, really excited. Just to get away from the craziness and madness of work every day, it's just nice to go home.

You probably understand a little bit what these drivers have to go through. They're on the road all the time, they don't get much time with family. That's what's most important.

Johnson: Oh, absolutely, and I'm empathetic to that because that was my life, not only when I was wrestling, so I grew up in wrestling. I lived the carny life, if you will.

And living on the road and living from city to city, I did that all my life, basically. It's tough. You're away from your family and you're sacrificing a lot, and your family sacrifices a lot to allow you to live your dream.

These guys are out there living their dreams every single week. It's got to be an awesome feeling. I couldn't fathom, I can't fathom being out there (in front of) 100,000, 200,000 people every week. Performing in front of them must be awesome.

What is the biggest crowd you've ever performed in front of?

Johnson: I would say it's about 68,000. I believe it was in the Toronto SkyDome.

What about some other cool places? We get to go to some interesting places. Texas is one of them. What are some cool places you've been to that have really stuck out in your mind.

Johnson: Let me see. I had a chance to perform down here in Texas, down in the Houston Astrodome. We had the very last venue down there before they shut it down. Didn't they shut it down?

Yes.

Johnson: I had a chance to play in the Cotton Bowl. Here's the great thing about wrestling for me was always going to these cities that don't have necessarily a pro football team, a pro basketball team.

These people are so appreciative that you're there. For example, I know for a fact because I live down in Florida - I live in Davie, outside of Fort Lauderdale - when NASCAR comes to Homestead, there is nothing going on in Homestead but NASCAR.

So when it comes to Homestead, that place goes crazy, you know what I'm saying?

Q: Yeah.

Johnson: Bristol.

Bristol, Martinsville.

Johnson: Martinsville, yeah, it's fantastic.

Are you much of a race fan? Do you follow it at all?

Johnson: I follow it when I can. I was first introduced to racing through the Sadler family. They brought me to my first race five years ago down in Homestead.

Even then, I was blown away by the immensity of it, the energy of it. I was completely blown away. I had no idea. Especially if you don't follow it but you know about it, and then when you actually come to a race and you feel this and you're in it, it's really, really amazing.

I've got a lot of respect for these guys. I consider them athletes, big-time athletes. Sure, you have to. I tell people all the time. I know Elliott and I know Hermie, and I had a chance to meet Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, guys like that. You think they're not athletes?

Get your ass in the car, you know? And see what happens then. See if you can handle that.

Any of those guys would make a good wrestler?

Johnson: Yeah, you bet.

Elliott's kind of a big boy.

Johnson: Elliott's a big boy, and Elliott appreciates wrestling. I've known Elliott for a long time now. Tony Stewart, for sure, would make a real good one. I know I could on him if I need to slap somebody's lips off.

Have you ever thought about making a movie about NASCAR? And you want it to be around somebody's life or what?

Johnson: Oh, man. I think it would be an awesome movie, sure, if you find the right writers. There are so many guys you could make a movie about, from the Petty family to the Earnhardt family, Labontes. You could make one about Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon. Put those two together and throw in Elliott Sadler, and throw in me for good measure.

One of my friends who has seen "Walking Tall" has said it's very good. Can you hook me up with some tickets?

Johnson: I can hook you up with some tickets, yeah. How many do you need? Tell me right now.

Uh, four.

Johnson: You need four tickets. They're going to be at the theater, whatever theater is closest to you. You've just got to pay for them when you get there. But they'll be put aside for you. Don't worry about it.

You must be pretty proud of this film. It's gotten some good reviews.

Johnson: I am. I'm very, very proud of it. Not only because I'm still new to the business - this is my fourth movie - it's great that I can get good reviews. For me, I just want to make a movie that delivers. It's hard, not only to make a movie in Hollywood, but it's hard to make a good movie. I've got a lot of friends who weren't my friends four years ago who are actors - when I met them, I said, 'Hey, you owe me 12 bucks for that crap I paid for about three or four years ago.'

I never want anybody to come up to me and be like, 'Rock, listen, I like you a lot and I like your movies, but you owe me $12.'

Wait, wait, wait. Somebody's going to come up to you and ask for their money back?

Johnson: I'm sure. Don't be surprised. I wouldn't be surprised. Money doesn't grow on trees. All these inflated gas prices. Can the governor do anything about that?

My sister is a teacher, and she tells me that some of her students act up and need a little discipline. She wanted to know if you could come by and lay some smack down some time.

Johnson: Yeah, absolutely. But if that doesn't work, since I can't be in all places at all times, she should take one of them wooden rulers - and I'm a big fan of taking a wooden stick, as you can imagine - and hand out a little blue-collar, fresh country ass-whooping, and they'll be all right.

Speaking of some wrestling moves, is there any way you could teach me the people's elbow or the people's eyebrow? Or, just forget it, no way?

Johnson: It's probably, yeah, physically, it's an incapability. Just ain't no way in blue hell that's going to happen.

Any chance of you getting more involved in racing, becoming a team owner. They named a racetrack after you already. Any chance of The Rock Race Team?

Johnson: Where?

Rockingham. They call it The Rock. You didn't know that?

Johnson: Where is that?

North Carolina.

Johnson: Oh, nice. I've got to get down there. I had no idea.

They do need to get you down there.

Johnson: Where is Rockingham at?

About an hour east of Charlotte.

Johnson: Oh, OK. But there's one in Charlotte, right? Charlotte Motor Speedway?

Well, Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Johnson: Lowe's. OK.

But any chance of you getting more involved?

Johnson: Umm, well the truth of the matter was is I was five years ago, but it just didn't work out for a couple of reasons. But maybe one day. I wouldn't rule that out. I've got a lot of respect, man, for this business. It's growing, it's really amazing. You've really got great representatives, I believe, even the younger guys, who are young, hungry, personable. They've all got their own separate attitudes, which is great. Even the older guys, too, they're like these legends. Awesome.