 | XM Satellite Radio
June 17, 2005
09:26 AM EDT (13:26 GMT)
Claire B. Lang is the host of "Dialed In", which airs Monday through Friday from 4pm-7pm ET on XM Satellite Radio's 24-hour NASCAR Radio Channel 144. On Wednesday Claire spoke with Erin Crocker, development driver for Evernham Motorsports. Here's an excerpt from their 25-minute discussion.  |  | | Claire B. Lang |
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Claire B: You said that Ray was joking about the fact he bought up in the news conference that you just don't want to sit back and that you poke him all the time and say "Put me in a Busch Car, get me going here!" Erin: Yeah, I thought that article was really funny. I didn't even know about the press conference and I went on a website the following day and I saw that he said I was a 'fiery red head who's not very patient' and brought up a joke we had going on between the two of us, so I called him right away and was like "What is this?! You're not supposed to be making me look bad!" It was funny. We developed a good friendship and, I appreciate it. It was ... it was funny. Claire B: You're very aggressive about wanting to get in a car and do you know, and let's start here, that everyone is asking everyone else about your name; the other guys on your team, 'what about that Erin Crocker' and since Danica Patrick made such a huge stir at Indy, you just started getting phone calls from media and people were sort of going to Erin Crocker quite a bit, weren't they? Erin: Yeah, I mean, it's been crazy. I've probably done more interviews in the last two weeks than I did, you know, the whole beginning of the year, which is a great thing, but part of me wishes that I had actually accomplished something myself as opposed to, you know, having Danika have some success, but either way, you take the publicity when it comes and as impatient as I am to get in a car, I also understand why it's necessary to go slow and be prepared. The last thing I want to do is really put myself in a situation to look bad, but I guess I just went from running a Sprint car season of 102 races, so it's a hard adjustment to watch so many races this year. Claire B: Well, how are you set for the ARCA race at Michigan? I know that Ray told me when I asked him, in the garage this weekend, he said, 'It takes money, it takes sponsors, and Uncle Ray can't do it all ...' Erin: (laughs) Claire B: ... but people are sort of pushing you; Uncle Ray would like to get you in a car, but when do you think that you would be ready and how are you set at Michigan in ARCA to prepare for that Busch run later on that he talked about? Erin: Well, we are set for this week. We tested here last weekend, or sometime last week, and it went very well. It's funny that you mention Uncle Ray saying before the first race at Nashville, he said he wanted to put on the hood, you know, a big picture of himself, and say 'Uncle Ray's Funds' or something. (laughs) But, you know, I just need to get laps. I've only run one stock car race, so, it's totally different for me. Pit stops, restarts, it's all new. So the more laps I can get, the better it will be. And I think ARCA is a great place to learn before you get into the Bucsh Series. Claire B: How can you transition into Busch? How ready are you? Everybody now is looking for that young girl. I know Sarah Fisher is floating around the track, I see you more often and you've got to ride in ARCA and you're on the pit box for Evernham Motorsports, in fact, I've seen you a lot lately in the pits. How long will it take you to get correctly get into a Busch car and are you ready now and you're just waiting for sponsors or do you have a lot to learn? Erin: Well ... I think I'm ready, but I know I have a lot to learn. I think getting these ARCA races in the second half of this year is a lot busier for me, so after a few races, you'll probably be able to tell more, because I can't even say if I now I'm ready. I've only run that one race at Nashville, and yeah sure, I'm ready to hop in a car, but whether I really am or not, is a different story. So, I've just been going to the races, trying to learn as much as I can, you know, sit on the pit box and listen to Chris Andrews, who is my crew chief in the ARCA, listen to him with Bill on the radio, I listen to Slugger. The more I can learn and the more I can be exposed to it, I think the better off I'll be. Claire B: You know it's interesting, because your fellow drivers at Evernham and other drivers have all been asked, the last couple of weeks, 'what about Erin Crocker? What about her?' and again and again and again, they'll ask and the third or fourth time, here's what Kasey Kahne said: "I think with the race process, the learning and the ladder in the right direction, which hopefully Ray does with her, it can be done, but you know, you just never know, it's a touch business" Claire B (continued): Tough business he said, and he's talking about a woman in this sport making a mark in the right way. There have been women who have gone before you, and with the sport looking for someone, such as yourself, how much attention do you get for that? And how hard do you think it will be for you to transition? Erin: You know, I get a lot of attention, especially after Danika's success, like we talked about, it's become even bigger. I've done a lot more interviews that have been based around 'would you, you know, take these nude photograph shoots and would you put more make-up on and those type of questions, which I've got in the past, but it seems like more in the last few weeks. I don't really know, I think obviously it's possible, it's the only reason I'm here. I'm ready to fight for it and I want to do it and I think I make it happen. And like Ray and Kasey said, it's a matter of having the right equipment, getting the right funding, learning at the right rate and not throwing myself into something I'm not ready for, so, there are a lot of factors. And like Kasey said, it's really is a tough business, especially NASCAR. The competition level, at the Cup level, the Busch level, it's ridiculous. Anyone of those 43 cars could win on a given day, so, things have to fall into place and I just have to keep working as hard as I can. Claire B: Well, because I can understand the position you're in, I'm going to throw that one out about the photo. I frankly feel, although Danika looked good in the picture on the car, that that will last for a short time and a person doesn't get in their life, for a long time, to get to pose on a car like that, meaning that, that sort of photo, if that's what you're leaning on, is only going to last for awhile. Although she's seems to be a pretty good driver, would you ever think that in our sport that would work? And I don't see our sport being marketed that way, but what are your thoughts about that? Erin: You know, she's a very pretty girl and if she can back up all this, photo shoots and things, then it's great. I think she can pull it off, you know, but the results are more important. You can have beautiful women anytime take pictures, but it's actually what you do on the track that's going to make the difference. I'm not the type of person to do that sort of thing, but I'm not against it. What she chooses to do is fine. Claire B: The only part I have a problem with on it, and I think they're very attractive and why not market her that way, is that little girls especially in states like Ohio, I'll run into tons of little girls that drive go-carts, and I mean there are a lots of little girls getting into this now, and I wouldn't want them to think that they had to do that to be successful, but they didn't have to be the kind of girl that would look good and pose like that. I mean, it works for Danika, but it's not going to work for every little girl, that she would feel she had to do that or look that way to make it in racing as she maybe/maybe not makes it, cause you know, tons of people are in go-carts who will never see the series that you are going to enter. Erin: Well, I agree completely with what you're saying. You know it's funny you mention that, I saw, just this past week, a few proposals that were put in front of some important people and there were kinda some revealing pictures, umm, not very professional and I think maybe they got that idea from some of the photos that Danika has, but I think the kids in the go-carts will realize that it's not about what you look like, it's about what you do on the race track. Of course looks and personality can get you a little bit further, but when it comes down to it, it's really about what you can do in a race car. Claire B: In those proposals, you mean about you? Erin: No, no, no. Proposals from other female drivers. Claire B: I see... Erin: Someone showed me some that were put in front of some important people and they had some interesting photos, things that I would certainly never send to a professional organization. And I'm thinking they may have gotten that idea based on some of Danika's past photos. Claire B: So a little bit of a trend on the marketing side on that because now it's not so much the female driver will get that idea, but maybe some of the marketers will get that idea, and present things that they wouldn't have presented before. Erin: Yeah, I was actually asked in an interview the other day, if since Danika's success, if I've been told to wear more make-up or been told to dress a little more racy, and I obviously haven't. And if they did tell me, I would say "Sorry, I'm pretty confident in who I am" and like myself, I'm not going to change, but it is, I agree, that there is a little bit of a marketing idea behind it and hopefully young girls don't think that is what they have to do. Claire B: Now, I'm totally where you're at, because I remember when I first got into radio, the first stations I worked at, said that, a women reading news would not be found believable and when I become a news director, all of a sudden, this little station I work at, asked me to dress up, and that I should dress up a little bit more when I go on news assignments, when the guys that were doing it were in jeans and t-shirts. I think it doesn't really matter what you're in, that there may be some of that, and I don't think that Ray Evernham is the kind would buy into that and I don't know that our sport is ready to market itself that way, female or male. Erin: No, I agree with you. And Ray is definitely not the type of person that would want to do that with me. One of the first days that I was ever involved with the shop, I just signed, came down to Charlotte, did a photo shoot and they put a little bit of make-up on me, not anything outrageous, not anything more than I would wear everyday, but it was funny, Ray's reaction the next day, was like "Why you put all that make-up on her! She's a racecar driver! She doesn't need any make-up"... Claire B: (laughs) Erin (continued): ... So I appreciate that he said that, I mean, that's the way I feel about it. To have an owner who feels the same way is great. Claire B: How tight are you with Ray? Because at one point you're trying to impress him with your knowledge and then the other point, he is Uncle Ray to you, sort of? Erin: Yeah, we developed a really good friendship. He said I'm the daughter he never knew he had and I call him my adopted father. My father passed away when I was in high school, and I said that to a lot of people. And I don't think my dad would be too upset to know that I let Ray Evernham step in as the adopted father. (laughs) So, we get along well. I think we have very similar personalities. He's obviously a very driven and determined person and I think I'm similar in that sense. You know, he has a really good sense of humor, you know, it's tough and as busy as he is, he still likes to crack jokes here and there, and I certainly like to do that as well. We beat up on each other now and again and I've really enjoyed everyone in the organization, not just Ray, I mean everyone. I think he tends to hire a certain type of person. Claire B: As you enter a series like this and you talk about the sponsorships, and Ray has said that 'I don't have all the money in the world in order to get her program kicked off in the right the way she wants to get out and race and get moved up, that it will take a sponsor". Do you think the sponsors will be more quick and coming now, as they want to see a woman in the racecar in the Nextel Cup Series? Erin: Well, I hope that happens and I think that will happen. With the media exposure that Danika got at the 500 and the ratings were up 40% from last year. I mean, that just goes to show that if a woman is going to go out there and beat a whole bunch of guys, in a race, people are going to watch. It's different. It doesn't happen everyday, in fact, it's never really happened. So I think that corporate America has been more exposed to the fact that there are women who are capable, it may be only a few of them, but if you can prove it, then I feel like they'll all want to jump on board. Claire B: Can you talk about your background coming up. Ryan Newman talked about you, and how he sort of helped or he had raced with you or helped you in your career somewhat. So, can you talk about your coming up in the series and how that prepared you and how racing was for you, a young woman in this sport? Erin: Well when I started in quarter midgets, you know, there were a lot of girls in quarter midgets. I think it's something like 40% of go-cart racers are girls, but I noticed as I moved up the ladder, fewer and fewer girls were involved. I have been able to get a lot of support from guy drivers. I grew up with two older brothers and I followed them everywhere. I played ice-hockey and I played everything with them. So, I think I that somehow when I was younger, I learned how to earn the respect of guys and I've had the opportunity to have Kasey Kahne, Bill Elliott and Ryan Newman help me and Jeff Gordon is willing to help me in anyway he can. I really don't know why, but I certainly appreciate it and I want them to continue to. Claire B: When you talk about the support that you've gotten from the drivers, and you talk about Jeff Gordon, you mean, you can walk into his hauler, and say 'Jeff, I have a question, I see you studying on the pit box'? With most of the drivers in the series, do they know you and will they help you? Erin: Well, I just actually met Jeff back when the races were at Charlotte a few weeks ago and I've known his stepfather for a few years, he's really helped me a lot. He's a real intelligent man, Mr. Bickford. Claire B: Yeah, he gets it, doesn't he? Erin: Yeah, he's extremely intelligent. We went to dinner one night and I think he just talked for three hours straight, and I couldn't even take it all in. After I left I was like 'What did he tell me to do about this, and what did he tell me to do about that?'. But one of Jeff's crew guys said 'Hey Erin, Jeff wants to meet you' and I was a little star struck, for a moment I was like, "Oh my goodness, Jeff Gordon!" So he introduced himself to me, and I was like, is this surreal, Jeff Gordon just introduced himself to me but we talked about sprint cars a lot and what his father had said about me. Then he said, 'I'll give you my phone number, and any help or any advice you need, feel free to call me or get a hold of me." I about fell over, I mean, I was like "oh my ..." Claire B: Really? Erin: Not only that, it's just means a lot to me. I've earned the respect, to this point, of Jeff Gordon. I was, I was not only star-struck, but I was also very honored. Claire B: Well, if the guy's giving you his phone number, would you ever pick up and call it or would it be too difficult? Would you call it and be like, Jeff ... Erin: I think I'd call John Bickford first and say 'I have a question for Jeff'. I wouldn't just call Jeff Gordon, I don't think. Claire B: Well his dad, as I said, he gets it, he really does. He'll have conversations like a rivalry in this sport would be the best thing for this sport. He understands that, for example, a Dale Earnhardt Jr./Jeff Gordon rivalry would be a dream come true. He understands that having a female in the sport would be really good. Bickford gets things like that. Erin: Yeah, he's a very smart business man and very smart about everything, like how to get where you want to go. He's just a very intelligent person. He's really helped me a lot. He helped me get where I am with Ray. I know he and Ray talked a lot before Ray even invited me down to meet with him. He actually set me up with the attorney that I work with, he's been a big help. Very intelligent man and I very much appreciate it. Claire B: When you talk to these guys, like say when Jeff Gordon comes up, do they talk to you about racing and feel you out first, so that you have kind of a racer chat? Do they test you out that way in a sense? Erin: Uh, maybe a little bit, but I think that whenever I meet these guys, they want to talk about sprint car racing. I think that every NASCAR driver is a big fan of sprint cars, whether they admit it or not. But every time I talked to Jeff, he's like 'When do you run the sprint car again?' They all want to know, and even Jeremy Mayfield, we all get along really well, but he's always asking about dirt track racing. So, I think, since I've won the World Outlaws race, I think that earned respect to start, so I'm starting a little bit ahead, where someone else may have start maybe. Claire B: You make a good point because the drivers that I talked to said that anybody who runs the full World of Outlaws schedule gets a notch in their in their book for running the whole schedule and several of them have mentioned it. Erin: Yeah and I agree. It's kinda neat, like, last year when we were having the Outlaw race, that was in conjunction with the NASCAR race, to see like 10 or so Nextel Cup drivers just walking through the pit area, you knew that they were impressed by it or they respected the Outlaws a lot, and obviously their schedules are very busy and it's not often they can just go and watch a race. Claire B: Well, when you look at your own career, and we know how Ray feels, like you said your father had passed away and you rely on Ray, what do you want to make sure happens in your career? What do you want people to know about you and your career? What do you think about, when you are thinking about the next few years for yourself? You're a very bright, young girl ... Erin: I really just want to be respected. If something happens, and I can't go out there a win a million races, I just want people to say, you know, 'I respect that girl and she can drive a racecar'. And just to be respected as a person. I think that's just as important as being a good racecar driver on the track. You need to earn people's respect on and off the track. Courtesy of XM Satellite Radio | |
