Bootie Barker is a fan of NASCAR's older drivers. Credit: Autostock

Urban Legends: MIS

Think you know everything about NASCAR and its teams? Robert "Bootie" Barker, crew chief of Jeff Green's No. 66 Chevrolet, dispels some notions about life at NASCAR's top level.

Myth: No one smokes in NASCAR anymore

FACT OR FICTION? Is there something about NASCAR you always wanted to know? Crew chief Bootie Barker will tell you whether your perception is fact or fiction.  •   Send Bootie your question ...

Fact: I'd say, in general, there are fewer people smoking in America. There are definitely still crewmen that smoke, and there's some that smoke quite a bit, like my friend Phillippe Lopez (crew chief of the No. 96 car).

And the more stressful a weekend is, the more cigarettes will be smoked. As far as drivers that smoke, I don't know of many who do, but that was the case even when the sport was sponsored by a tobacco company.

It's just too physically demanding to drive one of these cars. There are guys who could do both, though. You'd rarely see Dick Trickle when he didn't have a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

I'm talking day or night, regardless of how hot it was at the track. It's noon and it's 100 degrees? Didn't matter to Trickle. But I'd say he was the definite exception to the rule.

Fact: Years ago, when everyone smoked, some drivers had cigarette lighters installed in their car.

Myth: Teams and drivers pace themselves during a race

Fact: They do, but if they do, they're going to lose. As competitive as the sport is now, if you want to win, you don't 'ride around' and you don't 'save your stuff.'

The equipment will last. Laying back may actually hurt you, anyway. You get back in mid-pack in dirty air, and that may cost you a lot of time. Running hard to get out front in clean air might actually make it easier on you in the long run.

Myth: Toyota is bringing a lot of money in the sport and raising the costs for all teams

Fact: Yes, they will raise the costs for all teams. They're willing to pay team members more than they're presently making, and in order to keep good team members, teams supported by other manufacturers are going to have to step up the pay as well.

The perception is that Toyota wants to come in and do well at all costs. That's going to spur the other manufacturers to also up the ante. At the end of the day, that means mo' money, mo' money, mo' money.

Myth: Older drivers do not drive as hard

Fact: Well, I believe in the old saying, 'Old age and treachery will overcome youth and enthusiasm every time.' Having said that, I could do more at the age of 25 than I can at 35, and that's true for pretty much everybody else.

In a general sense, I'd say it's true that older drivers don't drive as hard, but not in all cases. Now, that could be seen as an advantage or a disadvantage.

A driver that goes too hard, too fast is going to make mistakes, and that will cost you as a team. An older driver is more calculated and may be less likely to make those mistakes.

To me, you have to have the best of both worlds. To win races, you've got to run 100 percent every lap and make no mistakes at the same time.

Myth: Drivers watch their diets

Fact: Some do and some don't. Some guys that come to mind that really watch what they eat are guys like Mark (Martin), Carl (Edwards) and Jimmie (Johnson).

Then you've got guys who'll drink beer the night before the race and eat cheeseburgers. That's going to be reflected in the driver's performance at some point.

It may not show up in 100 laps, and it may not show up in 10 races, but eventually it's going to show up. Every thing you do in terms of your preparation, or lack thereof, is going to rear its head at some point.

Fact: Tony Stewart, who is inarguably in the prime of his career, pretty much eats whatever he wants.