10 Questions: S. Leicht

1. What's the best advice you ever received, and who was it from?

Leicht: Probably Ricky Rudd thus far, as far as a driver thing goes. I was talking to him about road courses. Last year, Robert Yates sent me to the Bob Bondurant School to learn to heel-toe braking but I've always been a left-foot braker. I talked to Ricky about it and he said, "Listen, if you're a left-foot braker, you need to left-foot brake. It's almost impossible to re-learn another way of driving." I took that advice and brought it [to Mexico City] and it's really paid off.

Stephen Leicht:
Blue

2. Which athlete outside of racing do you most admire?

Leicht: I love watching Tiger Woods golf. I'm really into golf, I like playing golf in my free time. Watching him play golf, man, it's pretty cool, like the Dale Earnhardt of racing. He's pretty good.

3. If you could take someone to eat in your hometown of Asheville, N.C., where would you go and what would you order?

Leicht: Japanese steakhouse. By far, that's my favorite place in the world. It's called Yoshida's where I'm from. Just sit there and they cook food in front of you and it's the best food I've ever had. We used to go there three times a week when I was little.

4. Who has had the most impact on your life and why?

Leicht: Probably my family. My family's been involved in racing for a long time, since before I was born. Without them, I wouldn't have made it this far. Everybody that we know, family-wise, has helped us out, even people that seem like family that don't have our last name have helped -- and without that, I'd have never gotten to this point.

5. What was your first job?

Leicht: My first job? I've never had a job, other than racing. I have never actually had, like a fast-food restaurant, like an hourly wage job. This is all I've done.

6. What's your favorite vacation spot?

Leicht: The only vacation I've ever had was this last year on New Year's Eve. I went with my girlfriend and her family to Costa Rica. That was pretty neat. Being the only place I've gone so far, it was definitely the coolest I've ever been.

7. What's your favorite TV show?

Leicht: Favorite TV show? That's tough. I like Everybody Loves Raymond -- I think that's a pretty funny show. And Whose Line Is It Anyway? -- I like watching those guys slap on there.

8. What's on the top of your "things to accomplish" list?

Leicht: This year, as a team, I would definitely like to help these guys get a top-10 in points and maybe win one or two before the end of the year. They're definitely more than capable of doing it -- and as soon as we work out some of our communications stuff, we'll be right there.

9. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Leicht: Probably vanilla with chocolate chips.

10. Who would you trade places with, and why?

Leicht: I don't think I'd trade places with anyone. I think I'm anxious to see what myself and my family are capable of doing. Hopefully, one day we'll be at the Cup level and there's a lot of guys there now and just hopefully I can turn myself into that.