10 Qs: Buffy Waltrip

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

Buffy Waltrip: I think the best advice I ever received was from my parents. Since I was a little girl, "It's not what's on the outside but who you are on the inside that matters." I always wanted to be known for athletics, student council, cheerleading in my younger years and as a driver's wife, for example, it's always been important for me to take a very active and productive role. I just think it's a more meaningful way to get through life. I'm glad that was instilled in me, my sister and my brother.

Buffy Waltrip:
Green

2. What was your first car?

Buffy: My first car was a Honda Accord hatchback. It was lime green and looked like a lima bean.

3. What do you feel is your biggest strength?

Buffy: I'm very good at relationships. I'm good at reading people and I'm a people-pleaser. I think marketing comes into play there, too.

4. If you could choose someone to play you in a movie, who would it be?

Buffy: That's kind of tough. Would it be based on looks or personality? Obviously, you don't know the personalities of actors or actresses. I'd probably name somebody close to my age, like a Jennifer Aniston or Halle Berry or Courteney Cox. Julia Roberts, of course, that's a wide variety of different looks, but they're close to my age.

5. What's your favorite vacation spot?

Buffy: Anywhere tropical.

6. What's one thing that Michael does that drives you crazy?

Buffy: Probably the biggest thing that drives me crazy is also one of the things that I think is one of his better, more fascinating qualities. If you are an employee of his, he's an amazing visionary person. Always thinking outside the box, always challenging us with new projects. Then the rest of us have to scurry around and see to the details. That's a situation where he drives all of us in a good way because he constantly challenges us.

7. What color was your prom dress?

Buffy: I had a white prom dress one year and a red prom dress.

8. What was your first job?

Buffy: I babysat like crazy when I was real young and then I worked at a country club where I was like a short-order cook ... the kids would come up and order chicken fingers or grilled cheese.

9. What is the biggest challenge you face as a car owner?

Buffy: The biggest challenge is managing the people, putting together the right group of people and finding the right mix, keeping them motivated and happy. But they're also the most important asset any company has.

10. What's the coolest thing for the fans to do at your own shop?

Buffy: I think the incredible amount of knowledge you'll walk away with from every aspect. What actually happens in the gears and transmission department, in the shock department, engineering. We have put together audio and video assistance as well, so when you're looking into that room and watching these folks work so hard, you will have a clear understanding as to what they do. Everyone's going to be blown away and appreciate all of the different departments it takes and how talented these people are. I've been living this for 15 years -- I'm really excited for the fans to experience that.