Matt Yocum's Mailbag (cont'd)

Q: If you weren't a reporter for NASCAR, what would you be doing now?
-- Sandie Longs from Texas

Yocum: That's a really good question, Sandie.

At Florida State (two-time college football champions by the way), I majored in political science and communications. So maybe something in politics? Rep. Matt Yocum (R) from the 7th district in Florida? Rep. John Mica won't be around forever. So you never know.

However, I'd say my heart and passion would gravitate toward racing documentaries about the history of the sport. That's where my real passion for racing comes through, the old school stuff from the '60s and '70s. It doesn't matter if it's NASCAR, USAC open wheel or short-track racing, if it's from that magical era then I absolutely love it. Maybe Winston Kelly can find a spot for me at the new NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Matt Yocum rode the S.S. Edward L. Ryerson last year.

Q: Which driver is the most fun or interesting to interview during a rain delay when you're trying to fill some time on the air?
-- Ronda

Yocum: Ronda, the one thing you may have noticed about our rain delay coverage through the years, you just never know what is going to happen next. That's the same for me.

In 2001, rain delay coverage on TV took on more than a whole new angle, it changed the way TV networks would stay at the track versus going to last year's race. Texas was a perfect example, when we really started the whole visiting motorcoaches scenario with Kevin Harvick. KH and I just rolled with it, including rolling DW's motorcoach. (I've learned on both sides of the equation, NEVER EVER leave your motorhome unlocked ... it only means bad things).

The great things about this sport are the personalities. Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman have David Lettermen-type personalities, so they can be extremely funny. Bobby Labonte is in that category, too. The key is to set them up in a way with the right questions for that to come out. A shocker for some folks, but those are three of the funniest guys in the garage.

Harvick and Tony Stewart interviews are always an unknown because you don't know which road they'll be going down, so you just hang on. They love to poke fun at each other and you have to raise your game to be involved in those interviews. They are quick witted and that's how they roll.

To me, the best part of a rain delay is when you can pull out a story that you've been hanging on to due to time, and now you have the time to go in depth. A couple of years ago at Atlanta, I had a long interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr., a part of it was his grilling on a George Foreman grill since George had so many kids, so he bought one to help out George. And his workout program of boxing. He bought a regulation ring off eBay with all the necessities. It also brought into the conversation his relationship with Tony Eury Jr. As kids, they had one pair of boxing gloves, Junior got the left, Tony Jr. got the right. And we found out that Dale Jr. was a bleeder.

I would say the guy who can talk about any topic in a colorful way is Jeff Burton.