Offseason agendas varied among drivers in garage

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- From the last day of racing on Nov. 18 at Homestead-Miami Speedway to the first of day of testing in Daytona last week, NASCAR drivers had exactly 60 days to pretty much do whatever they pleased before returning to the rigorous grind of the 2008 season.

Several drivers chose extreme winter sports and hunting trips, while others, in true do-it-yourselfer fashion, worked on home improvement projects.

• Complete Coverage
• NASCAR Acceleration
• SPEED Coverage
• Daytona Countdown
• Get your tickets
• Book your travel

Although, a handful of drivers just couldn't leave well enough alone -- they took work home with them.

Like a mail carrier taking a walk on his day off, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne raced in the country's most popular indoor midget race, the Chili Bowl, in Oklahoma. Jamie McMurray raced go-karts in Daytona. And Dale Earnhardt Jr. tried his hand Down Under, racing V8 Supercars in Australia while vacationing with friends.

But Earnhardt's real business in Queensland became apparent when Aussie V8 Supercar racer Owen Kelly showed up to Monday's test session at Daytona International Speedway.

The Tasmania native signed a deal with Earnhardt to run a series of Late Model races for JR Motorsports. Kelly, a 30-year-old son of a racer, started his circuit racing career in Formula Ford for three seasons, progressing to V8 Supercars in 2000. From there he has raced in Super Touring, V8 Supercars and a handful of Late Model races in North Carolina.

A friend of NASCAR driver and fellow Aussie Marcos Ambrose, Kelly and Earnhardt spent time together at the V8 Super School, which Ambrose co-owns with Australian V8 Supercar driver Paul Morris. Morris and Kelly both were at Daytona this week observing the test sessions.

For drivers like Earnhardt, especially those with their own race teams and shops, there is no such thing as an offseason.

Others disagree and can't wait to enjoy the comforts of home, far away from the grit and grime of a race shop. Toyota driver and past champion Dale Jarrett is one of those.

"My daughter had basketball tournaments I went to and I golfed a bit; shot between 70 and 80," he said. "I really enjoyed myself."

Also on home detail during the offseason was Sam Hornish Jr., open-wheeler turned Sprint Cup driver at Penske Racing. He and wife Crystal are anticipating the birth of their first child, a baby girl to be named Addison. She is due on Feb. 10.

"We had to get everything done, the nursery put together, before the season starts and hopefully we'll get the baby before the season starts," Hornish laughed. "We are eagerly awaiting her arrival."

Birthing classes were also on the agenda.

Diaper duty may be in the far off future for Penske teammate Ryan Newman; he preferred to spend time perfecting his hunting skills.

The avid outdoorsmen went duck hunting in Nashville, Tenn., with competing team owner Richard Childress. The pair happened to be there together attending Sound and Speed, a NASCAR country music fest.

• Daytona Countdown
• Acceleration
• Preseason Thunder
• Get your tickets
• Book your travel

The following morning at 5 a.m., Newman and Childress loaded up the 12-gage shot guns and threw on their cowboy boots.

Admittedly, Newman said he used a lot of ammunition although killed few fowl.

"I wounded one," Newman laughed. "Somebody shot it before, but it was still my duck."

Newman wasn't the only driver toting a gun during the offseason. David Ragan, Roush Fenway driver, headed home to Georgia with a few of his teammates and fellow driver Erik Darnell for some quail hunting.

"I'm too impatient to sit in a deer stand," Ragan said.

Later, he and Darnell headed west to Angel Fire, N.M., for a ski trip.

"I'm mediocre," Ragan said. "I'm usually scared going down the black diamond [advanced slopes] but I'm pretty good going down the kids slope. I don't want to risk breaking an arm you know."

Other Roush Fenway drivers Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle all took a trip to Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado with their significant others.

"I have a story to tell about altitude sickness, I can't tell you now," McMurray grimaced. "But I will say Greg [Biffle] is as crazy on a set of skis as he is inside a car."

So whether the drivers were jet setting to far off lands or merely enjoying pleasantries of a simpler life, life in the slower lane, they made the most of their off time. Now the fun and games are officially over and the season is upon us.