He ran only three Sprint Cup races in 2008, yet remains a wildly popular driver.

Back again to take a shot at getting into the Daytona 500 this week, it was fitting that driver Boris Said had to be tracked down Monday on a golf course, where he was wielding a different kind of driver. Golf, you see, is Said's "other" passion. He talked about why he loves the sport so much -- and why he thinks it's similar to racing.

Q: You got a minute?

Said: Let me hit this next shot, and I'll be right with you.

“

[Golf is] just like racing. It's a game of mistakes. You've just got to keep on working at it. One shot, you have it; the next shot, you don't. It's just a fun game.

”

-- BORIS SAID

Q: (A minute later, after actually hearing the striking of the ball over Said's cell phone.) Did you hit a good one?

Said: Nah. That one wasn't so good.

Q: Where are you playing?

Said: We're at the Conservatory, one of [Bobby] Ginn's courses. It's beautiful. We're going to play at another one of Ginn's courses [Tuesday]. It's not a bad life, not bad at all.

Q: Talk a little bit about your passion for golf and how long you've been playing?

Said: I've been playing since I raced for Reeves Callaway. We raced Callaway Corvettes and we raced all over the world. His father was Ely Callaway [founder of Callaway Golf Company], and when I met him way back when, actually at a race in Le Mans, he asked me, "Do you play any golf?" And I said, "Hell, no! Golf is for old men."

A week later he sent me a driver [the kind you hit golf balls with -- not the other kind Said was more familiar with]. And ever since then, I've been hooked. I've just been playing ever since, and that was in 1994.

Q: The word in the garage is that you're pretty good now, too. What's your handicap?

Said: It's a six right now. I play in a lot of charity stuff. I got to play in the Bob Hope [Chrysler Classic] a couple of years ago. That was probably my 10 minutes of fame on the golf course. That was an unbelievable experience. (Continued)