Photo courtesy of Nigel Kinrade/Team Penske
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Editor's note: This is the third in a series of interviews with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series spotters.
How and when did you get started spotting in NASCAR?
This is my 19th year of traveling on a race team. In the beginning, I was a tire changer on a pit crew for an XFINITY team. At that time, the driver was Ashton Lewis. We kept getting in situations where we needed a spotter. There were a lot of people at the time that worked for us that were tire changers. So I talked to Ashton and decided to go up and do a practice one day. At the time, I was tuning engines and changing tires also. Went up and spotted a practice, I liked it, it was pretty cool. And at the time, I was driving my own short track car. I had quite a bit of experience at local short tracks … I knew what was going on. I knew what he wanted to hear and at that time we needed a spotter. I went up and spotted a race and basically once I spotted a race I never changed tires again.
What, if any, other duties do you have with the team?
I work at the shop in the finish fab department a couple of days a week during the year and help get cars prepared. It's neat that I get to work on all the cars, XFINITY and Cup, whether it's the 2 or 22. I work on them all during the week and then come to the track with the 22.
Do you spot only in Sprint Cup or other series as well?
I spot for Johnny Sauter (GMS Racing) in the Camping World Truck Series and I spot for Joey when he runs the 22 XFINITY Series car.
How long have you been spotting for Joey?
This is my fourth year. I started spotting for him when I came to Team Penske. I spotted one race for him the year before when he was at Joe Gibbs Racing as a trial in an XFINITY Series race. It was at Charlotte and he won it. At the time I was spotting for Danica (Patrick), left there to come to Penske with Joey.
What was the first race you worked as spotter?
I'm terrible with history. I don't know. When I was with Ashton (Lewis), that was such a small team, everybody did everything. We painted cars, we welded chassis, we hung bodies. Everybody did everything. Back then, there was very little specialization.
What's the most bizarre thing you've ever seen on the spotters' stand?
The truck catching on fire in the parking lot at Kentucky (this year) was a pretty big deal. Never seen anything like that. But just when you think you've seen it all, just wait a week and something else will come up. I think the most awesome thing I saw was at Talladega. A guy made a belt with 12 koozies around it and he had a 12-pack in them.
What's been your most memorable experience as a spotter?
Winning the Daytona 500 was a huge deal. You don't realize how big of a deal it is until you're able to be part of it. Then you get to reap the benefits of all of the results, getting the ring, the breakfast the day after, all the things you don't realize that come with it. Along with that, winning the two night races at Bristol is pretty awesome because ever since I was a little kid, the night race at Bristol has been the crown jewel to me because it's short track racing, it's night, and it's one of the hardest tracks there is. To win two in a row there is pretty dang cool.
What is the most difficult part of your job?
Now, it's qualifying. It's a lot of stress in a short amount of time. There's a lot of pressure to make sure you get the perfect hole so that you get clean air and don't get into anybody's way and nobody gets in your way. There are so many factors. You know that that one run, even though there are segments you have to be perfect. You can't mess it up because that is a result that sets the base for the whole weekend -- where you start, pit selection, everything that goes along with it. It's a lot of pressure to make sure all that's right. I think qualifying, especially at a short track, is harder than the race.
Which driver would make the best spotter and why?
Ha! From an entertainment standpoint and do-good standpoint are two totally different answers. It would be pretty funny to listen to Johnny (Sauter) spot. That's tough. I don't know.
What is your favorite track to work and why?
Over the last couple of years I'd say it's been Martinsville. Because everything is close quarters, you can rub and bump, you see runs develop quickly and you don't have much time to make a decision. I really love the short tracks and going to Richmond, Martinsville, Bristol. But the last few years I've really enjoyed going to Martinsville.
What is one thing the average fan might not realize about your job or what it entails?
I think the amount of experience required. Because everybody on the roof has been around a long time in the sport. Just to know basic rules and what's going on with the flow, and getting along with everybody else. You might not get along with somebody or be friends but you have to work with every other spotter out there at some point during a race or during the year. We're elbow-to-elbow every weekend. There are so many factors that go into it of that nature, it's difficult. You just have to pay attention from the time the green flag drops until the checkered flag drops you have to be on it. No messing around.