ARCA RE/MAX Series

About one year ago Dwight Drum asked Tony Stewart a champion question that puzzled Stewart initially, but resulted in an energetic answer. Zoomster.com decided to ask it again to other NASCAR champions and drivers to compare their thoughts. We didn't stop at eight champions and pressed on to dozens of driver standouts and owners.

The reason we ask this same question is apparent in the answers, once the answers are consolidated to a single story.

If there were a way to measure the complex human ingredients it takes to produce a motorsports champion there would be a mad rush to buy the formula and hasty searches to find the drivers with the right mix. Life and science doesn't work that way.

Champions and standouts know a lot about driving, winning and communicating, but they can't be expected to identify all it really takes to excel to the top. The human and mechanical variables are simply too complicated.

That said, smart drivers have a bright way of defining what it takes to be the best. Their thoughts are worthy of attention.

"I think any champion probably starts the day's first step in the morning knowing he is a champion."
Bobby Gerhart

"You work your whole life to be a champion."
Steve Wallace

"I think the most common thread is the intensity level."
Andy Belmont

"Some people just have that little bit of extra drive to get it done."
Josh Wise

"They've got determination. They've got passion."
Erin Crocker

"There are guys that haven't been in the situation to capitalize on those traits."
Andy Hillenburg

"They don't let things faze them."
Kevin Wood

"It's one big mind game."
Michelle Theriault

"They make good decisions on the track and off the track."
Don Radebaugh

"I think people who have the natural ability plus the learned ability are the champions."
Chad McCumbee

ARCA RE/MAX Series     Daytona International Speedway Test

Do champions have common traits and abilities and if so could you identify a few?

Don Radebaugh ARCA RE/MAX PR/Media Director

Veteran Drivers

Do champions have common traits and abilities and if so could you identify a few?

Bobby Gerhart

"I would think so. I think any champion certainly, probably starts the day's first step in the morning knowing he is a champion. That's something that takes a long time to get bred into a guy. On the other hand it comes natural to some other people. I think it's almost a pattern of life. If you feel deep inside that you are a champion you can certainly make it a whole lot easier on yourself to become one."

Andy Hillenburg

"I think that you obviously have the will to win in all of them and to do better. There are guys that aren't champions that have that same trait, but yeah I would definitely say so. There are guys that haven't been in the situation to capitalize on those traits. I don't want to say being an ARCA champion we would be a breed apart. Definitely that's not the case. I would say the will to succeed is a little stronger probably."

Andy Belmont

"Oh,yeah. I think the most common thread is the intensity level. You can't do this stuff and be a champion if you're not really serious about what you do and focus. Lots of guys that are champions are accused of being asses, because they're just so focused on their job. People misunderstand that whole thing. People misunderstood Kulwicki because he was just so focused. I think that's the biggest thing. Them guys don't let stuff get in their way. This sport is full of adversity and you can complain about everything every day in racing. The guys that are winners, they don't complain, they just get the job done."

Youthful Drivers

Do champions have common traits and abilities and if so could you identify a few?

Steve Wallace

"I really don't know. You work your whole life to be a champion, you know, no matter what. I don't think Jimmie Johnson and my dad have a lot in common, so I don't think Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt had a lot in common. I really don't know how to answer that to be honest with you."

Erin Crocker

"I think for sure they do. They've got determination. They've got passion. I think they all have it. Whatever the sport, business, music or whatever, every one of them has traits in common."

Michelle Theriault

"To me what makes a better driver is that it's all in your mind. It's one big mind game. The person that tells their brain to keep in the gas that one millisecond farther is going to be faster. What it all boils down to is it's a mind game and you just got to have the guts and trust the car, trust yourself to do it. Whoever has the most trust in their car and their team will come out at the top usually."

Chad McCumbee

"I think growing up when you're driving stock cars or race cars your hand-eye-foot coordination is huge. I think that some people have a lot of natural ability. I think you can also have learned ability. I think people who have the natural ability plus the learned ability are the champions. I think they are the ones that are successful. You've got a lot of different in this sport, a lot of different people from different backgrounds. It shows you there is a wide variety of talent out there."

Josh Wise

"Oh man. I think, I don't know. I guess I've never really tried to analyze that. I think that a common trait would just be the drive to want to win or try to be successful. Some people just have that little bit of extra drive to get it done."

Keven Wood

"If you have a good car and a good team that always helps, but you've still got to have a driver there to do it. Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, you can figure out there they are real drivers. They do it when it counts. They can hold their own. They can back up their performance week in and week out. They don't let things faze them. Something gets to them they can go right back up front and make up for it. I think you can identify them pretty easily."