NASCAR Winston Cup Teleconference Moments

Jimmy Spencer

Driver of the No. 7 Sirius Satellite Dodge Intrepid

Photo courtesy of NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

"That's the key in communicating, and that's the key in driving."

A Zoomster question from Debbie:

"I appreciate that…thanks. As you become a race car driver you learn what your car wants. You can't change a person's personality. I think Matt Kenseth is not a personality other drivers are and I think other drivers aren't the personality other drivers are, so everybody is different. The big thing is, it's obvious you have to find the right person to communicate with. The car owner has to make a lot of those decisions. I have a great car owner in Jimmy Smith. They all thought that with Tommy and me it was going to be the biggest fight since oil and water. It's so far from the truth. Tommy really believes in me, and I believe in him. For me, it's easy to communicate with somebody because you build that relationship and you build that trust. I had it with Donnie Wingo. I had it with Jimmy Fennig. When you say to them this is what I'm feeling, they believe you. They do not question you. It just gets stronger and stronger. It's obvious between Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser. It's obvious between Dale Jr. and Tony Eury Sr. and Jr. They've been together. When Dale Jr. says something, Tony Eury believes him. When Kurt Busch says something, Jimmy Fennig believes him. That's the key in communicating, and that's the key in driving. I think if you listen on the radio, a guy who gets very hostile and cusses and yells and screams at his crew and his crew chief, that doesn't lead to very good situations down the road. I never really get mad. I used to get mad, but I learned, actually through T. Wayne Robertson, is that the way you'd like to be talked to? They know when you get mad and upset. Then you usually come back and say you're sorry. That just assures them that you have total confidence in them and you go on about your business. We're struggling right now, but we're going to get this thing together for the Sirius team and we're going to run good. "

Zoomster questions from Debbie:

"I think the work ethic all over the country is different. When you first come down here, some of the Southern traditions are different from the Northern traditions, and I know the West Coasters, they always call them the wine and cheese people. People like Jimmy Smith, and he's not that type of person. I think it's changed over the years. The Northerners if you want to call them that and a lot of people do have implemented themselves in the south. It doesn't matter today in NASCAR where you're from. It used to mean something. Today, it's a nation-wide sport. It doesn't matter if you're from Minnesota, Texas, Florida, North or South Carolina or Pennsylvania. The work ethic is whoever is directing the team. Tommy is from Long Island, and he does have some habits that Northerners have, the Yankees. They're outspoken, they're vocal, things like that. You have to get used to that person's personality. I've known Tommy my whole life. I know how Ray Evernham is, and I know how a lot of these people are. Some Southern people have been successful down here, won some championships and a lot of races. Their work ethic is no different. They just might go about it a different way, so to me, it doesn't matter where you come from. It's who you're working for. When you come into a race team, you have to know who your boss is. If you think you know more than the boss, you're not going to make it in this sport. The other thing is, the boss has to know when he's made a mistake and he admits it and he says we'll fix it and gives credit where credit's due and he'll take the blame when it's time to take the blame. That's a successful crew chief and a successful leader of a race team. It doesn't matter where you're from. I think you've seen a change over these last few years. That's why this sport is so competitive."

"Growing up with a bunch of brothers and sisters, there were seven of us total, three girls and three boys. We were competitive people. My dad was a very competitive person. When we played softball or soccer or whenever we played kick ball, you tried to win. You tried to beat the other team. I think it was instilled at a young age. I don't see that today in a lot of children. I don't see that competitiveness. I see my daughter being a little bit more competitive than my son. It's really interesting to know how your kids grow up and who they hang with. That dictates a lot of it. Their peers they're hanging with dictates their desire. My dad would not let you win. You had to beat him if you were going to play a game, and I admire him for it. I try to teach my kids the same way."