Oval Office Interviews

Sporting News, The, June 25, 2001 by Bob Margolis

What would you do for a living if you weren't a driver?

Kevin Harvick: I'd probably be an architect. I've always had an interest in the building of structures and building techniques. I had to make a decision after a year of college ... to pursue a career in racing or do something else. I'm happy how things worked out, but architecture would have been interesting.

Mike Skinner: I'd be a racing consultant of some type because I've got experience in all kinds of racing. Being a golfer wouldn't be too bad, either. I don't think I'm good enough to make a good living playing golf, but I wouldn't mind trying. I'd also consider starting my own business of some type.

Jeff Gordon: I would have attended college and pursued a degree in whatever field of study interested me.

Dave Blaney: I probably wouldn't make a living because that's all I've ever wanted to do.

Matt Kenseth: I would probably be a crew chief or work on cars. Racing is my whole life. I can't imagine doing anything else.

Ron Hornaday: If I wasn't driving a race car, I'd still be building them back at my shop in California.

Ward Burton: If I could be anything I wanted, it would be an outdoor activist. I love the outdoors and have an appreciation of the wildlife and its habitat. I actually lived off the land for a few years, and I have some good memories from that.

Dale Jarrett: Knowing the type of person I am, whatever (occupation) it would be away from the track, it would have to involve competition in some form or fashion. That's one of the masons I enjoy golf so much--it allows you to relax and get away from it all, but at the same time, it satisfies that competitive urge. Something tells me, though, that if you were golfing for your livelihood, some of that relaxation would go out the window. So, I'm happy to stay in that race car.

Elliott Sadler: I'd be a country-music singer. I'd be on stage performing like that guy right there with that blue cowboy hat on (motions to a musician on a nearby stage). That's what I'd want to be doing. I'd want to be on stage singing somewhere.

Ryan Newman: One of the biggest reasons for my going to school was to have something to fall back on in case anything ever happened. If I couldn't be a driver anymore I would want to somehow still be a part of the team. The next best job to being a driver would be crew chief. Even if I couldn't drive, I would still be in racing.

Bob Margolis is an associate producer and contributing editor for Motor Sports Weekly and a regular contributor to THE SPORTING NEWS.