Sports Publications

Oval Office Interviews

Sporting News, The, July 30, 2001 by Bob Margolis

What is your best investment tip?

Ricky Craven: First of all, it's important to get good advice. I've worked with people that I've built a relationship with over time, because having people in that industry that know what they're doing is equivalent to what we do, so that's a profession. So I invest in the institutions, but I really enjoy the market because the idea of anybody being able to own a piece of Proctor & Gamble is fascinating to me. You know, that's a quality company. You want to own a piece of it? You want to own a piece of Ford Motor Co.? You've got it.

Historically, equities have outperformed everything else. So if you're 35 years old, you need to have the majority of your money in equities, in my opinion. And that's what I do.

You've just got to understand that as you get older and you get closer to retirement, your focus will switch to fixed income. Because you can't tolerate the inconsistency, you can't really afford the downage. And at 35 you can, because history has shown that there's going to be more up years than down years.

Ward Burton: I don't really know enough about investing to be giving any tips. That's why I have someone to handle my investments.

Matt Kenseth: The way the market has been the last year, I would leave my money in the bank.

Dave Blaney: Bank it. Forget investment tips, just bank it.

Mike Skinner: Buying property is the biggest key to investing your money. But it's important to buy land in an area where the ups and downs of the economy don't affect the real estate market as much as in other areas. Stocks also work for some people, but they're not the best idea for people who are as busy as we are in this business. You've got to have a lot of time to put into investing in stocks in order to do it right and rake the money in.

Ron Hornaday: My best advice? Check out my sponsor Conseco's Stock Car Stocks Fund.

Ryan Newman: Stick with your first instinct.

DOWN THE ROAD

Race: Pennsylvania 500, No. 20 of 36.

When: 1 p.m. (Eastern) Sunday, TNT.

Where: Pocono Raceway, 2.5-mile tri-oval, Pocono. Pa.

Last year's winner: Rusty Wallace.

Three to watch: Ricky Rudd, Sterling Marlin, Jeff Gordon.

Getting around Pocono: "The straightaways are so long that there are so many places to pass here. But very seldom does anyone race next to each other going through the corners. Horsepower is super important." --Rusty Wallace

See a different game: Because there are three distinct corners, it's difficult to hit the right setup. At least the new tires and removal of bump stops from springs won't be an issue this time.

POCONO RACEWAY

Front stretch: 3,470 feet.

Long Pond stretch: 3,055 feet.

North stretch: 1,780 feet.

Banking: Turn 1, 14 degrees; Turn 2, 8 degrees; Turn 3, 6 degrees.

TSN's POWER POLL

                             TSN      Winston
Rank   Driver               points    Cup pts.

 1.    Jeff Gordon           1,920   2,695 (T1)
 2.    Dale Jarrett          1,836   2,695 (T1)
 3.    Ricky Rudd            1,757   2,667 (3)
 4.    Tony Stewart          1,424   2,421 (4)
 5.    Rusty Wallace         1,413   2,342 (6)
 6.    Kevin Harvick         1,385   2,319 (7)
 7.    Sterling Marlin       1,384   2,414 (5)
 8.    Dale Earnhardt Jr.    1,288   2,278 (8)
 9.    Bobby Labonte         1,250   2,258 (9)
10.    Steve Park            1,178   2,156 (13)

Through race No. 19, at Loudon, N.H. For a complete TSN Power Poll rundown and an explanation of the points breakdown, go to www.sportingnews.com/nascar/poll.>

Bob Margolis is an associate producer and contributing editor for Motor Sports Weekly. Bob McCullough is a free-lance writer based in Boston.