Latest / Kenny Wallace Media / Meet Kevin Harvick, TV Broadcaster

Transcript

Meet Kevin Harvick, TV Broadcaster · Kenny Wallace Media

0:00
I think that the biggest thing I wasn't prepared for the amount
0:02
of meetings that I get to sit in.
0:03
So that's been fun. Debriefs, we call them.
0:07
Well, well, we have debriefs, we have pre briefs, we have posts,
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we have everything as long. As you're not in your briefs.
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OK, yeah, well that that that happens too, every once in a
0:15
while, but. Zoom only only on zoom.
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Usually in zoom but I think it's you know for for me it's been
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fun because I know most everybody and and I think going
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through the process of of learning these everybody you see
0:29
has been very helpful to everything that that I've needed
0:32
to get going last night was completely overwhelming for for
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me. Luckily I've gotten pros all
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around me that have that have done this before and and we're
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able to they were able to keep the train on the tracks.
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But it's fun to to watch it from a a different perspective and
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and be able to look around and not be in that competition
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mindset bring some some insight into the the new car and just
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the strategies and and things that that go with with that and
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and you know be a part of be a part of a different team and
1:00
that's really how I've approached it is how can I just
1:02
fit into to what they do and and just try to to play my role and
1:06
and have fun with it. So we're having fun and and so
1:09
far so good. We haven't, we haven't knocked
1:11
anything down or broken. Anything.
1:14
And everything's everything's gone OK.
1:15
Yeah, Kelly, we always appreciated your candor when you
1:18
were a driver, even on the radio and with your crews sometimes.
1:22
How will you bring that to the booth?
1:24
That is that something you'll channel?
1:26
You'll figure out as we go along the way, especially starting
1:28
with the most important race. Well, I'm not going to make fun
1:31
of Mike, but I will make fun of Clint.
1:34
That's easy. Artie's not here, but he's here
1:36
with that. Artie's an easy target to just.
1:38
He brings it upon himself. But one of the best parts for
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for me is I don't have to get to know him.
1:45
Obviously I've been around Mike a lot and and you know we'll get
1:49
to know each other and know each other but not as well as we will
1:53
six months from now. But this guy, I've, I've known
1:55
him since since 2004 and when when he came in and and did
1:59
everything with with RCR and everything that we've been
2:03
through over the years as teammates.
2:04
But the the fun part for for me has just been we don't have to
2:08
compete for anything anymore. Now we're just now we're telling
2:10
a story and having a good time with the with the broadcast and
2:13
not having to worry about how fast our cars are going and and
2:16
we're just trying to do a good job but at what we do in in
2:19
communicating And so that that really helps get past a lot of
2:23
hurdles when you don't have to understand somebody that that
2:26
you're that you're talking about what what you'd love to do.
2:29
Yeah. And so, Clint, natural
2:30
transition and comfortable for you, but you've had different
2:34
analysts, you know, since Jeff Gordon up in the booth with you
2:37
and and Mike and we'll get Mike's thoughts in a moment for
2:39
his time. But you 2 have a unique working
2:42
relationship already. Do you feel like you have to
2:44
guide him along? You're going to freelance it
2:46
with this. What do we expect from you two
2:48
and in your broadcast together? Well, at the end of the day,
2:51
just like he spoke of, I mean, I do have a couple years of
2:53
experience, so it's important for me to help.
2:56
You know, my longest teammate that I had in Kevin as he spoke,
2:59
he was my first person that I met in NASCAR.
3:01
So it's important for me for him to have an easy transition and
3:05
have fun. You know, I think that's my role
3:08
in all this. We all know that.
3:09
I got to make sure that he's he sometimes doesn't have the most
3:12
fun when he was in that race. Car I mean.
3:14
He'd win the damn race and get out and you're like did did he
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enjoy himself right there. So it's my job to make sure that
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he's having fun up there and and I knew it would be good.
3:23
Just like when I was hired to to be alongside Jeff.
3:26
Jeff Gordon. A lot of people didn't know that
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He only saw us fighting on the racetrack much.
3:31
You know, like we did and when I I knew outside of the racetrack,
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Jeff and I hit it off good. We always had fun together and I
3:38
knew that would be good. Banner back and forth last
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couple years it's been, you know, it's been a challenge.
3:44
It is fun to do that. Welcome it.
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Mike and I welcomed so many guests in and had a blast doing
3:49
it. But it comes with its own
3:50
challenges, right, To be In Sync with somebody week in and week
3:54
out and perfect your trade. That's what Kevin and I will
3:56
well, you know quickly get and I know that we can handle that and
4:00
have a lot of fun doing that and deliver the right message.
4:02
To have a regular team, yeah. And Kevin, all your time when
4:05
you did the the Xfinity races and guessed it in the booth
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along with drivers, certainly a lot of experience.
4:11
Speaking of experience, Mike, 45th Daytona 500 for you,
4:15
whether it's radio or TV and obviously from day one since
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we've had it with Fox, I'm sure we could go on and on.
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But just is there a Daytona 500 memory or two that that jumps
4:24
out at you before I ask you about the Sunday?
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Well, easily 76, I was standing behind Leonard Wood.
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I'd walk down to the Petty pit and it was just full of people,
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crushed with people. I walked up to The Wood Brothers
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and it was just the crew. So I was standing right behind
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Leonard Wood and we could hear Ken Squires voice over the PA as
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they crashed, coming off turn #4.
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We couldn't see the cars, but we knew they were crashing.
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And when David Pearson had clutched the car, kept it
4:52
running, put it in first gear, rumbled across the line and
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everybody in that pit just started running to Victory Lane.
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I had no business being there, but I ran right along with them
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and and it was a wonderful moment in 79.
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I was high atop a scaffold A6 story scaffold in Turn 2.
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And I'm watching like all of America as Ken on CBS and Gary
5:14
Gerald in Turn 3 for MRN called the crash between Donnie and
5:18
Kale. And on radio Jackaroot goes.
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We'll have a new leader there in Turn 2 in front of Mike and I
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got to go what? And you can hear it on the tape.
5:28
You can hear the excitement of my voice.
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It's Richard Petty. I was surprised as anybody and
5:33
so that was great. But I think that one of the
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greatest Daytona 500 finishes was your win, what 2007 and the
5:39
fact that you won. I disagree with that.
5:44
And Clint came across the line on his roof.
5:49
My version sucked, Mike. You know, some things just
5:53
perpetuate themselves. You know, every, every, every
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time we walk into the meeting or into the into the booth on the
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weekend, that's kind of how it is.
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Clinton comes in on fire and. We kind of leave.
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We kind of leave the same way. But yeah, yeah, the the cool
6:05
thing is we have a history together.
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I got to call Kevin's first win in the Cup Series among you
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know, among quite a few others. And so it's really cool I think
6:14
to put to put this team together because Chris as you said and
6:18
and and as Clint said the last couple years has been a
6:21
revolving door and you know what that does, you stay in there
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long enough and it makes you dizzy.
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And we had Tony Stewart who was a great analyst and who can come
6:28
to our booth anytime. And then we had a couple of
6:30
people who'd show up with their hard card and a smile and it was
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very difficult for Clint and I to establish a rhythm with any
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of these other one or two or part time analysts, you know.
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And now I feel a whole new energy out in that TV compound
6:48
where people are coming up with ideas on how to make the
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telecast better. We have a new telestrator to
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play with. We have a lot of toys but but
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just everybody is moving and pushing forward.
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And I I can lay a lot of that right at the feet of of this
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fellow here joining us and asking those questions.
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How do we make it better? How do we tell this story
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better? How do we get the detail better?
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Yeah. Well along with the great
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pictures and and audio and it's been a plan for a while to get
7:13
Kevin into this seat to to join this this group and and we're
7:17
glad we're we're finally pulling it off Larry McReynolds and we
7:20
mentioned from from day one I know busy with the duels and
7:23
from Charlotte and back down here what do you see the the
7:26
biggest challenge for a crew chiefs I know weather is going
7:29
to be an issue possibly for a crew chiefs and the race on
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Sunday. Yeah, I mean, I think we started
7:35
seeing it in the dual races last night.
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You know, I never thought, you know, coming down here for 18
7:40
years as a crew chief for the Daytona 500.
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I never thought I would see the things that's going on right now
7:47
with with race teams and with with engineers and the way crew
7:51
chiefs are calling a race. I mean to be to know that you've
7:55
got to make one pit stop in a dual race and yet you're
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conserving fuel from lap one. It's it's really been hard for
8:02
me to wrap my arms around, but that's that's where our sport's
8:05
at you. You know, I I go back to my 18
8:08
years as a crew chief. I'm not going to say it was easy
8:11
to call a race, but a lot easier than what it is to call now.
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And it's it's one thing I I enjoy about being able to do a
8:18
one off race like I'm doing this weekend with Jordan Anderson in
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the Xfinity Series. You know, I've told people a
8:24
lot. I think that the days of me
8:26
being a crew chief, I think that ship has sailed, being gone for
8:30
24 years. But with what I've learned and
8:32
what I've watched and what I've tried to engage in the last 23
8:36
years, I feel like I could go back on the pit box and call a
8:39
race better than my days as a crew chief because of what I've
8:42
learned over the last few years. But it's just the competition,
8:47
you know, you think about the next Gen. car, we including
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Kevin and Kurt Busch, who's now retired the last two years,
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we've got 25 different winners to win in the Next Gen. car.
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So the competition and a lot of the ways that you try to outwit
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the competition is by calls that you're making on Pit Rd.
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It's it. It makes my head spin some time,
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but it's something I really enjoy.
9:08
Well, and we appreciate your insight as a crew chief and as a
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as a broadcaster still. Jamie Little, 25th year, right
9:15
in Motorsports. Wow, that's You only look like
9:18
you're 24. I'll tell you that, right?
9:19
I know how you're doing. That's, that's it for now.
9:23
Hey, storylines that you always dig up a few before the race
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without giving anything away for the broadcast, what's what's
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looking like? It's a couple of the top stories
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you'll be looking for, either in the Daytona 500 or if you want
9:33
to go a little bit beyond and during the season.
9:36
Well, the Great American race, as you guys all know in here, I
9:39
mean, the storylines are aplenty.
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We saw and heard a lot of those last night, Jimmie Johnson
9:43
racing his way in. But the storylines that I always
9:45
like to look at are who are the guys who have tried over and
9:49
over and over again who've never been able to get this trophy
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Right here, That's Kyle Busch, the Kyle Larson's Martin Truex
9:56
Junior, Ken Ryan Blaney, our defending series champion,
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finally get it done. He's had a couple of runner up
10:02
finishes. I like those stories and I also
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like the one off stories. The guys who come in here like
10:06
the Austin Sindrix and Michael Mcdowells that come out and win
10:10
this race. And when I get to stand out
10:12
there on the start, finish line and interview them, I mean, you
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guys all know you've all been in Victory Lane.
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There's nothing like that emotion.
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That's what keeps me coming back and doing this job, staying in
10:21
the pits, because I love being in the middle of that action and
10:25
those emotions that are so raw. It's why we're all here.
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It's why I've been here for 25 years covering Motorsports,
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because there's just nothing else like it and.
10:32
Hopefully 25 more Regan's or or a few more Regan, Regan Smith,
10:38
former driver as a pit reporter, kind of a cool thing for our
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broadcast group. And I know you've been doing
10:42
this a few years now, Regan, but what, what perspective or
10:46
advantage does that give you having come from the car, not up
10:48
to the booth necessarily, like like Clint and Kevin, but to be
10:52
doing what what Josh and and Jamie are doing as a pit
10:54
reporter? I think a big part of it's the
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the relationships of the garage and and having known so many
11:00
people for so many years. You know I spent a number of
11:02
years in the garage as a driver and and even years trying to be
11:05
a driver and trying to get those opportunities.
11:07
And you build those relationships and that trust,
11:11
that trust from the crew chiefs or the engineers to where if
11:14
they tell you something that you're going to use it at the
11:16
right times and use it not burn them on something.
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And it it allows me to get some answers that typically I, I
11:21
don't know that I would always be able to get.
11:22
And you know it's been a lot of fun for me.
11:25
The the thing I was, I was kind of the most hesitant about was
11:27
well, if I'm not driving then what does this look like?
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Well, now instead of going into one hauler each weekend and
11:33
talking to one group of guys. I get to go into every hauler
11:35
and talk to every single guy and and see what they're thinking
11:39
and and see what the what they believe the events going to look
11:41
like and what the, you know, what the storylines are going to
11:43
be and what we need to really focus on.
11:44
So it's it's been very enjoyable and it gives me a little bit
11:48
different perspective having coming out of the driver's seat
11:51
in terms of the flow of the race and and what maybe you what's
11:54
going to approach us next. And Josh Sims, rookie stripe
11:57
last year at the Daytona 500, but you see my race hub, a pit
12:00
reporter second year here. Josh, What wowed you the first
12:03
year that you're more comfortable with this Daytona?
12:06
Yeah, the whole thing was absolutely incredible.
12:09
Getting to do the Daytona 500, a race, you know, you you grow up
12:12
watching and and know the magnitude of it.
12:15
But I think the biggest thing for me is knowing, don't forget
12:18
the story, you know, I think Regan and Jamie do such a great
12:21
job of weaving in storytelling while you're getting pit reports
12:25
out of them. And the biggest thing, you know,
12:27
going through my head is, all right, what's wrong and how do I
12:29
get that across? Don't forget the why.
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I think that's so important to any viewer out there watching.
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To know in addition to what's going on, why this matters.
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That's something that brings in viewers, that's something that
12:40
gets new fans. And always remember that while
12:42
you're telling people what's going on, give them a reason to
12:45
care about someone, Give them a reason to hate somebody.
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It's it's all it's important when we're doing this broadcast
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and I think this whole broadcast team does a great job of
12:51
storytelling in addition to broadcasting.
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And I think that's one of the biggest things I picked up on
12:56
being around all of these, around all these people around
12:58
me. Great to have you again.
13:00
And Chuck McDonald is our producer, so he's going to have
13:03
to pull all this together as he did last year in his first year.
13:06
But actually he's was one of the originals.
13:08
You were in the graphics truck, right, some 20 years ago and
13:12
then he's produced college football booths, NFL and now he
13:16
has the unique challenge with Kevin Harvick and then Clinton
13:19
and Mike. So what I guess describe for
13:22
everybody, Chuck, your philosophy, you have one in
13:24
general and then you have one probably for this group and for
13:27
NASCAR. No, I think the main thing that
13:30
Fox. Does is we try, not.
13:32
To produce the show before we do it, we we're very good at at
13:40
covering. The event as it happens and then
13:43
with this. Group.
13:45
With race, there's like unlike football.
13:47
Or other things where there's. One ball, there's a bunch of
13:49
stories going on and just figuring out the ones that are
13:52
the most compelling and the ones that have to make air and the
13:55
chemistry of this team makes it a lot easier.
13:57
A lot. Easier for me, all right?
13:59
If anybody, I have a few more, if anybody has any.
14:01
Yes, you just identify yourself if you could when you ask a
14:04
question. Go ahead.
14:05
You go first and then I'll get to you.
14:07
Is that OK? Just so we know who we are, we
14:08
have a microphone so that you can be heard.
14:10
Thank you. Jacob Suhlman, Race Face,
14:12
Digital Mike. Referenced it and.
14:15
Kevin, you actually. Did during the dual broadcast.
14:17
Last night, but I'm curious the dynamic for you 2 and maybe
14:20
even. Larry as well going.
14:22
Back to that first. Win because I I.
14:24
Think back to that broadcast. It's one of the first ones that
14:27
I vividly remember. And Mike?
14:29
Saying, you know, Gordon. Got loose.
14:30
It's Harvick. What is that?
14:32
Like to bring it full? Circle all these years later.
14:35
And and have now this chemistry after that moment.
14:39
Well it's interesting because of the fact that you know they were
14:42
obviously in the booth and and I've obviously heard that a
14:45
number of times and and it's a it's a it's a special moment in
14:50
my career. But the the one thing I that I
14:52
can tell you from the beginning of my career we were around all
14:57
these guys and gals because of the fact that there was a lot
15:01
there was a lot of engagement with Fox coming into the sport
15:03
and wanting to be a part of the drivers and the teams and the
15:07
sport and understand it and entertain and and so we were
15:10
around each other a lot. The the thing that I can tell
15:13
you about Mike and Larry you know it's Larry is Larry's on
15:18
top of everything that that goes on.
15:19
Mike Mike is in charge of of us. We wanted to I wanted to get him
15:24
a a referee shirt to to start the year But working with with
15:28
Mike and and Adam Alexander these guys are these guys are
15:32
pros and when I've learned that when something goes wrong I just
15:34
stop be quiet I look at Mike and so my point is there's a there's
15:39
a lot of experience. I won't call us all old because
15:41
we we are, but I won't say I guess I did say it, but I guess
15:45
that's just a fact. That's just the way that goes.
15:48
Can't run from, you know. It's yeah.
15:51
He reminds us that he is. He's younger than most.
15:55
But an immature. Immature, yeah that's younger,
15:58
younger younger and immature. But you know I think just having
16:02
that tie and that bond of of all the all the group that have been
16:05
around the sport for so long makes it makes it fun because
16:08
we're all, we're all fans we all love the sport and and you can
16:12
hear that passion in that call and and that passion is still
16:15
there when I when I listen to both of them talk about what
16:18
they do today. But if Larry or Mike wanted to
16:22
comments, that'd answer your questions.
16:24
OK, we'll go to next. Go ahead, Sir.
16:27
Hey. This is Chris Collins.
16:29
WNDBI also had a question for Kevin.
16:31
So back in August here with for your last race at Daytona, I
16:35
asked you if there are any moments that stood out over your
16:37
career racing here. And you talked about the feeling
16:40
of coming through the tunnel to come under the track as
16:43
something that that got to you every time.
16:46
And I was wondering, now you've, you know, you've come through
16:47
the tunnel again this weekend, but in a very different.
16:50
Context with a very different. Set of things ahead of you.
16:55
So I was wondering if if you could speak, is that feeling any
16:57
different now now that things are so?
16:59
Different for us, it's very different for for me it's it's
17:03
different in in the fact that I don't have to worry about how
17:06
fast my car is going to go. And I watched those videos last
17:09
night of those guys hitting things and I'm really excited
17:11
that I don't have to you know experience how that feels today
17:15
and and once you know we saw that everybody was OK last night
17:19
we we really want to people to understand how physical this is.
17:23
And and I want whether it's sliding from the top of the bank
17:26
the banking and slamming down on the apron or hitting the wall
17:28
like like Ryan Blaney did last night, that's that's intense and
17:32
that that hurts. And there are moments like that
17:35
that happened throughout the night that TV makes look easy
17:38
and those are the things that that we want to dive in and do.
17:41
But driving in that tunnel for me I don't have to worry about
17:44
all those things inside the car. We can we can relay and and tell
17:48
you what it felt like or what it looked like or what he's
17:51
experiencing from from the driver's standpoint and and but
17:54
being able to look around and enjoy the sights and the sounds
17:58
and the smells and all the views of everything and and seeing
18:01
that green flag for the Daytona 500 is is something I'm really
18:05
looking forward to because now it's it there is a sense of fun
18:08
that goes along with with what I'm doing and and I've learned
18:11
that everybody here wants to have a great time and we eat a
18:15
lot so. That's part of it, I've learned.
18:19
That I've learned, that I've learned that I better have a
18:21
better exercise program quickly. But it's, you know, just
18:25
everything is just it's very enjoyable.
18:27
And that that's not that I didn't enjoy what I did, but I
18:29
just didn't realize how intense it was doing the things that we
18:33
did on a weekly basis. Now we go in the tunnel and it's
18:35
some security driver at breakneck speed and we're
18:38
worried about other things, like trying to find the Media Center
18:40
on time. That's right.
18:41
OK. I think we have another
18:42
question, good Sir, Terry. Sabaston with WNDB, the flagship
18:46
station for the motor. Racing Network also a veteran.
18:48
That was qualified to work on F sixteens.
18:50
How was? That flight today can you?
18:52
Tell us what the what the Thunderbirds did there.
18:54
And the fun you had there, you know you're getting out of a
18:56
race car, but jumping into? AAF 16 is pretty comparable.
19:00
And how does it compare? Well, it's it's it's the most
19:03
physically intense thing I've ever done in my life.
19:06
And what we took off at the end of the runway and went straight
19:09
up in the air, and I'm like, holy crap, what have I got
19:11
myself into? I didn't pass out.
19:14
I didn't throw up. It was it was a it was a great
19:17
experience. And you know, it's something
19:20
that I've never done before because of the competitive side.
19:22
I didn't know if I was going to come out of that thing walking
19:24
sideways. Like my compadre here said he
19:27
was walking sideways when he when he got out of his.
19:30
So I have never actually got in one of the planes and and you
19:34
know, this was the first opportunity that I could miss.
19:37
I guess I could miss work. Is that OK?
19:39
You look pretty. Disheveled when you walk, I was.
19:41
Going to say, let me add a little context to this.
19:43
When he got to the TV, I'm exhausted.
19:45
To be honest, a little bit. Ago.
19:46
We've all seen Jamie and Rican interview him after a race.
19:48
A little bit of helmet, head, right?
19:50
The old hair is sticking up. A couple of them are, and today
19:54
buddy, it was straight up like butt.
19:57
You need to go to the wardrobe department and get something
20:00
done with your hair, 'cause it was, it was bad, it was.
20:03
Intense, but I enjoyed it. That was my one and done so that
20:07
was check that off he. Looked like he was going very
20:10
fast. There you go.
20:11
That's the kind of analysis Clint will give you.
20:13
I'm telling you, we have another question back here.
20:16
Yeah, Justin Schuler kicking the tires.
20:20
I guess this question kind of may have some value for both.
20:22
New fans and even the. Lifelong fans.
20:24
And it may be very. Basic, but I kind of wanted to
20:26
have this open to anybody's perspective.
20:29
They say that the Daytona. 500 is the Super.
20:32
Bowl of. NASCAR and and some drivers.
20:34
Will say they will trade anything to take that trophy.
20:37
Home and and win this race. And put this race on their
20:39
resume. In your guys's opinion, why
20:47
anybody? Want to?
20:49
Since 1959, that's the way this sport has been run, you know.
20:53
Prior to that, the Southern 500 was the sport's biggest race.
20:56
In 59 Daytona open in 60, Atlanta and Charlotte opened.
21:02
But once Bill France built this Speedway, this became the one
21:08
crown jewel of NASCAR. And the way NASCAR has been run
21:11
ever since, it's always been this is the tent pole event.
21:16
That's never changed. Kevin, since you won one, how
21:23
about that? Sorry, Clint, how about maybe
21:27
you could describe what how that changed your life?
21:29
I mean, we hear it so often. Hey, there's nothing like and
21:32
now I'm a Daytona 500 champion, whatever.
21:34
But maybe go into a little more detail based on his question.
21:36
Well. It's very unique right, Because
21:37
you you can you every team is the most prepared that they're
21:40
going to be all year. This week they have their there
21:44
are three months to to work on the car.
21:45
It's the best it's going to look, the haulers going to look,
21:48
the best it's going to look. You've got all this hype and all
21:50
this build up around the the first race of the year.
21:54
You've got media day, you've got qualifying races, you've got you
21:57
had qualifying, you have qualifying races and you know
21:59
everything that leads up into the 500.
22:02
And it's just you know when when you bring in the history and the
22:05
mystique and and everything that was built around Daytona
22:08
International Speedway making it our marquee event of the year.
22:12
There's no way you can build any more hype because you you've had
22:14
the whole offseason and there's no way you can really be more
22:17
prepared with with the amount of time that you have.
22:20
So I remember winning the race and the first thing that Dale
22:24
Jarrett told me he said well you're you're now you're going
22:26
to understand why this is the the biggest race in the sport
22:29
and and what that means and and when you look at that trophy and
22:32
you look at the names on it and and you realize you know many of
22:36
them are the who's who of of NASCAR racing.
22:38
And and understand the the history of of the names on that
22:43
trophy that that you're associated with.
22:44
It makes you understand that you truly are a part of of you know
22:48
one of the more historic events of of of Daytona history.
22:53
And so every year that happens and somebody new puts their puts
22:57
their name on that trophy and and if you're in NASCAR race and
23:00
you understand what that trophy means you know to to take home
23:05
and and the amount of time and effort that everybody puts into
23:08
preparing those cars to try to do that.
23:10
So it's just a it's a different vibe than than the rest of the
23:13
year points do matter Clint will tell you they don't he's just
23:16
racing for the trophy. But here I.
23:19
Am I don't have one but. It's, it's, it's just different.
23:24
It's different than than any other week.
23:26
I mean it's. That one one moment, one race
23:28
where you can change a a career. I think we had a question.
23:30
If we can get a mic over here, I can go there and then we'll go
23:34
to you. Sir, I'm sorry, go ahead.
23:37
Steve Schweitzer with Alaska Press.
23:40
Mike referenced 76 and 79 as two events that really stood out in
23:49
his broadcast career. Richard Petty was in here
23:52
earlier in the week and he mentioned both races, but he
23:55
said the one that bothered him the most was the one he lost to
23:58
Pearson and that he remembers so many more details from that race
24:05
in 76 than the one he won in 79. For Kurt and Kevin, I don't want
24:13
to talk about race memories. I want to talk about broadcast
24:15
memories. Can you and I know Kevin, you
24:17
haven't been this is your first your debut in the in the booth
24:22
full time but you've done some call some races as a color
24:27
analyst before from your days in the booth.
24:31
What single experience or moment or event stood out most, not
24:40
from your racing career, but from your broadcast career?
24:43
Well, I think that the thing for probably for me that sticks out
24:46
the most was actually here and it was when Kyle Busch broke his
24:48
leg. We were in the we were in the
24:50
booth at that particular day because you were pretty new in
24:54
the booth and not really understanding a lot of things
24:57
that that happened in those types of moments and and so you
25:00
know not knowing if the drivers OK or what the situation is and
25:04
knowing how hard the impact was from the driver standpoint and
25:07
and so that was that was one moment for for me that that
25:12
stuck out a lot more than most because of the uncertainty about
25:16
the driver and knowing the next day that you're going to get
25:19
into the race car and do the exact same thing.
25:21
So you know, there's just those those moments of in time that
25:24
that and that was one for me that that sticks in my mind to
25:28
this day about the the moment that that Kyle Busch hit that
25:32
hit that inside wall and and everything that proceeded to
25:35
happen after that. And then we have I think time
25:38
for one more of the from the group here, Clint.
25:41
I know. You're.
25:42
Getting. Spoiled because.
25:43
Your team wins the Super. Bowl every year now but.
25:46
Railers team What? Was the good point.
25:49
What was the experience like this time?
25:51
And especially with Gordon there did you were?
25:52
You able. To rub it in his.
25:53
Face and Oh my gosh. What?
25:55
He just keeps showing up for beatings.
25:57
What? Why would you do that?
25:58
It's amazing. I mean, he just sets himself up
26:01
year after year for disappointment.
26:03
But to have him standing next to me when when we actually beat
26:07
him again, Gosh, it felt good. What a game.
26:12
What a you know what a relationship with him it has
26:15
been fun. I remember my first year in this
26:18
very job was was alongside him meant a lot to me right off the
26:22
bat was was our rivalry with the the Super Bowl and and to be
26:25
able to beat him but you know it kind of takes me right into.
26:29
I wanted to to answer your question too.
26:32
The importance of this job takes a whole new meaning and I think
26:36
he's going to realize that really quick as soon as that red
26:39
light comes on. On Sunday, my life changed.
26:42
My whole, my whole vision of this sport changed.
26:46
My love for it didn't change, but the importance of my job
26:49
did. It's one thing to be out on that
26:51
racetrack as part of the crowd, right when you have the job and
26:55
your task to deliver the message to people at home, to the sport
26:59
that you love. It's very important to you.
27:01
You want to do a good job, you want it to be light hearted, but
27:04
you want to take care of business.
27:05
There's so many boxes to check and and he and I talked about it
27:09
last night even this morning you know, Dang it we could have done
27:12
that a little bit better. We missed that.
27:14
You know you never you never hit on the on the good things you
27:17
never even think about those no different you did on the car
27:19
very competitive up there just like it is on that race car.
27:23
You have good days you have bad days you call good races you
27:25
don't but it's the team, right. It's a team effort when when
27:28
Jamie and Regan give a good call or Larry gives us a tidbit man I
27:32
saw this down there in the pit area.
27:34
You know you you get in a slot much like you do in that race
27:37
car and that comfort level, everything calms down and it's
27:40
just such an important, impactful thing to be able to
27:43
call the Great American Race at Daytona 500.
27:46
It it is fun, but it's nerve wracking as hell because it's so
27:49
important to you more. Nervous Clint Kevin TO more
27:52
nervous going into this as a broadcaster first time or when
27:55
you were racing it for the first time and.
27:57
It's butcher way. More it's.
27:59
Butcher. Not Boosher.
28:01
Butcher. OK big boy, wait till you're
28:03
going wide open and and everything happened everywhere.
28:07
You guys, him yelling in your ear, him telling you what to do.
28:09
That was me last. Night I was trying.
28:10
To wave Princeton. Myself buddy it.
28:13
Just you gotta breathe and you're gonna make mistakes.
28:15
He said it. It was I it.
28:17
Didn't. Wouldn't surprise me if I did,
28:19
but don't remember. What you said that's all hell.
28:21
Breaks loose up there just like the race car, doesn't it?
28:23
I would. Tell you that last night I was,
28:25
I was more spun out than anything I've ever done in a
28:28
race car. When the when the beginning of
28:29
the race started and everything went down and everything was
28:32
happening, we had a little couple little things go wrong
28:35
here and there and radio didn't work and next thing I know I'm
28:38
looking at Mike, all right. And while you're looking at me,
28:41
I'm just. Looking at you, I'm not talking
28:42
and I are. Talking.
28:43
Figuring out where we're going now.
28:45
I just wait. I froze wheels.
28:46
Fell off so. Yes, I was way more nervous last
28:49
night 3. Hurting cats the good.
28:51
Thing is, Clint's going to Dawsonville and going to the
28:54
billiard room and blow the horn, I hope.
28:56
So yeah, he's got to blow the horn I.
28:58
Like ribbing people. You realize how many people that
29:01
pissed off on Twitter? It was awesome to be able to do
29:04
that. It created an hour and a half of
29:06
banner with people on Twitter. When I got done with that race,
29:08
it's it's sometimes that's by design.
29:10
Cyrene. It's a full room.
29:13
You call it as Cyrene, Georgia, it's pool.
29:15
Room. Not a billiard room.
29:17
Well, thanks. Oh my.
29:18
Gosh pool. Hall, thanks for your time up
29:20
here and thank you all for sharing a few moments for your
29:23
questions and you for your coverage of NASCAR.
29:25
Thank you very much and thank you guys for.
29:27
Being here too you. Guys, thanks for being here.