The 10 People in NASCAR You'd Love to Have a Beer With

Over the years of covering auto racing, I’ve managed to be among many drivers, owners and crew members after hours in local ice cream parlors...all right, bars. While I’ve had a few words exchanged here and there, I’ve never really sat down for any length of time with any one driver to discuss events of the day or otherwise.

If I had carte blanche to do so, the following slides and desires would start with Carl Edwards.

First of all, I don’t know that Carl would be hitting back beer after beer or any beer at all, but I’d still like to spend about 15 minutes with him setting back some kind of alcoholic beverage.

I have spoken to Carl before, but it’s always been things like stories of the day or quotes. The thing about sharing some alcohol with people is people tend to loosen up, and for a lot of people, it tends to be some kind of truth serum. Finding out from Carl his true feelings about guys like Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick would be a rip.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

I met Dale Earnhardt Jr. way back when he was driving late models and found him to talk to. If I were able to add some dark, crowded rooms with some of his favorite Budweisers on the bar, I think the conversations would be memorable.

I’d like to talk about the incident involving his crashing the yellow racing Corvette out west in which he speaks of having his father’s spirit guide him out of the car. Good stuff!

Team Owner Tommy Baldwin Jr.

Team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. comes from the same area of the country as I do: Long Island, NY. When I started in NASCAR modified racing, his father Tommy Sr. was one of the toughest competitors to ever hold a steering wheel. Father and son were also known to have been in their share of barroom brawls, as well as pit area fights, if not fighting each other!

Tommy Jr. and I would probably have a lot to talk about from the early days of modified racing at the little bull ring in Riverhead, L.I. and a whole lot more. Besides, if something broke out, there aren’t many guys I’d rather have around me than Tommy Jr.

Ex-Cup Driver Jimmy Spencer

I’ve spoken with Jimmy Spencer several times over the years, but just about racing in general.

I’d like to sit him down in his favorite pub and yak about his rough-and-tumble days of being a modified division champion.

Tony Stewart

I’ve had brief conversations with Tony Stewart, but nothing even close to sitting in a bar somewhere discussing some of his favorite moments in racing, whether it’s in open or closed wheel or about various off-track incidents with other drivers.

Other interesting topics would surely be his recent driving of the F1 car or the trials and tribulations of owning a race track such as Eldora.

Jennifer Jo Cobb

Jennifer Jo Cobb is one of the few drivers I have never met before, but with her background and desires, sitting down with this 37-year-old driver around some alcoholic beverages could be very enlightening.

Where she started, why she likes racing and what her aspirations are would be a good place to start.

Robby Gordon

I first met Robby Gordon at Benny Parsons’ house for a post-race gathering. He was a regular guy, easy to talk to, but a few beverages would surely have loosened him up to tell numerous stories of racing days both on and off the track—and I mean on- and off-track racing days.

He’s always been a no-nonsense guy doing things his way, whether it’s the right way or not. I think we'd have a lot to talk about.

Marcos Ambrose

I’ve never met the talented Aussie driver Marcos Ambrose, but I think he’d be quite entertaining with tales of racing "down under" and abroad.

There has to be more to this always smiling talented driver, and some time in a dark, smoky room might just loosen things up.

Kenny Wallace

I’ve spoken to Kenny Wallace several times over the years and have always found him to be funny and informative.

Not having been around any alcohol during those conversations leaves me to wonder what level of intensity the conversations could reach.

Bobby Hamilton Jr.

Other than just prior to qualifying or racing, I’ve not been able to talk with Bobby Hamilton Jr. for very long. I think a few beers with this ex-Busch, Cup and truck driver could be very enlightening, especially when you start to discuss his owning race teams, a restaurant and a racetrack.

Of course, no conversation under those circumstances would be complete without several questions concerning his famous father, Bobby.

Kevin Harvick

Not exactly a fan favorite, the first time I spoke with Kevin Harvick was his first week after Dale Earnhardt had died. The Rockingham racetrack conversation was brief, and a lot has transpired over the years since.

I would certainly entertain the idea of sharing a pitcher of suds to discuss those early days, top wins and, of course, when and how he plans to retaliate against his bud Kyle Busch.