Inside the Halls of Petty: Three times a crew chief (cont'd)

Some drivers are emotional, but all of them are intense. For example, John is very quiet on the radio and prefers to hear only the voice of his spotter. He is intensely focused on the job at hand. I tend to say very little to him, except under cautions.

Again, a guy like Kyle is really intense behind the wheel. I will work with him differently. As a crew chief you want a driver who has that fire and, believe me, Kyle has it.

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Chad is as cool as they come and very relaxed. I think it comes from his coastal North Carolina roots. He is like a silent assassin. He is mild-mannered, but can get up on the wheel when it's time to go.

I can tell you one thing. These three drivers would not be where they are today without one common thread: talent. No matter who is in the car, it is my job to get the most out of their immense talent. Each of them have won on big superspeedways or small bullrings.

Chad has been racing since he was 10 and has won at almost every level he has competed on in his 12-year career. He is going to have a long career in racing. He is a natural and he is always looking to improve.

Kyle and John have one thing that you can't teach or buy -- that is genetics. The names Petty and Andretti are synonymous with success in auto racing. They have been around the sport their whole lives. Those two have probably forgotten more about racing than many of us will ever know.

Situations like this, you have to be able to adapt to the driver. Some crew chiefs will force the driver to change to fit their style, but I don't think you can do that. I just feel fortunate to be the head wrench for these guys. They have a way of making me look good.

Your versatile crew chief,
Bill Wilburn