Race dogs common site during NASCAR weekends

Many traits define our NASCAR drivers: talent, sponsorships, teams, car numbers and so forth; however, few think to identify the sport's top wheelmen by their four-legged companions.

Considered to be a best friend off the track, drivers' dogs are becoming a larger part of a his persona and celebrity status.

Beyond Pit Road

TNT's Matt Yocum talks to Ryan Newman about his animal foundation and finds NASCAR fans of the four-legged kind.

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• Ryan Newman Foundation

Oftentimes, NASCAR fans can tell you which dog belongs to which driver, the breed of said dog, its name and at least one distinguishing personality trait.

They know that Denny Hamlin's dog, Missy, can bounce a basketball, they know A.J. Allmendinger's dog played a part in the movie Marley & Me and that Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s dog, Killer, has his own line of merchandise including a stuffed version of itself whose sales rival some of Earnhardt's own product lines.

The dogs are stealing the show, and rightfully so. These canines have their own endearing star power and receive tons of exposure traveling with their human owners on the NASCAR circuit every weekend and have acquired a fan following.

"When people walk past the motorhome lot and I'm walking our dogs, they yell their names. They know who they are and I've autographed things for fans before. I sign Lola or Ginger and then draw a tiny paw print," said Eva Busch, wife of driver Kurt Busch. The couple owns Ginger, a Yorkshire Terrier, and Lola, a Norwich Terrier, and both dogs have appeared in NASCAR pet calendars and books.

"I think that is part of the reason why the dogs have become so popular, they've gained a new level of exposure in the infield with things like the Greg Biffle Foundation calendar. We also take our dogs to autograph sessions that Kurt has when we can," Eva said.

Emily Dinunzio, executive director for the Greg Biffle Foundation, which supports animal causes and has produced a pet calendar featuring drivers' dogs every year since 2005, says it has become a must-have item for NASCAR fans.

The 2010 calendar is at the print shop this week and sales begin in August.

"The dogs in the calendars have become an extension of the drivers' personality so naturally the fans want to know them," Dinunzio said. "And seeing the driver in a relaxed setting away from the car and sponsor atmosphere is unique; these pets are family members. It's an inside look into the driver's life and fans like that." (Continued)