How does this record compare to Ripken’s? I hate to put myself up with the likes of a Cal Ripken. But I’m proud of it. There are days you’re banged up and don’t feel like climbing behind the wheel.
What was the closest you came to sitting out a race? [In a 1984 accident] I ruptured all the capillaries in my eyes. My eyes looked like a horror film, like they were dripping blood. [In a few days] I’m back in the race car. My face was so swollen when I went into a corner, all the fluid would go into my eyelids and they would cover my eyes so I couldn’t even see. I had to duct-tape my eyes open.
That can’t be the only time you might have skipped a race. I tore the medial collateral ligament in my left leg. The orthopedic surgeon wanted to operate and put me in a cast for six weeks. That wasn’t the answer I wanted. With physical therapy and a special knee brace, I was back within a couple of days. I couldn’t use my left leg. My team built a hand-operated clutch so I could drive.
You’ve been hinting that you might retire soon. Our sport is noted as a family sport. But the increased schedule takes a toll on my family life. My son is 7 years old. When he caught his first fish at age 4, it was with a neighbor.
Are you also frustrated with how NASCAR has changed? I came into this thing with the desire to win races. But the new NASCAR is all about TV ratings. With that comes this big youth movement. It wouldn’t surprise me to see us up there in bikini bathing suits, flexing and stuff, before the driver introductions.
