Transcript: Buddy Baker

February 4, 2001
6:18 PM EST (2318 GMT)

NASCAR legend Buddy Baker joined fans for a quick chat session. Catch up with him in this transcript.

Buddy Baker at 6:20pm ET Hi. I'm glad to be with you tonight. The plate is full this week.

dewaltford17@icqmail.com at 6:20pm ET Do you have anymore test sessions planned with the Penske team?

Buddy Baker at 6:21pm ET It's not a well-guarded secret. I'm supposed to be doing this with a young driver they are going to run in some ARCA races. Hopefully I'll work with him more at Talladega. I plan three more sessions. They told me not to say anything about him yet. He is very talented. I've watched a lot of guys go out of our driver schools. To have a hands-on project like this is fun.

shannon at 6:22pm ET Who was your hero when you were growing up?

Buddy Baker at 6:23pm ET My father was two-time champion, won 47 events. He was my hero and still is. The other was Fireball Roberts. I thought he had talent I hoped to some day get close to. I was lucky enough t to know the real pioneers of the sport.

chip at 6:23pm ET Who do you think is the driver to beat at the Coca-Cola 600?

Buddy Baker at 6:25pm ET My final answer won't be until the checkered flag. It takes a driver with a lot of discipline to go 600 miles. Somebody like a Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt Sr. -- any time he's in a race the longer he goes the better he gets. Of course Dale Jr. and Matt Kenseth. I'm leaving a lot of drivers out. Dale Jarrett has a chance when there's no mechanical problems. To pick a guy before a 600-mile race, you not only have to have a hole that you talk out of but a hole in the back of your head where your brains come out.

Barry Levander at 6:25pm ET How did drivers keep their concentration before the days of radios in the long races 400- to 600-milers?

Buddy Baker at 6:26pm ET The car drove so badly you didn't have a chance to do anything but concentrate. We didn't have anything they have now. The brakes actually work now, too.

Brian at 6:27pm ET Is it true that next year all the NASCAR races will be shown on NBC and FOX? If it is, will you broadcast for one of those networks? And, if not, what are you planning to do in the future?

Buddy Baker at 6:28pm ET I don't know. I'll tell you this: My No. 1 love is what I do. I love being around something I've been involved with since I was 17. I do know I do a lot of work with my dad at the school and with Grand Prix Tours.

william vaught at 6:29pm ET Do you help any drivers test at Daytona?

Buddy Baker at 6:30pm ET Yes, I do help different people. Rusty Wallace had an injury to his shoulder and I tested at Talladega. I've worked with Hendricks Motorsports in the past. When you talk about it (on TV), you should know what you're talking about.

Mark Parrill at 6:30pm ET How does it feel being one of only six who have won the Daytona 500, Winston 500, World 600 and Southern 500?

Buddy Baker at 6:32pm ET Those are great race tracks. That's quite an honor for me. I don't feel I left a lot to wish I had done. Drivers don't win races, they're part of a team that wins races. I never felt I did anything by myself. Really and truly.

LEO C. RAMP at 6:32pm ET How do you feel about the return of Dodge to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series?

Buddy Baker at 6:33pm ET I love it! That's very important we have Dodge involved again. I won eight major races in Dodges. Taking a full year, that's the way they go about it. They have engineers second to none. When they hit the track they'll be awfully competitive.

WV Nascar Fan at 6:33pm ET Who is your vote to being the 2000 Rookie of the Year?

Buddy Baker at 6:34pm ET Ha ha. I don't think it's over yet. At the moment you'd be hard-pressed not to say Dale Earnhardt Jr. But there's a kid in the No. 17 Roush car that's part of this race. It won't be over before the season is.

JG24 at 6:35pm ET Buddy, what is the most challenging part of commentating?

Buddy Baker at 6:35pm ET Coming up with new material. The biggest challenge is to have a conversation with the person at home. I enjoy it when color commentators are talking just like they were at home.

MartinRulzzzz at 6:37pm ET Just wondering what your take is on the season so far. Who's hot and who's not? Also, I don't mean to put you on the spot but I also want to know who your pick is for the championship.

Buddy Baker at 6:39pm ET You can guess all you please. We've watched too many championships come down to the last race. There's plenty of people who could make a run for it. Someday the gods have to smile on Mark Martin. One thing I don't do is guess. That's like saying who might win before the race starts.

To the families who had folks injured in the walkway incident, our hearts and prayers go out to you. It's not often I get a chance to talk with the race fans, but when I do I really enjoy it. Thank you.