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Written by:
Wendy Venturini
05/19/2008 - 07:54 AM
Concord, NC
Wendy Venturini on SPEED. (SPEED Photo) ยป More Photos
SPEED’s Wendy Venturini with Dale Jarrett on this week’s edition of 'Real Deal' from Lowe's Motor Speedway.
WENDY VENTURINI: It's hard to comprehend that tonight, Dale Jarrett will make his final lap in a race car. We decided to sit down with the man himself to see what he has been up to since he last raced at Bristol and what is on tap for his retirement following tonight.
WENDY VENTURINI: It's been six races since you stepped out of the car. Do you feel any different from when you were behind the wheel?
DALE JARRETT: Maybe a little bit. It doesn't take long to get behind with these cars, because there are so many things changing. You can lose that feel of just how much you can put the car on the edge. I found that to be a little different. Even when you've gone through off seasons and didn't drive a car for a while. This is totally different when you're coming right to competition.
WENDY VENTURINI: How has your daily schedule changed? Is there more golf and less media obligations?
DALE JARRETT: Well there’s a lot more of that. I have played some more golf, spent more time with my kids and there has still been a lot of media stuff going on trying to get through this last race.
WENDY VENTURINI: What do you miss most about not being behind the wheel or have you not had enough time away yet?
DALE JARRETT: I have had enough time and I think the biggest thing is just competing because that's all I've ever known and done. I don't miss the practice sessions and the qualifying and going through all of that but when the guys are racing I feel like I'm missing out on something there, even though I am transitioning pretty well. My TV stuff has kept me busy enough so it hasn't been too bad.
WENDY VENTURINI: When you watch the races what's been the hardest part about not being in the mix on race day?
DALE JARRETT: Thinking that I would like to be out there. It would be fun trying to beat Kyle Busch right now. I think that is the challenge for everyone. It really hasn't bothered me as much as I thought it was going to. Probably last year prepared me a little bit for what is going on.
WENDY VENTURINI: There was a time window when you were one of two or three drivers to beat every weekend. What did it feel like to be that guy and that team in those years?
DALE JARRETT: If you think about whatever it is that makes you the happiest, that you enjoy the most, and you say "we are really good at this." I never looked at it that I was really good, but I had a great team behind me. It made me look really good. But it was so much fun to go to work every single week. I really hated when a race would end because I had to wait
WENDY VENTURINI: I want to hear it from your mouth. Is this truly your last race? Will we see you in a race car again?
DALE JARRETT: I don't think so. I would hate to use the word never but I don't know of a circumstance that would create that. I am telling you right now, Saturday night is my last race.
WENDY VENTURINI: How difficult is it to walk away from it all?
DALE JARRETT: It's tough. I love to do this. I have said it enough and hopefully people understood I wasn't doing this, never did it for the money, trophies are great because that gives you great memories and that is what it was about, collecting those trophies. At the end of it, that is what I wanted to do, have as many of those, not for people to say good things about me or anything like that, because I just want everybody to know I love to compete. That is what makes it so difficult to walk away. The good side of it is it's easier because I will still be around. I will be around my friends. That would have been difficult not being able to drive and not being around my friends.
WENDY VENTURINI: When you step out of the race car Saturday night, what kind of emotions do you think you will be feeling?
DALE JARRETT: I am guessing that the moment I get out of there and take the checkered flag it's going to be pretty sad for me at that point and time. It will be very emotional. I hope I can hold those in check.
WENDY VENTURINI: Why keep those in check? Just let it go. It's your last race.
DALE JARRETT: I probably will. That is exactly what will happen. As much as I would like to keep that, keep those emotions in check, why not just let it go? That is probably exactly what will happen especially when I see a lot of people around me that mean a lot to me.
WENDY VENTURINI: Dale has meant a lot to us. When I asked him, which one was his favorite victory, he said his very first Daytona 500 win. Congratulations to Dale Jarrett. Good Job!
SOURCE: SPEED/Edited by Kelly Owen and Steve Keller
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