SPEED's Krista Voda (L) interviews NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle at the NMPA Myers Brothers Media Luncheon in New York City. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
As we gather with family and friends for Christmas this week and await the arrival of the Jolly Old Elf, it’s a fitting time to discuss who in the NASCAR garage would make the best Santa Claus and the best Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
SPEED had some fun with the drivers in New York during Champions Week and we quizzed them about who in their opinions best fit the descriptions of Santa and the Grinch.
Several drivers took that open-ended question with a variety of different meanings. Many named Santa according to whom the most charitable and giving driver is but many poked fun at Tony Stewart, saying he would make the best Santa because he would best fit the big red suit.
The comic relief in these interviews was that Tony concurred with his fellow drivers, saying, “If you’re asking me who would fit the suit, I guess it would be me.” But Tony also garnered the most sincere votes because of his charitable work around the country.
He recently donated money to horse tracks in Indiana, which shows the breadth and depth of his giving. Not only is Tony very generous in his donations to Victory Junction Gang Camp, the NASCAR Foundation and many NASCAR-associated causes, he helps out his home state of Indiana in many ways. Smoke is definitely our most charitable and “Santa-like” driver, whether he fits the suit or not – but that’s for you guys to decide.
Some other votes for Santa: Dale Jr. didn’t hesitate in naming Mike Helton because Helton makes it possible for NASCAR drivers to do what they love for a living. The funny thing was Jr. called Helton the Grinch, as well.
The NASCAR fans are Santa to Denny Hamlin because they provide us the opportunity to do what we do and provide us an audience for it.
Kevin Harvick said Tony doubles as Santa and the Grinch simply because it was his chance to take a jab at his buddy. Those two drivers have a history of going back and forth with each other. Remember when Smoke waxed his back per Harvick’s demands?
Votes for the Grinch: Hamlin jokingly said his teammate Kyle Busch is the best Grinch. Kyle even laughed, “I’m sure some people would say me.” We’ve seen Kyle almost embrace that role, as if he expects people won’t always like him, especially following the May Richmond race when he wrecked Dale Jr. But Hamlin wasn’t the only one who nominated Busch for the Grinch. I’ll leave it at that.
Jimmie Johnson singled out NASCAR’s John Darby as the Grinch because as the Sprint Cup Director, he’s ultimately in charge of technical inspection.
