Does any one race in your career stand out?
WJ: "In reality, I would have to look at the bank deposits from Monday morning to see which one paid the best (laughs). However, if forced to choose, I would have to pick the 1999 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis when we won in the Superman car (right) because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we were able to capitalize on it."
What accomplishment are you most proud of – on or off the track?
WJ: "I’ve never had a chance to actually gauge it, but if I have had a positive impact on younger people that would be the highlight of my career, because what I accomplished on the track, we did as a team. Throughout my life, I have been an extremely focused individual, and if I’ve been able to convince some kids to get enough of a focus to accomplish whatever they want to do in life, whether it’s on the racetrack or off, that is something I can be very proud of."
ADVERTISEMENT Are there other forms of racing you enjoy?
WJ: "I enjoy watching all forms of racing. Competition is competition is competition is the way I look at it. I always look at it from the mechanical aspect of it. You do something long enough, and intensely enough, and you tend to get tunnel vision. You want to stay away from that as much as possible, so I'd watch other forms of racing, just from the standpoint that they attack a problem in a different fashion and sometimes that gives you a new focus or a new direction to go in. I enjoy all forms of motorsports."
Your son Kurt plays a key role in your race program, and has for a long time. Would you like to see your grandkids involved someday?
WJ: "You can never predict that, just like we couldn't predict that Kurt was going to be involved in this thing. He originally wanted to be an optometrist, and that fell by the wayside and I guess racing was second in line. You really can't predict that. Whatever they want to do is fine with me, as long as they do it intensely enough that they are successful at it."
Is there satisfaction in seeing Kurt's acumen grow over the years in the engine development program?
WJ: "Absolutely. For him to take his part of the program, which is basically the assembly of the engines and dyno tuning them, and so forth, and take that end of the business and do well at it, there's certainly an amount of pride and satisfaction in that."
For the last two years, you've had an opportunity to join a group of drivers on a trip to visit American troops in Germany. What did it mean to you to be a part of that?
WJ: "It's probably one of the most satisfying things I've done in my career. For us, as a group to go over there, and give a little bit back in return for the immense sacrifices that all of them have made, I mean, it was definitely more of an opportunity than a request to just do something. It was something all of us, collectively, felt we really needed to do."