qa


Have a question for John?  We will comb through all of the questions submitted throughout the month, and post the answers to select questions right here on the web site.  If you have a question of your own, you can submit yours here.

Displaying questions 11-12 (of 12 total):

« Previous - Next »


Q. What's your worst prank, either played by you, or done to you?
A. “Not sure it was either.  I was in Seekonk (Mass.) to race a USAC Midget with my Dad and a couple of other guys helping out.  We had my car owner’s (Rollie Helmling) van, trailer and race car parked out in front of the hotel.  There was a knock on our hotel room door, and the guy who answered it was pale when he turned to me and said, “It's for you.”  When I got to the door there were two, maybe three, officers with guns in hand.  They asked if I had an automatic weapon in my possession.  I did, but it was a water gun.  As I went outside to show these officers, there were official vehicles surrounding the van with additional armed officers as well.  There was also a SWAT team on the roof of the hotel and a restaurant adjacent to the hotel.  Evidently an elderly couple from the restaurant saw it in the back of the van and reported us.  As we got to the rear of the van I opened the door and stepped back so that one of the officers could get the water gun.  He picked it up and began to shoot the other officers with what little water there was left in it.  I guess you can say that we inadvertently played a bad prank on ourselves.”
 
“Although, the bags of potato chips, on the kneeler at the altar, during my wedding ceremony was OK, but only because the bags stayed closed.  Not sure what I would have called it if the bags would have opened?  Homicide.”




Q. What would you consider your
A. “ That is easy, my first race.  It was at North Wilkesboro (N.C.), and qualifying was an introduction to NASCAR on its own merits, but the real story is the race.  I think that every driver including Mark Martin (I think that he just did not want to be left out) spun me out.  Now don't get me wrong, I will take the blame for most of the incidents, but surely not all could be my doing on one day.  After the race I went up to Rick Mast and said "Thank-you".  He looked a little bit bewildered by my comment so I went on to explain, "It is easier for me to thank you for NOT spinning me out then to be mad at everyone else".  He just laughed, but I was serious.”