Interview: NASCAR Rookie Driver Cole Whitt Talks Daytona 500, 50 Cent, Dale Jr., Speed Stick GEAR, And His Mount Rushmore of NASCAR Drivers

Each year, NASCAR is never short of storylines and as the sport welcomes its biggest rookie class in 20 years, this might absolutely be the year of the rookie. NASCAR’s class of 2014 will see eight talented and spirited drivers, including rising star Cole Whitt, battle to take home the coveted Sunoco Rookie of the Year award. Whitt is definitely one to watch, and with all the talent on the track this season, he’ll have his work cut out for him.

Cole Whitt made his Nationwide Series debut in 2010 for the now defunct Red Bull Racing team and later raced for JR Motorsports, which is owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. He will make his Sprint Cup Series debut driving the No. 26 Toyota Camry for Swan Racing, which is partly owned by four-time Super Bowl Champ Bill Romanowski. Speed Stick GEAR and Rapper 50 Cent’s SMS Audio will join Swan Racing as sponsors of the No. 26 car. Thanks to Speed Stick GEAR, which just launched their new line of antiperspirants designed for advanced performance, Whitt’s experience during this year’s Dayton 500 will be chronicled in a multi-part documentary. With all that impressive support Whitt is well on his way. Some would say that Whitt’s career has been ingeniously designed for him to win, but despite his past success, being a NASCAR rookie is no easy task, impressive resume or not.

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The 22-year-old qualified for the Daytona 500 in the final lap of his two-lap qualifying effort. He is among five other rookies making their Daytona 500 debut. Despite competing in one of the toughest rookie classes ever, which includes the much talked about Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson, one would be remiss not to have Cole Whitt at the top of their list as a worthy contender for NASCAR’s Rookie of the Year honor.

On the heels of his first Daytona 500, we were able to catch up with Whitt to discuss his sponsorship with Speed Stick GEAR and to talk about all things NASCAR. With his fresh enthusiasm he reminds us of all the reasons why we love this sport and why we’ll watch with our heart’s pounding as we root for this exciting newcomer.

Tam-Star: What made you decide to get behind the wheel and become a NASCAR driver versus possibly working under the hood or in the pit?

Cole Whitt: That’s something that could still always be an option for me. I’ve always been a mechanical driver and always liked the technical side of it. I enjoy that part of it. So, you never know, you know racing might not really work out. What made me start racing would be family, mostly. My cousin who helped me get started in racing, my dad and my grandpa all race. My dad played a big part in my racing career and getting me to where I am today.

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