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What are the experiences, beliefs and dreams that shape the lives of NASCAR drivers? Staff writer Dustin Long asked Denny Hamlin about these subjects on March 6 inside his team's hauler at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Here is what Hamlin said:

I was doing foot races during preschool, kindergarten.

I had a small group of friends that was really into racing as well. I knew I wanted to be a driver back then. When it kind of hit me was when I got my very first go-kart when I was eight and went out there and won my very first race. That kind of fueled the fire even more, and since then it's just been all competitive and all about racing.

I have fairly good relationship with about three or four (Charlotte Bobcats).

I'm right there on the front row so they see me quite a bit. A few of them have come over to the house and played basketball before with us. I really wasn't into basketball that much until I got floor tickets for the first time. Ever since then, I love watching it even on TV now. I do my best to keep up with them.

(Raymond Felton) was actually at Red Rocks one night and I was there.

Me and my buddy were there and we just kind of challenged him and his friend to a game. They said, "All right, let's go now." It was fun. That was more a late-night being spontaneous type of thing. One game me and (Hamlin's friend) beat him and his buddy.

What scares me?

Not having a long Cup career. I definitely want to be in it for years.

Being around on the lake and being around a lot of friends.

Most of my weeks I surround myself with good friends, and going to play basketball releases a lot of energy and whatnot. That's what's helped me get away.

You like to have respect from everyone, not just race car drivers.

You like to be someone that people look up to because when you do you can make a difference in a lot of people's lives. I'd like to be the person that people try to set an example as of.

I would like to try bungee jumping one day, but I would have to do it over water.

The ground would probably freak me out a little much. I don't know, it just feels like if I hit the water it wouldn't be so bad.

Tiger.

It was kind of cool to get to see him a little bit and talk to him. He's amazingly more down to earth than probably what I would be if I were him.

I'd like to meet Obama.

He's definitely inspired a lot of people. He just seems like a powerful person. He's as a good a motivational speaker as he is a leader, I find him intriguing in those kinds of ways

Yes. I just think it's too hot and cold on those other planets for anything remotely like us to live.

Maybe parasites or something.

I picture myself at 30 looking a lot older, feeling older, but, surprisingly, I feel like just as I was when I was 21.

I act the same way, I feel like. I pictured me different. Oh, by 30 I'll be married. Just like anybody else would think, but, really, no hurries for that.

Pressure is the defining moment in which you have a decision to make and you have to make the right decision.

It's that moment you need to get the most out of yourself and somehow you dig down and get it.

Qualifying is probably the most on edge we're going to be and the fastest we have to run and the most pressure on the drivers themselves.

It's a little bit of butterflies, I'm a little bit nervous. It's not as bad as it used to be because I know now, three or four years into it, that qualifying doesn't mean everything anymore. I don't get so hyped up on it anymore.

"Shawshank Redemption."

To me, it's a great story about not giving up.

Probably a soccer ball that I signed when I was 6 years old.

I would never play with the soccer ball, but I autographed all the white pieces on it. My mom would always say "Why are you signing the ball?"

I said, "In case I make it, I want to have a good signature."

"Make it?"

"Yeah, as a race car driver."

So there's a big plaque on it that says "Congratulations, you made it." It's the actual soccer ball. It's peeled apart and everything. It looks old like Old Wilson when he passed away, but it still has my signatures all over it.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7055 or dustin. long@news-record.com