Getting to know Jeremy Brickhouse, spotter for the No. 5

AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 15, 2009) – When the green flag drops for today's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Phoenix International Raceway, Mark Martin will rely on his spotter to guide him safely around the racetrack. Meet spotter Jeremy Brickhouse: Full name: William Jeremy Brickhouse Nickname: Brickhouse. Been called that since I was a kid. Hometown: Chesapeake, Va. Current town: Davidson, N.C. Education: Great Bridge High School in Great Bridge, Va. Team/Job duties: Finish fabricator/spotter for the No. 5 team. Time at current job: I’ve been with Mark Martin since January of 2007. I started working at Hendrick Motorsports the day he started here. Years in racing: I’ve been in racing my whole life, but I’ve been working in it for almost 12 years. First racing job: I carried tires for Kevin Lepage in the No. 91 car in 1998 when he drove for my uncle at LJ (Little Joe’s) Racing. I went to Roush with him and carried tires for his No. 16 car in 1999. I started spotting for Lepage in 2000, and then I spotted for Kurt Busch for his rookie season in 2001. I stayed with him through his first year at Penske in 2006, and then I started working with Mark. I’ve been with Mark ever since. First job overall: I detailed cars when I was 15. I would charge $60 for each car from people and take it over to the city jail and get it done for $5 (laughs). I’d go back over it and do the Q-tip detailing, though. I made around $400 dollars a week doing that. I had an SUV and a truck when I was 17 because of that job. Man, I was rolling. If I wasn't in racing I would be: Probably a hunting or fishing guide. Best racing memory: There’s so many of them. One I’ll never forget is the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship when I was with Kurt Busch. We beat Jimmie Johnson by eight points. I’d also say Mark Martin’s first Cup win with Hendrick Motorsports earlier this year at Phoenix. Favorite track: Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. It’s action-packed. Good racing. Hobbies outside of racing: Hunting. Fishing. Favorite sport other than racing: Don’t really have one. I watch football some. When I'm not at the track you can find me: Here at the shop. On an off weekend you can find me: Hunting or fishing. Favorite movie: I’ve got two: “Six Pack,” and “Walk Hard with Dewey Cox.” Favorite music: I really don’t know. I listen to so many different types of music. I listen to country in the wintertime, but I can’t listen to it in the summer. Something about it, it’s too slow. My current car is: 1998 Chevy S-10. Dream car: Chevrolet Corvette Z06. What you’ll find on my iPod: Everything. I’m too tight, so I get everybody else’s music and download it. When I get tired of one person’s music, I just go to someone else and download theirs (laughs). If I could meet anyone, I’d meet: God. Favorite food: Steak and Oysters. Italian. If I ran NASCAR, I’d: Go to each track one time, not twice. And I wouldn’t run this kind of car. I’d go back to stock car racing. I’d also add more short tracks. One thing people don’t know about me: I have a wild side. Before the race, I always: Pray not to wreck. During a pit stop, I’m: Watching pit road for loose tires and trying to see where the leader is if we aren’t leading. I knew I wanted a job in NASCAR when: I always wanted to be a driver. My dad drove. All my family drove. I used to drive until 1997. Then, I moved here and started carrying tires.