Getting to know Chris Fasulka, gas man on the No. 88

CONCORD, N.C. (July 31, 2009) -- This weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway is a home game for Chris Fasulka, gas man on the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard team. Fasulka grew up in Wilkes-Barre, which is about an hour from the Long Pond, Pa., racetrack. We recently caught up with Fasulka, who has been with Hendrick Motorsports for seven years. Full name: Chris Andrew Fasulka Hometown: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. High School: Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre College: Two years at Luzerne County Community College in Wilkes-Barre Team/Job duties: Fill the No. 88 Chevy up with gas during pit stops. At the shop, I work on the suspension and brakes for the No. 88. Time at current job: Seven years with Hendrick Motorsports. Prior to working on the No. 88, I worked with the No. 25 team here. Years in racing: Eleven total. I started in 1998 with Penske Racing. First racing job: No. 12 Sprint Cup team at Penske Racing. I was the gas man at the track; and at the shop, I started out doing teardown. First job overall: UPS loader after graduating from high school in 1990. If I wasn't in racing I would be: Driving a UPS truck, probably. Best racing memory: The first win with Casey Mears -- the 600 at Lowe’s -- is the first thing that comes to mind. But it was also special when Dale Earnhardt Jr. got his win at the Bud Shootout. Favorite track: Pocono. I have two wins at my home track. But I also like Dover -- just the sheer speed of the place; how fast they go by you. Hobbies outside of racing: Golf. Currently, I’m boxing. My goal is to train for one match, compete and then walk away. Favorite sport other than racing: Football. My favorite team is Notre Dame. When I'm not at the track you can find me: Working here. On an off weekend, you can find me: Traveling. My wife, Nicole, and I travel a lot. Pets: A 145-pound Italian mastiff named Rocko. Favorite movie: “Reservoir Dogs” Favorite band: Journey My everyday car is: A Chevy Colorado. What you’ll find on my iPod: An eclectic mix. Anything from Sinatra to Journey. We listen to everything. If I could meet anyone, I’d meet: Mike Rowe of Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs.” Favorite food: Chicken. If I ran NASCAR, I’d: Shorten the races to 400 miles, and schedule every race for Saturday night under the lights. It’s a neater race, and you can use Sunday as a rain date. Before the race, I always: Stand second from the wall for the National Anthem. I did it one time 10 years ago, and I’ve stood there ever since. I have to be second in line -- there’s no question about it. And I don’t know why. During a pit stop, I’m thinking: Please don’t screw up; please don’t screw up. I knew I wanted a job in NASCAR when: I met Peter Sospenzo (a former crew chief and my brother-in-law) in 1996. My wife and I came down to visit and I just fell in love with the area. It was 70 degrees in January. And I thought it would be neat to get into racing. Three months later, I started working with Peter at Penske.