Getting to know: David Bryant, No. 88 car chief

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2009) -- David Bryant is responsible for the details on the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet. As the car chief, he helps communicate the crew chief's game plan to the team and oversees the team during pre-race inspection, among other duties. Recently we caught up with David: Full name: David Lee Bryant Hometown: Farmville, Va. Education: Graduated in 1996 from Fuquay High School. Team/Job duties: Car chief/mechanic. Simply put, I make sure all the duties are performed like the crew chief wants, and I’m responsible for the mechanics on the car. Time at current job: Four years as car chief at Hendrick Motorsports. The last two I’ve been on the No. 88 team, and before that I was with the No. 25. Years at Hendrick: Nine. Prior to joining the No. 88 team, I worked with the No. 25 team and the No. 48 as a mechanic. Years in racing: I’ve been in the sport since I was 15. I raced go-karts when I was 12 and went into late model racing when I was 16. Then I couldn’t afford to race any more so I started working on the cars. I worked my way up from NASCAR late models to the Cup series today. Memorable moment: When I sat on the pole at Daytona (Fla.) in the go-karts. That was the first time I ever raced at that track. It must have been 1994 or 1995. First racing job: I was a mechanic on the No. 50 car owned by Joe Washington in 1999. We raced in the Busch (now Nationwide) Series. There, I became knowledgeable about every part of the race car. We didn’t have very many people. It was a small team so I learned everything. That helps me out a lot today. First job overall: I worked for my dad. He owned an electrical company (Bryant Electric) in Virginia. Whatever he needed done; I did. If I wasn't in racing I would: Be a professional fisherman in the Keys. Best racing memory: Probably the week after the plane crash when Jimmie Johnson won the Atlanta race. There was a lot of stuff going on, and we all hung in together and still won. It was cool. Favorite track: Richmond. Not just because it’s Virginia. I like it because the racing is so close, and it’s such a nice racetrack. Hobbies outside of racing: Fishing. I don’t really have a life. That’s about it. When I'm not at the track you can find me: Playing with my kids Annabelle (4), Cecelia (2) and Emmaline (four months). Favorite movie: “Office Space.” Favorite music: I listen to everything. Dream car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. If I could meet anyone, I’d meet: Tom Brady. He’s the man. That’s the coolest football player. Either him or Brett Favre. He’s by far the calmest, coolest athlete I’ve ever seen play. Favorite food: Steak. Baked potato. If I ran NASCAR, I’d: Back off the rules a little bit; make the templates more flexible so the cars could race closer together. One thing people don’t know about me: That I’m not AJ Allmendinger. I get asked for an autograph about once a month. Usually I’ll have on my No. 88 shirt, and I still get asked for my autograph because they think I’m A.J. Before the race, I always: Go through technical inspection. During a pit stop: I handle the left rear tire, and I’m thinking hopefully we don’t get blocked in by the guy in front of us. I knew I wanted a job in NASCAR when: I was 12 and I first started racing. I’ve always been around racing even when I didn’t drive, and I’ve never wanted anything else. Nothing has ever made me happy like this does.