Fisher understands the complexities...
Fisher understands the complexities of being a successful racer. Photo by Jerry F. Boone
Each driver's attempt to progress into the Cup Series will be gradual, learning from the ground up. Duncan, 26, and Crocker, 24, understand the importance of persistence.
"One of the big things is seat time," says Childress, who has avoided moving up too soon with either driver.
"Especially in stock cars, you get in a Late Model and you get out there and beat and bang and take your Saturday night licks," he adds. "Then you move up to the next bigger track, then the next bigger track, and then you take a look at how far you want to go."
"I think it will test my patience," says Duncan. "I know that it is going to be very important that I am prepared before I make each next step up the ladder toward Nextel Cup. I don't want to jump into a bigger or faster car that I am not ready for. I have won races in just about everything I have ever driven, so I have the confidence to know in myself that I will be able to do this; it will just take time. I want to be racing every week. I want to be running Busch races. I want to be doing all that, but I have to be realistic about it. And Richard Childress is the one who keeps me tied to the ground. He doesn't let me get too high up in the air thinking I am ready to go. He is a voice of reason, that's for sure."
"I ran six ARCA races [last] year and three Busch races," says Crocker. "Ray [Evernham] had the confidence I was ready, and General Mills came along as a sponsor and everything seemed to be great. We went out for the first two Busch races and it didn't go well.
"I think this made Ray step back and think, Why push something if we don't have to? At first we talked about doing the Craftsman Truck Series [this] year as opposed to the Busch Series. I was a little bit disappointed. I started asking myself questions: Does he not believe in me anymore? What's happening?
"We had a long sitdown chat. Ray asked, 'How do you feel about going to Daytona in January and then to California-and then he named about the first five tracks-before ever seeing the place? How comfortable would you be?'
Sarah Fisher is no racing...
Sarah Fisher is no racing novice, having competed in the IRL, where she was a three-time Most Popular Driver. Photo by June Boone
"I would do it, but do I think I could run a Top-5 or Top-10? Before this year, I had run dirt for five years. Why rush it? Why go out there and run in the back of the Busch Series? Sure I would get some good experience, but it could ruin my confidence and kill my reputation. The plans are to run 40 races-the Truck Series full-time, some Busch to move myself up the ladder, and go back and run a few ARCA races to help my confidence. I think it was a wise decision."
Every year the number of female racers increases, and on any given Saturday night they can be seen behind the wheel at tracks across the country. In spite of past struggles, female drivers are very optimistic about their opportunities to make it to NASCAR's top levels.
"In the past year, myself, Sarah, and Erin have gotten opportunities to get in really good equipment," Duncan says. "I always go back to Shawna Robinson. I think Shawna is a very talented race car driver. I don't think that Shawna was ever in a car capable of winning a race. She has never been in RCR equipment, or Evernham equipment, or Hendrick equipment.
"I think women are finally getting opportunities in top-notch equipment, and that makes a difference. You need to be in good equipment to win races. It's a very exciting time to be a female in motorsports because the opportunities are becoming available to us. Now we just need to go out and put them to good use."
Fisher agrees with Duncan and paraphrases Ryan Newman on what it takes for any driver, male or female, to be successful on the track. "To be successful and win in the sport of racing, you have to have every single element, every single part of your team," says Fisher. "Ryan Newman said it the best the other day on TV-every variable has to be right, and without every variable being right you are not going to win.
"That is true no matter if you are a female or a male. That is a very tough thing to do and very admirable to those who achieve it."