1on1: David Stremme

In eight starts this season in Rusty Wallace Inc.'s No. 64 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series, Stremme has posted one top-five finish and four top-10s. He won't make the trip to Mexico City this weekend, giving way to road veteran Max Papis.

So Stremme is going home. The 30-year-old Indiana native enjoys the simple side of his fast-paced NASCAR life. Somewhat of a dying breed in today's increasingly glamorized sport, Stremme is still content to throw on an old T-shirt and tinker around in his late-model shop building cars.

Q: You're coming off a 10th-place finish at Phoenix. What else have you been up to?

Stremme: I just finished building a brand new late model for my dad. He's been racing now for 26 years. You know I'll never be able to repay my parents for their support, but I know he wanted one.

Q: How is your new position at Rusty Wallace Inc.?

Stremme: It feels a lot like the Cup side. The competition on the track is not much different, it's a little more spread out, but you're racing the same guys. And for being one of the only [Nationwide] teams not being Cup-affiliated we have big pressure on our shoulders and I'm happy with what we've accomplished.

Q: You're mentoring younger teammate Steve Wallace, trying to correct mistakes you, too, made as a young driver. What are some other new roles you have on your plate?

Stremme: For once in my career, I'm feeling like the veteran driver. I put a lot of pressure on myself, but when I'm speaking now, more people are listening. I'm excited to be a part of something where there is so much potential and I'm a bigger part of it. At other places, it's hard to get everyone believing the same thing.

Q: Still, you want to return to the Cup Series after being released from Chip Ganassi Racing last season?

Stremme: There's a lot of the stuff going on in my career right now and I ask Rusty for advice, because he knows I want to go Cup racing. But first and foremost I want to be able to help him out in his program He is a great guy to drive for. He understands. He's been a driver and knows what it takes and he has such a passion.

Q: Driving for a former driver has been a unique experience for you. What is the benefit?

Stremme: When we were testing the cars in Las Vegas and Daytona, Rusty got in my car and I got so nervous. I thought for sure he'd tell me I was doing it all wrong. But for the first time I was able to get some great reassurance, his feedback was positive and really in line with what I thought.

Q: You said approval from Wallace speaks volumes for you because you have respected Wallace and admired his style for many years, but this season is not the first time you've piloted a car for the former Cup champ, right?

Stremme: Yeah, in 2006, I ran an ARCA race for him. We lapped the entire field and won the race.

Q: As you continue to prove your talents both on the Cup side and back again on the Nationwide end, are team owners noticing?

Stremme: I've had offers to drive a couple of races on the Cup side, but I feel my role as a driver, what I've learned from talking to veterans about my position, is to wait for the right opportunity for my career, my future.

• Also: Stremme expected to test drive for Penske

Q: Pretend you are NASCAR president Mike Helton for a day. What do you do?

Stremme: Umm, learn a whole lot more about the sport! I really don't think I could, those are big shoes to fill, but if I was, I'd surprise the field and make all the fastest cars start in the back, invert the field and not tell them.

Q: What's the best compliment you've ever received in life?

Stremme: First, I don't take compliments very well, but I'd have to say a friend of mine I had dinner with in Texas, a guy who gave me my first mechanic job back home, said I hadn't changed one bit. It means a lot for me never to forget where I come from. I take great pride in staying grounded.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Stremme: That's hard to say. I never thought I'd be here 10 years ago! Every day is like living the dream; that's what everyone says.

Q: A genie appears to grants you three wishes. What would they be?

Stremme: Good health and happiness for my family and friends, lower gas prices and a Sprint Cup ride.

Q: Do you think you'll ever leave NASCarolina for your native state of Indiana?

Stremme: That's a good question and a lot of people ask me that. Part of me is here in Charlotte with my friends but back home my friends and family are there ... if something happened and I wasn't racing, then maybe.

Q: If you're job wasn't to race, what would you do?

Stremme: I'd like to be a lot of things ... it may be cool to be a mayor, but I'm no good at politicking.