Billy O'Dea Answers Questions From Fans...

Talk about the chemistry you have with all the RCR spotters. What would you say the difference is between you and Jeff's spotter, Rocky Ryan?
All of us get along really well. I have stood next to Rocky for about four years and Clint’s new Spotter, Jimmy Kitchens, is not new to the spotters stand. I believe we communicate, as a company, up there better than any other multi-car team. The three of us understand racing and truly want the other cars to be successful. As far as the differences between me and Rocky – well, I think I am better looking (just joking). I think every spotter has their own style and a lot of that is what the driver wants to hear. I have never listened to Rocky spot but I know Jeff Burton is very happy with him.

I was wondering if you have ever played any pranks on Kevin? If so, what was the funniest one you have ever done?
OK let’s see … where should I begin on this one? When Kevin is in the car during practice, he leaves his hat and sunglasses on top of our toolbox. I am a pretty observant person and I noticed when he is done with practice he puts his hat on, holds his sunglasses in his hand and then puts them on at the last second before he heads out of the garage to venture out amongst the race fans. Well one day, I covered his right inside lens with black tape and as he walked out of the garage he put his sunglasses on. He tried to play it cool and signed autographs for the fans with one eye but we all knew what was going on and got a good laugh out of it. Then there was the time I stuffed paper in his street shoes during a test. At the end of the day, he went to put them on and they didn’t fit him so well. I told him his feet must have gotten bigger from using the brake/gas pedal all day.

Is it a mad rush to get the best position to view the track, or is it assigned by the driver's position in the points?
Usually the spotter stand is big enough that we kind of have our places that we normally stand each week. However, at the smaller tracks, the stands are usually tighter so the NASCAR official will take roll-call and you go to the spot you want by qualifying order.

How ugly/funny can it get up there when two or more drivers start feuding with each other on the track? What is the most outrageous thing you have seen or heard other spotters say or do to each other?
Racing is a close door-to-door sport and there are wrecks every week. We as spotters understand this. We are professionals and know that the spotters are not driving the cars. If Kevin gets wrecked, I don’t go looking for the spotter, it’s not going to change the situation. I have never in my years of spotting witnessed any spotters getting physical. I have heard stories of this one or that one getting in a scuffle but I think the guy telling me the stories was a fisherman, if you know what I mean.

Do you guys socialize much before the race? Or is it all business?
Spotters are like any big group of people. You have your little cliques that you talk with before the race starts. Usually, these people have the same interest or hobbies that you have and that’s what we talk about.

What is your favorite track as far as spotting for Kevin? Which is your least favorite?
Bristol is my favorite race track to spot for Kevin. He always gets around that place really good. It fits his hard-charging driving style. We normally run really well there so it’s always fun and busy for me. My least favorite is Pocono. Turn one is far away from where we spot. We are using binoculars at that point and every spotter is leaning forward as far as they can to see around the next spotter. This causes my lower back to hurt after the race.

For two people who seem to have the best "on-air" working relationship, it makes me wonder what about "off-air"; away from the shop? Can you really have a friendship outside of the working hours?
Yes, Kevin and I are friends. Do I call him on the phone everyday or hangout with him on a regular basis – no. He has Kevin Harvick Inc. that keeps him busy and many sponsor commitments. On my end I have about seven too many projects going on at my house and too many hobbies. However, if I ever needed him for anything he would be there.

Billy do you have any of the same interests as Kevin, go-cart racing and hunting and building racecars?
Yes, a lot of us have karts that we race on a weekly basis, and that is where the big debate begins. The KHI guys race on Kevin’s asphalt track and the RCR guys race on Clint Bowyer’s dirt track. Me being an old dirt racer from New York, I keep telling him that “dirt’s for racing and asphalt’s for getting there.” Kevin tells me otherwise. I also play on RCR’s softball team on Tuesday nights. Additionally, I am in the process of building a shop behind my house. When I am not at work or away at a race, I am usually tinkering with an old car or my motorcycle. I also try to hit the gym every morning.

How do you keep up with all of the action taking place on the track? You and Kevin both do a great job and it is a pleasure to listen to the "bickering" or the "chicken dance" on the radio.
There are times when there is a lot of action, and time when things are just cruising along. However, things can happen really fast and you have to be on your toes the entire race. It begins with a good night sleep, spotting isn’t something you can do if you are tired; it takes a lot of concentration. I also believe experience plays a role. If I see a couple of cars ahead racing really hard I will keep an eye on them ready to call the wreck. I don’t really know what is going on behind him, unless it’s information he needs.

When Kevin tells you to relay a message that you would rather not…. What do you do? Do you transfer the message verbatim or do you tone it down?
When Kevin tells me to tell another spotter something, I tell it just like it was relayed to me. Then in return, I tell him exactly what the response is on the other end. I don’t sugarcoat it, I am simply the messenger.

Kevin can get pretty intense in the car and very vocal. Has he ever made you so mad that you would like to tell him to turn right on a left turn or go high when he should go low? And how did you and Kevin build such a great relationship? There has to be a great amount of trust and respect from the driver standpoint to the spotter.
I understand why Kevin becomes vocal. I don’t take it personal. I would never give him the wrong information on purpose, out of spite. At first it was a struggle for us, it wasn’t easy. However, the more races we ran and the more I learned what he wanted from me as a spotter the more trust we started to build in each other. I feel that since the day I met him, before I was his spotter. He has had respect for me because of my dedication to RCR and my racing experiences as a mechanic.

With your busy race schedule, how often do you and (your wife) Sandy get back to visit friends and family in Victor, NY?
Sandy has a twin sister that lives in New York and her husband and I are just alike. My whole family still lives in New York as well. Sandy’s parents live near us in North Carolina. Every Thanksgiving we go to New York for the week and spend time with all of them. My dad will come to the race at Watkins Glen and bring some of my family with him. It’s kind of funny, my family and friends will actually schedule their vacations on my off weekends to come down and visit us.

I was wondering...during those loooongg green runs at places like California and Michigan etc...when Kevin's all by himself, and its just single file all the way around…does it get a bit boring? How do you stay focused?
Yes, it actually is boring. However, I stay focused by looking out way in front of him for wrecks if he isn’t racing anyone. I also will watch other drivers’ lines and relay any important information to Kevin. No matter how boring it may be at the time things can happen fast and it’s my job to be on my toes.

Do you, or have you, ever ate or drank while spotting? If so, have you ever missed a call because of a mouthful of food or drink?
Of course I do. I pack a sandwich and some Doritos and about halfway through the race under caution I munch it down, a man gets hungry up there. I usually have an energy drink before the race and towards the end. However, I haven’t missed a call because of it but Kevin has heard me chewing under caution on the radio.

How do you maintain your cool when someone is roughing up Kevin? Do you let that person's spotter know what you think?
I keep my cool up there pretty good. When someone is doing something like chopping us off getting into the corners I will just start smiling and shake my head rather then saying something. I don’t know if the other spotter is seeing me do this or not but I know if that driver continues the outcome isn’t going to be very good.

You’ve developed quite a following on Kevin’s website and fans enjoy listening to you on the radio. Are you ever approached by fans for autographs?
Yes, I was at the Phoenix test earlier this year and a fan sitting in the stands by himself recognized me as I walked by. He asked me if I would sign his hat. When I push the car out on race morning I will get an occasional shout out.