Jeff Gluck

USA TODAY Sports

Our series of weekly NASCAR driver interviews continues with Greg Biffle, who this week unveiled a Hooters-sponsored throwback paint scheme for Labor Day weekend’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Hooters famously sponsored the late Alan Kulwicki’s car.

Q: What is an errand or chore in your daily life people might be surprised to learn you do yourself?

A: Well, I thought about that a while because I saw these questions. I can’t really think of anything other than maybe not a lot of guys do their own grocery shopping. Several people have said, “I’ll grocery shop for you. Just make a list and I’ll do it.” But I’m a visual person. I see something and that’s how I know what I want. I have the hardest time making a list; it’s just not natural for me. So I like to look around and see it. I’m like, “Oh yeah, I remember I needed that.” I’m not saying I enjoy it.

Q: If you could do any race over again, which race would you choose?

A: Oh, absolutely the Texas race (in November 2005, when he had a loose wheel that ultimately may have cost him the Cup title). Just give me the championship back. Running third, loose wheel and finished 20th. I only needed a few spots (to beat Tony Stewart for the championship). I’d have done something different for sure. Maybe pitted earlier, maybe wait til the wheel fell off and the caution would have come out, not trap me a lap down.

Q: The longest race of the year is 600 miles. How long of a race could you physically handle without a driver change?

A: I think it depends on what racetrack. Charlotte, yeah, we could do a longer race. Darlington? I don’t know. Bristol? I don’t know. These are tough places, and it takes a lot of mental energy. You’re drained mentally as much as physically. You’re just constantly thinking for the entire time, “OK, let off the brake here, watch the speed here, watch these cars,” and it’s intense. Plus, it’s physically hot and demanding inside the car. You’re on the edge a lot.

So you could probably get away with 1,000 miles at a place like Charlotte, but I don’t know about any more than that.

Q: Let’s say president of NASCAR was an elected position voted on by the drivers — and you decided to run. What would one of your campaign promises be?

A: Can I have two? My first one would be that we’re going to have two-day shows everywhere. Fans are going to love it, drivers are going to love it, teams are going to love it. There will be a lot of action on the track.

And my second one, which I know will get me elected, is that I’m going to share more prize money with the drivers. If they’re the only ones voting, I’ll make a promise to them — and then I’ll go back on it after I get elected.

Ah, I see. So like a true politician, you’ll make a promise with no intention of keeping it?

That’s right! You’re starting to smarten up. (Laughs)

Q: At the start of this year, exactly 2,900 drivers had ever raced in the Sprint Cup Series. Where do you rank among those 2,900?

A: I thought about that for a long time, and I don’t have a clue. I mean, 2,900 is a lot. Probably 20% of them only ran a few races. But if I was in the top 10% of 2,900, that would be pretty remarkable. That’s 290 of them. So maybe somewhere in there. It would make myself feel good to be in the top 10%. That’s respectable.

Q: What do you think your reputation is — and is that reputation accurate?

A: I think my reputation is a hard-charger, that I drive for everything I’ve got. I try and respect all of my peers. A lot of people make comments like, “Oh man, you’re a real wheelman.” I’ve gotten a text after the race from a multiple-time champion that’s like that. I get the most out of what I got, and I think that’s probably what a lot of these guys will say.

Q: A famous chef wants you to invest in the new restaurant he’s opening, but he wants you to pick the cuisine. What type of food would your restaurant serve?

A: My favorite is Mexican food. But as an entrepreneur, I think sushi would be better. I think that would be popular. I’ve become more of a sushi fan in the last couple years.

Q: What is the most daring thing you’ve done outside of racing?

A: Probably the stuff I do in the off-road cars. Big double jumps, going 150 mph down Sand Highway (in the Glamis dunes).

You haven’t broken your back or anything though.

I’ve injured some vertebra, but never a broken back or ruptured disc or anything. Hopefully that’s not going to happen. I’ve eased up a little. Not since Tony (Stewart’s broken back injury in the dunes), but just in general. It takes longer to recover now (Biffle is 46).

Fast forward: Sprint Cup story lines to watch at Michigan

Q: In a move to generate more excitement, NASCAR decides in an upcoming race it's going to require every driver to have a passenger in the car. You get to pick the passenger. Who do you choose?

A: Brian France. He would have a great time. I really feel like those guys need to experience what it’s like. I just honestly feel like it would be hard for me to manage a business or a sport that I don’t do, right? So I think that’s important. I want to say, “Hey, look how much fun this is.” Because it’s fun, and it would be fun for all those guys.

I mean, I might not pick him for competitive reasons. I might pick someone who is about 70 pounds. I’d have Emma, my daughter, ride with me. She’s 42 pounds. (Laughs)

Q: How often do you talk inside the car without hitting the radio button?

A: Not that often. Sometimes I do. It’s when you don’t agree with what’s going on. But it’s not like I’m sitting in there talking to myself all the time.

Q: Who will win the Sprint Cup in 2021?

A: I don’t know him. And you don’t either. It’s someone new who hasn’t come along yet. Well, at least someone who isn’t in Cup yet. Maybe they’re racing in Xfinity or the Camping World Truck Series. But that’s a long ways off. I could go with the typical answer and say Kyle Larson or Ty Dillon or Chase Elliott or Ryan Blaney. Those would all be obvious choices. But I like to go outside the box.

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck