MAILBAG Submit a question or comment for Richard. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Clarkson: Well, I'm a beginner so I'm trying to figure it out. But Kahne is one of my favorites. He's really young and really bad ass. That's cool. And he's the first driver I ever met.

SI: You attended your first Daytona 500 this year?

Clarkson: Yes. It was my second race I attended in person.

SI: Last year's race at California Speedway was the first?

Clarkson: That was very first. Not my family's first, but my first.

SI: How did you end up with Jimmie as your driver at Daytona?

Clarkson: I don't know. I just showed up and they said Jimmie was going to take me around the track. I had met him at California Speedway. We had already met. He and Carl Edwards are really people persons. It was pretty cool. My sister and brother-in law were jealous.

SI: What stood out about attending the Daytona 500?

Clarkson: There were literally like 250,000 people there. ... The fans were so nice. They were laid-back, chill, having a good time. You have some beverages and have a good time.

SI: You got a shout out at the Daytona drivers meetings?

Clarkson: It embarrassed me. I'm actually not nervous when I sing in front of millions or thousands of people, but when it comes to talking or people staring at me or just sitting there, I just get so nervous. I sat beside Nicolas Cage and Cal Ripken. That was pretty intense.

SI: Have you seen Talladega Nights?

Clarkson: Are you kidding? Magic Man. I love that movie. I'm always shouting out lines from Talladega Nights.

SI: When did you find out Steve Carell screamed out your name in The 40-Year-Old Virgin?

Clarkson: When I was watching another movie at a theater with a couple of my freinds. It was during the previews. All of a sudden my name gets screamed out. Somebody turned to me and said, "Kelly, did he just scream out your name?"

SI: Have you walked among the RVs at the track?

Clarkson: Man, I am so jealous. They call them coaches. We call them tour buses. I got so many ideas for touring. My bus was shabby compared to these buses. I was like, 'I don't have anything near what they have'. They have washers and dryers, dude. I was taking ideas to my tour managers. I want this stuff on my bus

SI: You live on the outskirts of Fort Worth. You're probably a Cowboys fan?

Clarkson: I'm definitely a fan of the Texas teams. But I love the Mavericks and the Cowboys. My brother is a huge sports fan. He is a nine years older than me and he loves the fact that I get asked to go to these events.

SI: You've played the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, the Olympics, the NBA All-Star Game, the World Series and the Orange Bowl. What sporting event is left for you to play?

Clarkson: Honestly, I don't know (laughs). But I figure if I am working, I might as well go to an event I like.