LAS VEGAS — Comedian Howie Mandel brought his act to Las Vegas a day early — and incognito.
The host of Friday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series awards banquet at the Wynn, Mandel turned up at Thursday’s interview sessions after the Myers Brothers Luncheon, wearing a wig and holding a microphone, pretending to be a member of the press corps.
As Dale Earnhardt Jr. began to answer a serious question, Mandel yelled from the fringe of the scrum, “Can’t hear you!”
Earnhardt began again. Mandel interrupted. “Can’t hear you! Not getting it. Can you talk so we can all get it?”
“I can only speak as loud as I can speak,” Earnhardt replied.
“OK, go ahead,” Mandel said.
A radio reporter, who didn’t recognize the comedian, offered to hold his microphone closer to Earnhardt.
“No, I’ve got it,” Mandel said.
For the third time, Earnhardt began to answer.
“Louder!” Mandel shouted, and Earnhardt smiled as recognition dawned.
“I know this guy,” Earnhardt chuckled. “I know who this guy is. He’s going to keep going.”
“He’s screwing up my sound bite,” said the radio reporter.
“Louder!” shouted Mandel before exiting the group, leaving Earnhardt and the reporters laughing.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
- NASCAR to debut new short track package at Phoenix - February 28, 2023
- The Wrench Who Stole Racing - December 16, 2022
- Matt DiBenedetto’s excellent run comes to abrupt, violent end - February 17, 2019
