Tiff Daniels is perhaps the most multifaceted racer around, as she, like most people, juggles her daily livelihood with her passion when time permits.
An all-around-the-clock individual, Daniels somehow finds a break in her day to treat herself, although she gives it 110 percent with what she does everyday.
It doesn't matter if it's something as familiar as a stock car or new lands like a drag car. Chances are, she'll give it all she's got and more, basking in the experiences while excelling with the task at hand, such as a qualifying effort, a race, or a filing a report for major motorsports website (or two!).
Total focus, discipline, and attention are some of the key aspects which have made Daniels a very successful racer in her right despite her young age.
In some ways, it's as if she's enjoying the journey, while at the same time, she knows there's still an uphill battle to overcome - a challenge which she'd graciously accept.
Her career is one of excitement and optimism, as she's found herself racing drag cars in the Modern Street HEMI Shootout Series. Driving for Al Gennarelli's shopHEMI.com/Arrington Engines/Paramount Performance DragPak Dodge Challenger, Daniels has shown a quick liking to the cars.
Recently during an event at Atco, N.J., Daniels found herself winning in the Unlimited division race, an impressive feat considering it came only in her second start in the series.
Additionally, she placed runner-up in the "King of the Hill" event, showing prowess and promise as a force to be reckoned with in the series next year.
Taking the time out of her busy schedule this week, I caught up with Daniels to catch up with her on latest racing endeavors as well as properly introducing her to the fans of "The Podium Finish."
More than just a pretty face with a racer's name, Tiff Daniels is a bonafide winner who has the need not only for speed, but to win - a lot.
So sit back, strap up, and put on your driving gloves - we're going to get "In the Driver's Seat with Tiff Daniels, Modern Street HEMI Shootout Series Racer!"
Rob Tiongson : We talked about it recently, or at least you mentioned to me, how you’ve always been addicted to winning. Just how amazing was it to win in the Modern Street HEMI Shootout Series in only your second start?
Tiff Daniels : Winning is always great, and certainly after switching to such a different type of racing. The win is also a big confidence builder and helps me validate to myself that I can be successful at a new kind of racing. And let’s be honest, winning is just more fun!
RT : You’ve had some time to get acquainted and familiar with the Al Gennarelli team and based on results thus far, I’d say there’s some great chemistry building immediately. Are you and the team looking to run the full schedule next year?
TD : The AGR team is fantastic. Al has been a great team owner, and I just can’t say enough about my crew chief Jason. Our sponsors, shopHEMI.com/Arrington Engines and Paramount Performance, have also been great and so supportive of me driving the car.
RT : Having competed in some neat events in your young career, you’ve gotten the opportunity to race various kinds of cars not just here but internationally like in the case when you raced in South Africa. Does it ever boggle your mind at how much you’ve accomplished thus far?
TD : I think you never realize how amazing all of the different opportunities have been until much later. For example, South Africa seems so much more special now than it did while we were there almost two years ago.
RT : You’re chasing your dream to be in the pinnacle of motorsports series, having raced in Legends, late models and now a drag car. Having seat time behind the wheel of your Dodge Challenger, are your options open to not only stock cars?
TD : I think race car drivers always have to keep their options open. You never know where your next opportunity will come from. I love to race, so whatever kind of racing it is, I’m always open to it.
RT : Of course, there’s more to you than just being a racer. Like most people, you’ve got a livelihood or some kind of consistency each week. Describe a week in the life of Tiff Daniels. My schedule is usually pretty crazy.
TD : Besides driving race cars, I am a technical representative for Paoli, an Italian company that is developing a new air impact wrench for NASCAR.
In addition, I host “The Short Track Report” every week for 3 Wide Life and cover short track races as a pit reporter for them on some weekends.
I am also the VP of Business Development for Daniels Performance Group, which is a business my family started last year; we tune cars on our chassis dyno and install performance upgrades on hot rods.
And finally, I write for The Podium Finish! It’s a juggling act, but it’s fun to be able to pursue all of my different interests.
RT : Let’s talk a bit about your amazing weekend in Atco, N.J. First of all, when your team unloaded your car into the track for practice runs, did it ever come across your mind that, “Yes, this could be my time to shine?”
TD : I think when you go to the race track, you need to always have that mindset. I don’t usually take time to say “I think this will be the race” because you want to go in planning to win every race and focus on your car and your driving. However, we knew the car was working well when we practiced on Thursday, so the team was definitely feeling confident about our chances.
RT : Does the same kind of discipline and mindset with stock cars apply with drag cars, at least in terms of getting yourself into “the zone” or dialing yourself into what’s to unfold?
TD : Mental focus definitely plays a huge role in every type of racing. In drag racing, there is an intense period of focus, but it’s such a short period of time compared to the several hours of focus that is required for a stock car race.
RT : Your whole family’s been a part of motorsports, at least starting with your father Charlie. Was it something where you definitely had it set in your mind to pursue a career in racing at early in your life or a passion that developed years later?
TD : I definitely grew up with a love for racing and I was always at the track with my dad. However, when I was little, I played a lot of other “normal” sports, and it was when my brother started racing (at nine years old) that I really became interested in driving.
I don’t know whether it was good, old fashioned sibling rivalry or if I just never considered the possibly that I could be a racecar driver before he started, but whatever the reason, I certainly found my own passion for it.
RT : Whenever you’ve needed help on the track, say in terms of getting your car to go faster, or just to pass the time between practices and the actual races, who are some of your friends in the garage area?
TD : There are so many people that I have gone to for advice that it would be impossible to start naming people.
I will say that one mentor who has had a very large impact on me is Lyn St. James, but there are so many others.
I’ve also found that almost anyone in the garage will offer you advice if you approach them and ask.
RT : Alright Tiff, it’s time for some Free Association…you’re a pro at this seeing as you’re part of TPF. Mention the first thing that comes into your mind with the following…starting now:
Music.
TD : Hip hop/pop if I need to get pumped up, country if I’m relaxed, and rock for all other occasions.
RT : Competition.
TD : I love it; ‘competitive’ would probably be the adjective a lot of people would use to describe me.
RT : Adversity.
TD : Overcome it!
RT : Balance.
TD : Something I strive for in life. Yoga helps.
RT : Intimidation.
TD : Ha you tell me, but I think I’m pretty good at it!
RT : Victory.
TD : The more of them, the better.
RT : Writing.
TD : One of the many things I enjoy. I love hearing other people’s stories.
RT : Friends.
TD : Help you get through the tough times and enjoy the good ones.
RT : My future in racing looks…
TD : ...promising, but it’s certainly taken a different path than I expected!
RT : Alright so it’s well known, at least with some folks, that you and I have a much anticipated go-kart race that’ll take place, at least when I make my way down to Charlotte. Tell me honestly, who’ll win and are you going to cut me any slack?
TD : I’m so unconcerned. I have this in the bag, and I can only say that I’ll try not to embarrass you too badly.
RT : You’ve been a part of TPF for the past month now and if I didn’t know you any better, you’re quite the pro journalist for a girl who graduated Magna Cum Laude from UNC Charlotte as a Mechanical Engineering student.
TD : Being a racer in the inside with the world of motorsports, does it at least make it easier to tell the stories of the people you meet and know to the fans here? Without a doubt, having an inside view of motorsports definitely makes it easier to write about, but I also had a PR minor in college, so we did plenty of writing in those classes. Thanks for the compliment!
Author's Note: I'd like to thank Tiff for allowing me to interview her during her busy week and also for being a valuable member of The Podium Finish racing family. If you'd like to learn more about her, in addition to her works on the site, you can follow her on Twitter, like her Facebook page, and check out her official website!
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