What could a former NASCAR crew chief and the most successful college football coach have in common? In a recent interview with Kenny Wallace, two-time Daytona 500-winning crew chief Larry McReynolds revealed his admiration for 7-time National Champion coach Nick Saban.

Hailed for his leadership skills, the former NFL coach currently serves as the head coach at the University of Alabama. Although their paths crossed only once, McReynolds drew parallel with Saban’s determined mindset and work ethic that brought them laurels in their respective sports. 

Legendary crew chief Larry McReynolds followed Nick Saban’s “next game” approach

After making his mark in the NFL with teams such as the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, Nick Saban moved toward his true calling—college football. A teacher at heart, Saban believed in mentoring young footballers and giving them a platform for a bright future ahead. Prior to a match between Alabama and Arkansas, he ran into NASCAR analyst and veteran crew chief Larry McReynolds. Describing their chance encounter in an interview with Kenny Wallace, McReynolds said, “I was fortunate enough to go to one of their practice sessions.”

Known for his methodical and no-nonsense manner, Saban introduced himself but kept the conversation brief. McReynolds recalled, “Even Eli Gold, the voice of Alabama football, will tell you Nick Saban engages with people that can help him win football games and that’s pretty much the end of it right there.” Despite their contrasting personalities, McReynolds the former crew chief of Dale Earnhardt and Davey Allison noted a commonality when it came to their outlook toward a game, or in McReynolds’ case, toward a NASCAR race. 

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Continuing his conversation with Wallace, McReynolds said, “I do see some similarities in my attitude and my approach and what I see with Nick Saban, not that my success could even hold a candle to what Nick Saban has accomplished, is we both hate losing more than we enjoy winning. And even when you win, it’s about the next race, it’s about the next game.” In fact, after winning the third race with Davey Allison in 1992, McReynolds shared how this very mindset was applied for the rest of the season.

When McReynolds immediately moved on to the next race prep, rather than celebrating Talladega win

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In an interview with the New York Times a few years ago, Nick Saban explained he focused on “one play at a time.” Saban detailed, “I’ve actually become, through the years and through the experiences, a lot less outcome-oriented and a lot more process-oriented.” According to him, that inevitably carried over to his players and helped them focus on their performance rather than the scoreboard.

In an interesting correlation, Larry McReynolds also preferred to take it one race at a time. Despite winning the Daytona 500, and two races in North Wilkesboro Speedway and the Talladega Superspeedway, Davey Allison’s #28 crew chief did not stop for celebration on their way to the next race in Charlotte. 

McReynolds remembered, “We were right in the thick of the championship. It was still early in the season. I remember Linda [McReynolds] and the kids being down there and we had drove down and she said Liz [Allison] wants us to come out to their house to kind of celebrate. I said Linda Mac, we’re headed back to Charlotte. We got work to do tomorrow.”

And it was precisely this competitive spirit he recognized in the former NFL coach. “I think that’s what Nick Saban, his approach, he loves winning football games, but you’re only as good as your last game and that’s what I always looked at it. I’m only as good as our last race. We got to move on and get ready for the next one.”

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