We're Hooters Girls: Here's How Working With NASCAR And Chase Elliott Really Is
You wanna know how I spent my Friday afternoon? Interviewing Miss Hooters International Emily Johnson and Hooters' 2024 Miss September, Sara Vratanina.
How'd YOU spend your Friday? Don't bother answering, it wasn't as good.
Anyway, the Hooters across the street from Daytona International Speedway was packed to the brim yesterday – partly because it'll be the last time we see the sun down here until Monday, and partly because of the wings.
I reckon the Hooters girls serving Busch Lights and signing calendars had something to do with it, too.
This is their Super Bowl, you know. The big one. It's NASCAR's Super Bowl and it's Hooters' Big Game, too.
The Hooters and NASCAR partnership goes back decades. Frankly, it's one of the best things still going in the sport.
There is nothing more American than Hooters and NASCAR. It reminds us all of a better time and better days, and, hopefully, it's a sign both things are right around the corner once again.
Emily and Sara found some time to talk to OutKick between Latte pours, and dished on all things NASCAR, Chase Elliott – the official Hooters driver of NASCAR (tough gig) – and the Chicken Wing Queens.
Buckle up. It's Daytona 500 weekend!
Hooters girls Emily Johnson and Sara Vratanina dish on NASCAR heading into Daytona 500
I asked both girls the obvious question first … would you wreck your Hooters teammate if they were leading coming to the Daytona 500 checkered flag.
"Nope, I'd let her win, she wears the crown," Sara said of Emily.
OK, not a great start! Feels a little Game of Thrones-ish to me, but, to be fair, Emily does wear the Miss Hooters crown. Won it last summer after seven years of trying.
She also comes from a racing family of Dale Earnhardt fans. Probably not someone to mess with.
"My grandfather is big into NASCAR, my dad loves it, so does my brother, and they were all Dale Earnhardt fans," she said. "I was, too. It's cool to be in it now, and be part of it. It's a full circle moment."
Out of the two, though, Sara felt like the real wild card. Even though this is her first Daytona 500, she admitted to being an absolute daredevil back in high school.
"I think the fastest I've ever gone in a car was 110 MPH, and that was back then," she said as the Cup fellas whizzed by at 180 MPH right across the street. "I'm not sure I could go that fast, though."
Both ladies do a lot of work with NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, Chase Elliott. The 2020 Cup champ has driven the famed Hooters car for years now, including next week at Atlanta.
How does Chase – the son of Awesome Bill from Dawsonville – really act when the cameras aren't on him, though?
"He never let the fame change who he is," Johnson said. "He's a small-town person, just like me. Me and my family were also fans of Chase's dad growing up, so it's cool."
Added Miss September Sara: "He's so funny, so easy to be around. Honestly, the first time I met him it felt like I was just speaking to a friend.
"I was really fortunate to attend the Homestead race last year and got to talk to him through the headset and he was great."
But is he your favorite?
"My friend Gianna Tulio, Ryan Blaney's fiancee, started working at Hooters in Boca together," Sara said. "I think I'd have to do half-and-half with (Chase and Blaney). I'm mostly a Chase fan, but still rooting for Blaney."
Gianna! An OutKick staple for years now. Good to see she's still inspiring this generation of Hooters girls.
Apparently, they're a tight-knit bunch.
"They're all such stellar humans," Sara added. "I'm so blessed to be friends with Emily, Gianna, everyone else. The company does such a great job with picking them out.
"They're my Chicken Wing Queens and I couldn't be more blessed."
Amen. Let's go racing.