David Letterman, best known for his long run as the host of The Late Show, has a lot more going on than just cracking jokes behind a desk.
At 78, he’s still chasing adrenaline, not through comedy, but through his deep passion for motorsports. The talk show legend has been a part-owner of the IndyCar team Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for years now, and it’s not just a hobby, it’s something he takes seriously and personally.
In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, Letterman spoke openly about what racing means to him. “What I love about it is the romance of it,” he said. “It’s men and women in these machines, 240, 250 miles per hour. They are controlling them with unbelievable precision.”
He didn’t hold back in describing how intense and beautiful the experience can be. Watching the cars fly by, he said, is like watching ballet, but with raw speed and roaring engines. “Now, that’s underscored by the sound and the sound is unlike something you’ve ever heard. The sound is something humans are not meant to hear.”
And it’s not just about the spectacle. For Letterman, motorsports reflects something much deeper. “I think all of sports is a metaphor for life. I think nothing is more apt as a metaphor for motorsports. Every day, you gotta be in it. It doesn’t make any difference whether you’re 33rd or 1st. Every day, you’re gonna see how it turns out by bedtime.”
He’s not just a fan watching from the sidelines either. Letterman’s team actually won the Indianapolis 500, which was a surreal experience for him. “It was crazy. The first time we won, in 2004 I believe it was, one minute you’re standing there watching and then the next you’ve won the dang thing.”
That win shifted something in him. “Suddenly I’m not just Dumbell Dave the talk show host. I’m the owner of the Indianapolis 500 winner. And that euphoria stays with you.”
He recalled growing up in Indiana, listening to the race from a tree because that was the closest he could get. “Even up until the time I was part of it, you still can’t get near that, but now I’m in the middle of it.”
Letterman’s story shows a different side of him, one driven by passion, nostalgia, and pure excitement. He might have made his name on late-night TV, but his heart clearly races just as fast as the cars his team sends out onto the track.
Whether you’re into motorsports or not, it’s hard to deny the appeal when someone like David Letterman speaks about it with such genuine love. For him, it’s more than fast cars, it’s life itself.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
