Forging an Art

Infineon made for great racing last weekend – although my boy came in second, it wasn’t for lack of effort.  Kahne had a better car, end of story.  Now, second ain’t first, but Stewart, Kahne, and to be honest, the whole field put on a great show for viewers.  For those who don’t find road courses as exciting as ovals, this was for them.  August 9 – Mid-Ohio for the Indy Car series.  My daughter loves road courses and this will be her first time at a live road course race.  It was going to be her first live race, period, but I discovered that Stewart, Kahne, and Blaney are racing at Sharon on July 7, so we’re heading that way in less than two weeks.  It’s only an hour away, so, regardless of budget issues, I can’t pass it up.  The tickets are cheaper than those for last Saturday’s ARCA race.  Speaking of which . . .

“Four wide! Four wide!” My dad kept hollering, in awe of the aggression we witnessed the entire evening at Mansfield Motorsports Park on Saturday.  The Lincoln Truck race winner was Dave Jackson, and the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200 winner was 18 year old Parker Kligerman, who graduated from high school the night before.  Also competing that evening was 75 year old James Harvey Hilton, who started his career as crew chief to Rex White back in ’62.  The only downside to the show was the continuous movement of attendees who weren’t watching the race, but moving around to socialize and buy vats of hot dogs.  Seriously, how many nasty racetrack hot dogs can one man eat?  The guy two rows behind us came back from the stand holding three at a time, and made at least five visits.  The drunk a row down and in front of us insisted on walking up to the fence and waving his arms around at nothing; this was particularly annoying because my dad and I were trying to take pictures.  My dad mumbled something at another man as he walked in front of my dad, who was clearly holding a camera in front of him and attempting to shoot, and when my dad returned to his seat he made a confession.  “I used the ‘f’ word.”  I shook my head in disbelief.  I have never heard my dad use that word; he doesn’t believe in swearing in front of women or children.  I know my brother has heard him, but me, that’s a different story.  “You didn’t!” I replied, shocked.  He smiled back at me.  “I called him an effing moron.”  See?  He still didn’t say it in front of me, but to admit that he had, and even to say ‘effing,’ was huge.  I felt like a grown up for a moment there.

Before the race, Richmond’s sister Sandy spoke over the phone to thank fans and the racing series for honoring her brother, who won the Daytona ARCA 200 back in 1981, followed by 13 NASCAR races.  He was also the 1980 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, finishing ninth in the race.  A versatile and talented driver, Richmond was lost to racing and the world in 1989.  Twenty years later, it was high time to honor this driver, both as a racing phenom and as a man, and only appropriate to do so close to his hometown of Ashland, Ohio.

More racing/car pics here.

I don’t know when I have been more excited after a race than I was Saturday night.  I was at my parents’, as usual, watching with my dad, who was nodding off in his easy chair.  I was on the sofa with my daughter sleeping in my lap, and my parents’ Cairn terrier was snuffling in his sleep on the loveseat.  My dad and I were complaining heavily before he fell asleep; the break before those last ten laps was ridiculous and unnecessary.  Really, I told my dad, do you think the drivers want to sit around and talk to the press, or finish up this bad boy?  My dad was shaking his head and rolling his eyes.  It was late, though, and one can only expect someone who works as hard as my dad does to keep his eyes open so long when no one is gunning it on the track.  He was vaguely aware when the last leg began, and when the tension between Newman, Busch, and Gordon began to get interesting – to say the least – he perked up.  Gordon bought the farm – nothing for us to cry about – and Kenseth and Busch worked the track until Kenseth took over.  Unfortunately, Newman, who looked like he might take that trophy, cut a tire after an arduous battle from nearly two laps down.  Stewart was biding his time, staying out of trouble and sneaking around as he has been doing all season; the annoucers suddenly sounded surprised that he was even there.  When he passed Kenseth on lap 99 and pulled away, my dad assured me that he would win.  Unless something happens, it’s his, he told me.  We both know that anything can happen, though, at any time – including the last lap and the last second.  Fortunately, Stewart’s usual tenacity paid off and the smile behind the wheel when he pulled into Victory Lane was the same as the one he wore when he took second in his first All-Star Race in 1999.  With his first win as owner/driver of Stewart-Haas Racing, second place in the points standing, teammate Ryan Newman’s eighth place point standing, and his World of Outlaws drivers first and second place in the WoO standings, it’s all good; next Sunday’s double header of the Indy 500 (go Tony Kanaan, Marco and John Andretti, and AGR!) and the Coca Cola 600, should make it hard to get to sleep Sunday night.  Those people who say car racing is boring have never actually watched an entire race – and that is their loss.  I am excited enough to make up for any disinterest out there. 

Yes, I voted for Joey Logano, but wasn’t certain that he would make the Fan Vote.  My mom apparently did, because right before the announcement, she wandered into the room and said, “Joey Logano!”  What kind of a ride has this boy been on?  A year ago he hadn’t even parked his behind in a Nationwide car, never mind a Cup car, and here he is, taking over the 20 and rocking the show with the big boys, finishing eighth.  Don’t underestimate the power and intelligence of Joe Gibbs; he knows talent and how to nuture it.  He also knows how to turn the opening prayer into a calling for drivers and fans alike to remember who we are as a NASCAR family – a Christian community who knows where we came from, who created us, and to whom we will return.  “We are not accidents,” he reminded listeners, with the certainty and integrity we expect from the Coach.

Highlights from 7.20.08:
* A mini-Cooper beside us in the very muddy parking lot, which is well and truly in the middle of a cornfield.  This is how you know you aren’t at a NASCAR race.
* Sitting at the bottom of the keyhole in turn four, where Dominguez lost it and Moraes and Manning got into it.
*The rush of the cars under us as we crossed the bridge to the Infield.
*The roar of the cars over us as we walked through the tunnel to the Grandstand.
*The fuss about the alleged ‘fight’ between Danica and Milka on Friday.  Talking and tossing a towel is not a fight.  Throwing helmets a la Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers is. 
*The tough break for my boy Marco, who was was not the cause but the victim of a Turn 12 incident involving Foyt, Wheldon, and Wilson as well.
*The blocked exits after the race, which defied explanation, and the Cincinnati teenagers who ran intel between officials and cars to let us know what was going on, and offered us hot dogs during the two hour wait in the stifling heat.
*The very young and clearly skilled Ryan Briscoe taking the checkered flag for the second time, full of excitement and appreciation for the win.