Just like life, racing has highs and lows
In a little more than a week’s worth of time, I experienced what I considered to be the BEST racing weekend I’ve ever seen at one track, only to be followed by some very sad racing news items very shortly thereafter. First, the good news…
My first race at Watkins Glen International was back in the summer of 1969. That weekend, I saw the mighty SCCA Can-Am machines featuring the “Bruce and Denny Show”–Team Mclaren Can-Am high wing, aluminum big block sports cars with drivers Denis Hulme and team owner/driver Bruce McLaren. The combination of the sights and sounds of racing together with the track’s location in the beautiful Southern Tier Finger Lakes region of New York state made a pretty big impression on a certain 16 year old that weekend–so much so that it was the primary inspiration for me to attend at least one race there every year since. Plus, it was also the impetus and location for me to pursue the career in motorsports announcing I enjoy today. Needless to say, I always look forward to the Glen NASCAR weekend and this year was no exception. Without a doubt, I can truthfully say it was the BEST weekend at the Glen I’ve EVER seen! PERIOD! Let’s explore why…
First, the weekend started off, as it has the past few years, with the Grand Am Rolex Daytona Prototypes practicing for the Crown Royal 200. Because I also handle the series’ webcast for most of the Grand Am season, I follow it closely. Thursday had the field practice and qualify for the race on Friday. The race continued the domination of the #99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Pontiac Riley with drivers Alex Gurney (son of the legendary Dan Gurney) and Jon Fogarty. This team has sat on the front row for every race in 2007 and they got the pole again for this race with a new track record qualifying time. The two hour sprint race became another showpiece for the team as they led from start to finish to record their sixth victory in 2007, tying a series mark.
Just before the Grand Am race was run on Friday night, though, Mother Nature had her way with practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Series drivers. An overcast sky in the morning dropped lower in the afternoon, producing just enough moisture for qualifying to be first delayed, then eventually cancelled. With 50 teams vying for 43 spots, there was bound to be disappointments for 7 teams even if qualifying would have been held. The drama unfolded for several drivers (Marcos Ambrose, the likeable Aussie who would have started his first Cup race courtesy of Robby Gordon, trying to make things right after the Busch race at Montreal), but especially for Boris Said, who experienced a roller coaster of emotions for the weekend. Once qualifying had been cancelled (again, as this also happened at qualifiying for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July), Boris Said’s team was one of the “go-homers”. Obviously bitterly disappointed, he let the world know it through interview after interview. The depth of despair reflected in his face and especially in his words was genuine–it was one of the first, if not THE first, times that we have seen and heard Boris with anything but optimism and fun. One other driver in the garage area also noticed it–past Cup Champion Bill Elliott. Bill has been driving part-time in the series and loving every minute of it. His limited schedule has allowed him to pick and choose his opportunites and rides. Elliott accepted an invitation from the legendary Wood Brothers to step into their #21 Ford to help get the team back into the top 35 of Nextel Cup owner’s points. When Elliott saw the raw emotion of disappointment reflected in Boris Said’s interviews, Bill called Boris early Saturday morning and offered his seat to Boris. At first, Boris thought Elliott was joking but when it was apparent that Bill was serious, the ball started rolling to make it happen. The deal was struck and once again, Bill Elliott proved that his multi-time crown of NASCAR’s “Most Popular Driver” title was no fluke! Plus, the “Said Heads” (Boris’ fans who don afro wigs mimicking the hairstyle of their driver) now had a reason to celebrate!
Under beautiful sunny skies, Saturday’s Busch Series race, only 8 laps shorter than the Cup race on Sunday, featured some great competition even though the field consisted of only 40 cars. Kurt Busch repeated his pole winning performance of a year ago at the Glen and was a factor early. Boris was in a Ray Evernham Dodge and was very strong as well. It was also Juan Pablo Montoya’s last Busch race of 2007–by design. The Ganassi racing team put the limited Busch Series schedule together for Montoya only to ease his transition into Nextel Cup series machines. With a Busch Series win earlier in the season at Mexico City and a Cup win on the other road course at Infineon, it was felt the transition was complete and the team ran its last race at the Glen. His race was cut short by problems and no one was able to challenge the eventual race winner, Kevin Harvick, who got stronger as the day wore on. Although not the dominant car, he garnered yet another victory at the Glen (to go along with the previous week’s Busch Series win at Montreal and last year’s Glen Cup win). But none of us knew on Saturday that these two drivers, Montoya and Harvick, would provide the media with their primary story line for the race on Sunday.
Sunday was another picture perfect day at the Glen and the race started at a more reasonable 1pm-ish time compared to previous years. From the drop of the green flag, it was obvious that 4-time Glen winner Jeff Gordon and 3-time winner (about to become a 4 time winner himself) Tony Stewart were going to be the primary contenders. Sure, Canadian Ron Fellows had a great car (eventually finshing 4th) and so did Robby Gordon. Even Boris looked strong, but the race was pretty much all Gordon and Stewart. Tony spun early in turn 1 (a scenario which would be imitated by Jeff Gordon with 2 laps to go) but, through a savvy combination of judicious throttle and brake application, never flat-spotted the tires, thus avoiding a costly pit stop. Then, with 15 laps to go, what some people point to as the most dramatic moment of the event occurred (myself, I thought it was unnecessary and stupid!). On a restart, the field headed down the frontstretch to turn 1. Only two drivers broke out of line to the inside: one was Martin Truex Jr. and the other was Juan Pablo Montoya, who started immediately in front of Truex. Montoya threw his perfectly legal block of Truex as soon he saw Martin go to the inside. Truex immediately slammed on the brakes and by doing so, got into the back of Montoya, upsetting the car in the crucial braking zone. Montoya lost control and began to slide sideways, making contact with an unaware Kevin Harvick, spinning both cars out in turn 1. Two other drivers made contact trying to get through the almost blocked corner–Jamie McMurray (having yet another great road course day) and Harvick’s teammate, Jeff Burton. When the smoke cleared, Harvick, not knowing that Truex got into Montoya, moved his car to block Montoya’s path and both drivers got out of their cars. (I thought, OK, HERE WE GO!) Most of the Glen’s grandstands are concentrated in turn 1 and the crowd there was cheering or booing the drivers as they approached one another. The verbal sparring started, then came the pushing and shoving, again to the delight and encouragement of the fans in the stands–all broadcast live for everyone to see, whether you were at the track watching the giant TV screens or you were one of the millions watching the race at home. Eventually, NASCAR and track officials, along with Jeff Burton, were able to separate the “combatants”. The track, however, was in need of major cleanup efforts, which brought out the red flag. That set the stage for the NEXT somewhat entertaining but immensely idiotic event to occur. While under the red-flag, a shirtless male fan from Kenmore NY hopped the fence on the straight between turns 9 and 10 and ran over to the #17 of Matt Kenseth, put his hat into the cockpit of Kenseth’s car and asked Matt for his autograph!!! Reportedly, Kenseth refused, saying “…I’m a little busy right now”. The fan asked again and Kenseth again said no. Dejected, the fan ran back to the camping area where he was greeted by security. His stupid stunt netted him jail time, a $500.00 fine and a criminal record as he was arrested for criminal trespassing. While most folks around me were laughing, I was stunned by what I was seeing. This type of behavior ABSOLUTLEY cannot be tolerated and has the potential, in my opinion, of spelling serious trouble for the sport. FINALLY, the race restarted and it sure looked like it was going to be another win for Jeff Gordon when the unthinkable happened with 2 laps to go. Firmly in the lead and with Tony some 10 car lengths back, Jeff spun in turn 1—ALL BY HIMSELF!!! He would later say he was “pushing it” to make sure he got the win but it was a near-duplicate of the earlier spin by Stewart. Tony sailed by and headed for the win with Carl Edwards now close behind. Realizing that he too now had a shot at victory, Edwards went for it on the last lap. He closed the gap on Stewart and drove deep, WAY TOO DEEP, into turn 10. The car did not hold the corner and spun into the pea gravel, thus guaranteeing Tony the win. Some people believe the new points system that awards 10 extra bonus points which will be applied going into the chase was the biggest reason for the racing we saw. Still others pointed to the fact that, after the Glen race, there’s only 4 more races to make “The Chase”. Whatever the reasons, it was this kind of “go for broke” mentality that was seen throughout the race which makes me believe that it was the best racing I’ve ever seen at the Glen! My announcing partners, Jim Mueller and Al Robinson, all agreed–the weekend was fantastic!
Now, the bad news…
On the Monday following the Glen, I received a call from IHRA drag racer/”tire man” extrordiaire, Donny “DJ” Raiser. He explained the reason for his call was not a good one. Franklinville NY drag racer Brett Reithmiller and his wife had been tragically killed in an automobile accident over the weekend. Lancaster Raceway Park held their annual “Niagara Reunion” nostalgia drag race event the same weekend as the Glen and apparently, the Reithmillers were on their way to the track in their classic Dodge Coronet when a deer ran in front of their car. Swerving to avoid the deer caused Reithmiller’s car to travel to the opposite lane in the path of an oncoming pickup truck. Penny Reithmiller was killed instantly and Brett died at the hospital a few hours later. Although I had never formally met Brett and his wife, I was more than familiar with him as I called his name and described his legal stock ‘Cuda at several races, both locally and regionally. My sincere sympathies to the family and friends of the Reithmillers…
In yet another shining example of the camaraderie and “family” aspect of all motorsports, Tonawanda’s Dan “The Sign Man” Delaney (a talented individual who lettered Brett’s stocker) has designed a tribute decal for the Reithmillers. He is offering two to anyone who wants them–FOR FREE! Check out his website for more info: http://www.dansignman.com/journal/index.htm. There you can also find out information about the trust fund set up for the Reithmiller children. He also plans to bring them with him to INDY for the Mac Tools US Nats at the end of the month. Nice gesture, Dan!
Then, more bad news. At a NASCAR Whelen Modified race in Thompson CT on Thursday night (8/16), John Blewett III was racing brother Jimmy when the two collided. Apparently, one of the “nerf” bars of Jimmy’s car penetrated the cockpit of John’s machine and made contact with the driver’s helmet. “JBIII”, as he was known, was dead of severe head trauma. This unfortunate event came 3 years to the day that Tom Baldwin Sr. lost his life at the same race track. Jeff from King Design (www.thatisking.com) has designed a tribute logo decal for JBIII.
I have had the privilege to interview and call modified races at the Glen, Nazareth and Richmond in which JBIII as well as other family members competed. Again, my sincere sympathies to the entire Blewett family.
Finally, if that wasn’t enough, the following day brought word that Joyce Johnson, the wife of racing pioneer Milt and the mother of Rochester area dirt track modified standouts Alan “AJ Slideways” and Danny “The Doctor” Johnson, had passed away. My condolences to the Johnson family and friends.
These events serve to remind us all that life is a very precious thing and is far too short. As much as we all love racing, the only really truly important stuff in our lives is our loved ones. Do yourself a favor and remember to tell the special people in your life that you love them and truly care about them. Do it now and do it often–BEFORE the opportunity for you to do so gets taken away from you forever…
Mike Paz, Motorsports Announcer
