Monday, July 31, 2006

Behind every cloud, there's a silver celebration

(This is Michele's second guest blog. She got to go behind the scenes at this weekend's NASCAR Busch Series Silver Celebration 250 at Gateway International Raceway. Here Michele shares her notes about the race, and some photos from the infield throught the link at the end. Thanks again, Michele!

Look for the story of yesterday's sweltering experience at the Lucas Oil Late Model race at Tri-City very soon. Spring and I are recovering today from the heat, and will get everything on just as soon as we can.)

(Michele) As part of my research for my NASCAR-licensed Harlequin book (tentatively titled Hart’s Victory and out in November 2007), NASCAR graciously provided me with garage and pit credentials for the Busch series race at Gateway International Raceway so that I could get an up close and personal look.

In addition to getting my questions answered, and since Val had asked me to do this blog, I decided to focus most of my attention on two drivers: Busch series points leader Kevin Harvick and local boy (from Columbia, MO) and hometown hero Carl Edwards. It helped that Edwards was second in the points standings, meaning that his hauler and garage were right next to Harvick’s as garage space is assigned by points standings.

Harvick drove the #21 Coast Guard Chevrolet and Edwards drove the #60 Henkel’s Ford Fusion. The weekend was marked by late afternoon storms, meaning that the track had to be dried before both the Friday practice and the Saturday evening race. Harvick also drove his backup car, after sustaining damage during the Friday night practice. While he placed third in qualifying line up, right behind Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards, the race from the very first lap was simply an Edwards/Hamlin race.

The race itself, if not the weekend, belonged to Carl Edwards. While Edwards swapped the lead with pole winner Denny Hamlin several times, the race wasn’t Edwards until he pitted first on lap 177, forcing leader Hamlin to pit afterwards and only take fuel. Hamlin simply couldn’t catch Edwards, who awed the crowds with his traditional back flip and a shortened victory lap—reversing between turns one and two to wave at the people in the grandstands.

Carl was the focus of most race fans the entire weekend. Fans spoke about their Carl Edwards sightings and how gracious he was every time. Carl was late (I heard he was driving in from Columbia and got stuck in rush hour traffic) to his autograph signing for season ticket holders on Friday, but he had a smile for everyone and signed everything from a car hood to someone’s t-shirt (while on the man’s body). During the ARCA/Re Max race, Carl strolled up the stands to the press box wearing nothing but black jeans and a black shirt embroidered with the words Office Depot, and only the back few rows of people recognized who had walked up so quickly. On his way down after the race, Carl signed autographs as he worked his way back through the crowd; no security staff bullied the fans aside. On Saturday, Carl signed at his merchandise trailer, outside his hauler, and after qualifying as he walked back into the garage area.

This was a race Carl wanted to win as it was on his home turf, and once the race became only a contest between him and Hamlin (who placed third), every fan at Gateway was pulling for Carl, whether they were die-hard Edwards fans or not. Missouri has a long tradition of racing, from Rusty, Mike, Kenny and now Steve Wallace, to Kenny Schrader and Joplin’s Jamie McMurray. This weekend was Carl’s time to shine, both on the track and off, and shine he did. My daughter, whose #99 hat is now emblazoned with Carl Edward’s signature, had the time of her life. She also decided that Steve Wallace (who is only 18 and placed second in the ARCA/Re Max raced and 31st in the Busch race) is a driver to watch.

Michele's photos

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