My apologies. As stated in my last post, my goal was to post something during the week and that didn't happen. I'm sorry; I can't guarantee it won't happen again.
This week I find myself in Daytona Beach, Fla. for the start of the 2010 NASCAR season and the Great American Race - the Daytona 500.
Speedweeks are always an exciting time for any race fan. There is plenty of action during the two-week span starting with the Rolex 24 and culminating with the Daytona 500. I have only been in Daytona for a few hours and already there is an excitement in the air, and for good reason following an exciting Bud Shootout last Saturday.
Sitting in a local coffee shop for only about an hour I have seen 30 or so people come and go wearing NASCAR gear. The fans are out in force and it is the Monday before the 500 and that is the great thing about NASCAR fans.
NASCAR fans have a passion for their sport. They root for their driver unconditionally - win, lose or wreck. This time of year is great for a NASCAR fan. The point standings are even and the Sprint Cup could be won by anyone.
There is optimism in the air that can only be rivaled by Detroit Lions fans on NFL Draft day. This could be the year Junior wins the Cup. What about McMurray and Montoya at Earnhardt Ganassi, can they get EGR back to victory lane? Will this be the year Mark Martin finally gets the Championship he deserves? Who will step-up and challenge the No. 48 team?
All of these questions will be pondered and debated by fans, writers, broadcasters and experts until the green-flag drops this Sunday. By the time the checkered flag falls and we have crowned the 2010 Daytona 500 champion a whole new set of questions will emerge and that is what makes NASCAR great; a fresh start after every event that makes for endless hours of debate.
That is why I love NASCAR.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
It's been too long...
I hate that it has taken me so long to post a new entry. After getting back to Darlington this week I had a lot to catch up on!
It certainly has been very busy at the track since coming back from the holidays. January has flown by and it is hard to believe we are just over 90 days from the 2010 Southern 500. This week I got caught up on assigning motorhome spots, reviewing credential requests, securing our advertising buy and began planning what I think is going to be a pretty cool fan and media event with Mark Martin in March.
On Thursday I traveled back to Charlotte for the day with Darlington Raceway President, Chris Browning, to appear on the new SPEED network show Race Hub. We were able to cover a multitude of topics including the new NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Darlington!
The weekend has brought some very chilly weather to the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Being from Michigan I certainly do enjoy the winter time in the South but today we have freezing rain moving through the area which should make for some interesting driving later tonight.
As you may remember from my last post my good friend, Jeff Gluck, and I were going to see Jerry Seinfeld last Friday night and let me tell you he was great! Seinfeld was hilarious and was a perfect way to end a long week in Charlotte.
While I am talking about Gluck I should mention he has just started writing about NASCAR for a great site called SBNation.com. His latest post is about Danica making the jump to NASCAR and is definetly worth a read!
My goal for the week is to post an update at least once during the week so hopefully you will be hearing more from me soon!
It certainly has been very busy at the track since coming back from the holidays. January has flown by and it is hard to believe we are just over 90 days from the 2010 Southern 500. This week I got caught up on assigning motorhome spots, reviewing credential requests, securing our advertising buy and began planning what I think is going to be a pretty cool fan and media event with Mark Martin in March.
On Thursday I traveled back to Charlotte for the day with Darlington Raceway President, Chris Browning, to appear on the new SPEED network show Race Hub. We were able to cover a multitude of topics including the new NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Darlington!
The weekend has brought some very chilly weather to the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Being from Michigan I certainly do enjoy the winter time in the South but today we have freezing rain moving through the area which should make for some interesting driving later tonight.
As you may remember from my last post my good friend, Jeff Gluck, and I were going to see Jerry Seinfeld last Friday night and let me tell you he was great! Seinfeld was hilarious and was a perfect way to end a long week in Charlotte.
While I am talking about Gluck I should mention he has just started writing about NASCAR for a great site called SBNation.com. His latest post is about Danica making the jump to NASCAR and is definetly worth a read!
My goal for the week is to post an update at least once during the week so hopefully you will be hearing more from me soon!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Busy Couple of Days
It has been a busy couple of days since I last updated this. Last weekend I attended a work function in Charlotte, N.C. and planned to stay there because of meeting I had planned later in the week. That all changed when we found out there was a local family in Loris S.C. that was being featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
The Suggs family - Derrick, Amanda, James, Jacob, Jordan, Walker and Mason - lived in a house that had been given to them by Derrick's grandfather shortly after they were married. They soon took in Amanda's three teenage brothers to stop them from being separated in foster care and were all living in the 1,000 square-foot house that was beginning to fall apart.
After hearing the family's story Extreme Makeover: Home Edition stepped in to provide the family with a new home to raise their family in. As an extra special surprise, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon was brought in as the celebrity builder on the project.
When found out what was going on with the project at Darlington Raceway we wanted to come up with something that we could donate to such a deserving family. We thought long and hard about what the perfect gift could be for this family and on Tuesday afternoon we finally had the opportunity to present our gift to the family.
The press conference took place in front of the Suggs' new home, which is beautiful, but that goes without saying. There was plenty of media on-hand for the event and we got to hear from the builders that oversaw the project as well as the family prior to donations being given. Our track President, Chris Browning, was the first to present to the family. Chris was called to the front and made a brief statement and then presented the family with a piece of start/finish line asphalt, a VIP experience at the 2010 Southern 500 and lifetime tickets to the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. It was a really special event to be a part of and seeing the reaction from the family made it GREAT! You could tell the experience was incredibly overwhelming, as I'm sure it would be for anyone, but you could also tell how truly grateful they were for all of the support that they had received from members of the community.
The other day a friend and I were chatting and talking about how we have been fortunate to take part in some pretty special events because of our jobs. I never would have thought that being a part of this press conference would be at the top of the list for me but after being there on Tuesday afternoon I can honestly say it is. Hands down, one of the neatest things I have been able to do while working in motorsports.
In other news, and I apologize this is a long entry; Darlington Raceway was awarded a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race today. The Too Tough To Tame 200 will take place on Saturday, August 14 and will be a "one-day show" which means everything will take place in one day; practice, qualifying and the race.
A truck race is something I have really wanted to get at Darlington since I got here a couple of years ago. Truck races are a homerun with the core NASCAR fan. They feature throwback drivers who aren't afraid to mix it up and the trucks are known for producing incredibly close finishes. Couple that with the hallowed ground of Darlington Raceway and the fierce competition that the track induces and you will have one of the best truck races on the schedule. Everyone at the track is really looking forward to hosting this event.
That is all for now. Tomorrow and Friday are full of PR meetings for me and then Friday night it's off to see Jerry Seinfeld before finally getting back home for a week. Then it's on to Daytona for Speedweeks!
The Suggs family - Derrick, Amanda, James, Jacob, Jordan, Walker and Mason - lived in a house that had been given to them by Derrick's grandfather shortly after they were married. They soon took in Amanda's three teenage brothers to stop them from being separated in foster care and were all living in the 1,000 square-foot house that was beginning to fall apart.
After hearing the family's story Extreme Makeover: Home Edition stepped in to provide the family with a new home to raise their family in. As an extra special surprise, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon was brought in as the celebrity builder on the project.
When found out what was going on with the project at Darlington Raceway we wanted to come up with something that we could donate to such a deserving family. We thought long and hard about what the perfect gift could be for this family and on Tuesday afternoon we finally had the opportunity to present our gift to the family.
The press conference took place in front of the Suggs' new home, which is beautiful, but that goes without saying. There was plenty of media on-hand for the event and we got to hear from the builders that oversaw the project as well as the family prior to donations being given. Our track President, Chris Browning, was the first to present to the family. Chris was called to the front and made a brief statement and then presented the family with a piece of start/finish line asphalt, a VIP experience at the 2010 Southern 500 and lifetime tickets to the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. It was a really special event to be a part of and seeing the reaction from the family made it GREAT! You could tell the experience was incredibly overwhelming, as I'm sure it would be for anyone, but you could also tell how truly grateful they were for all of the support that they had received from members of the community.
The other day a friend and I were chatting and talking about how we have been fortunate to take part in some pretty special events because of our jobs. I never would have thought that being a part of this press conference would be at the top of the list for me but after being there on Tuesday afternoon I can honestly say it is. Hands down, one of the neatest things I have been able to do while working in motorsports.
In other news, and I apologize this is a long entry; Darlington Raceway was awarded a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race today. The Too Tough To Tame 200 will take place on Saturday, August 14 and will be a "one-day show" which means everything will take place in one day; practice, qualifying and the race.
A truck race is something I have really wanted to get at Darlington since I got here a couple of years ago. Truck races are a homerun with the core NASCAR fan. They feature throwback drivers who aren't afraid to mix it up and the trucks are known for producing incredibly close finishes. Couple that with the hallowed ground of Darlington Raceway and the fierce competition that the track induces and you will have one of the best truck races on the schedule. Everyone at the track is really looking forward to hosting this event.
That is all for now. Tomorrow and Friday are full of PR meetings for me and then Friday night it's off to see Jerry Seinfeld before finally getting back home for a week. Then it's on to Daytona for Speedweeks!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Wrapping up the NMPA Convention
Just finished up at the NMPA Awards dinner in Charlotte, N.C. It was great to see so many good friends and talented journalists and photographers honored at this event. It is certainly something I look forward to attending each year as it signifies the unofficial start of the upcoming NASCAR season.
This year's event was particularly special because 2009 was such a rough year for the motorsports industry. Last year saw many folks lose their jobs or move to new publications because of budget cuts and of course we lost longtime NASCAR beat writer David Poole. One of the highlights of tonight's program was when David's wife Katy was called to the podium to accept awards on his behalf.
Tomorrow I will be heading back to the Pee Dee in South Carolina because I have a press conference to attend on Tuesday. Last week the ABC show Extreme Make Over: Home Edition was in Loris to surprise a local family with a new house. The family members are avid NASCAR fans and Jeff Gordon was the surprise celebrity builder on the build. On Tuesday I will be representing Darlington Raceway along with track President Chris Browning at the wrap press conference for the show. We will be making a pretty cool donation to the family that includes lifetime tickets for the Southern 500. I am really looking forward to attending the press conference before coming back to Charlotte to finish out the week in meetings.
While all of this is pretty exciting I would have to say that the true highlight of the upcoming week for me will be seeing Jerry Seinfeld in Charlotte next Friday night!
I am a huge Seinfeld fan and can’t wait to get to the show. Last night when I got in bed I had a bit of a Seinfeld moment wondering why in the world they tuck in the bed sheets so tightly on hotel beds……Can anyone answer that? Anyone?
This year's event was particularly special because 2009 was such a rough year for the motorsports industry. Last year saw many folks lose their jobs or move to new publications because of budget cuts and of course we lost longtime NASCAR beat writer David Poole. One of the highlights of tonight's program was when David's wife Katy was called to the podium to accept awards on his behalf.
Tomorrow I will be heading back to the Pee Dee in South Carolina because I have a press conference to attend on Tuesday. Last week the ABC show Extreme Make Over: Home Edition was in Loris to surprise a local family with a new house. The family members are avid NASCAR fans and Jeff Gordon was the surprise celebrity builder on the build. On Tuesday I will be representing Darlington Raceway along with track President Chris Browning at the wrap press conference for the show. We will be making a pretty cool donation to the family that includes lifetime tickets for the Southern 500. I am really looking forward to attending the press conference before coming back to Charlotte to finish out the week in meetings.
While all of this is pretty exciting I would have to say that the true highlight of the upcoming week for me will be seeing Jerry Seinfeld in Charlotte next Friday night!
I am a huge Seinfeld fan and can’t wait to get to the show. Last night when I got in bed I had a bit of a Seinfeld moment wondering why in the world they tuck in the bed sheets so tightly on hotel beds……Can anyone answer that? Anyone?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A Hall of Fame Evening
Tonight I attended the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Charlotte, N.C. This year the inductees were Rusty Wallace, Robert Yates, Roger Penske and Jack Roush. All four of these men have undoubtedly left their mark on motorsports.
One of the coolest things about attending this event each year is being in the room with so many legends that helped shape NASCAR into what it is today. I tried counting the number of championships represented in the room but I lost count. Seeing guys like Bobby Allison, Rex White, Cotton Owens and Ned Jarrett makes me think of the early days of NASCAR. The sport was built on the backs of guys like this and it is nice to honor them.
I don't find myself being star-struck often but tonight I did have a 'wow' moment. My favorite driver growing up was Dale Jarrett. I think it was mainly due to the fact that I enjoyed listening to his dad, Ned Jarrett, and Ken Squire call races on TV. I will always remember listening to Ned call the last few laps of the 1993 Daytona 500 when DJ out dueled Dale Earnhardt Sr. to capture the win. It was a special father-son moment that transcended the television screen to the viewing audience.
One of the coolest things that happened to me as a young NASCAR fan was getting DJ's autograph at Michigan International Speedway. I remember standing outside of his hauler waiting for him to come to the truck following a practice session. When he came by and signed my photo I thought it was the best thing ever. I also got his crew chief, Todd Parrott and car owner Robert Yates to sign a photo that day and still have each of the framed prints hanging on the wall. How special it was tonight to listen as DJ gave the introduction speech when Robert Yates was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame. Wow, pretty cool.
One of the coolest things about attending this event each year is being in the room with so many legends that helped shape NASCAR into what it is today. I tried counting the number of championships represented in the room but I lost count. Seeing guys like Bobby Allison, Rex White, Cotton Owens and Ned Jarrett makes me think of the early days of NASCAR. The sport was built on the backs of guys like this and it is nice to honor them.
I don't find myself being star-struck often but tonight I did have a 'wow' moment. My favorite driver growing up was Dale Jarrett. I think it was mainly due to the fact that I enjoyed listening to his dad, Ned Jarrett, and Ken Squire call races on TV. I will always remember listening to Ned call the last few laps of the 1993 Daytona 500 when DJ out dueled Dale Earnhardt Sr. to capture the win. It was a special father-son moment that transcended the television screen to the viewing audience.
One of the coolest things that happened to me as a young NASCAR fan was getting DJ's autograph at Michigan International Speedway. I remember standing outside of his hauler waiting for him to come to the truck following a practice session. When he came by and signed my photo I thought it was the best thing ever. I also got his crew chief, Todd Parrott and car owner Robert Yates to sign a photo that day and still have each of the framed prints hanging on the wall. How special it was tonight to listen as DJ gave the introduction speech when Robert Yates was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame. Wow, pretty cool.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
I'm new, and I don't know what I am doing...
So here is the deal, I've often thought about writing a blog but never took the time to create one. After all, who wants to read what I have to say?
The answer is probably no one, but there could be someone, so here we go.
My wife also started a blog so maybe we can use these blogs to communicate to each other and avoid any personal contact. I hope not. Follow her here and maybe she will dish up some good dirt on me, no gurantees though.
I wish I had more time to devote to this first post as it seems like a milestone in my cyber life, but the fact is I am running late for an event. In fact, a pretty cool event in Charlotte, N.C; a Hall of Fame event even! Check back later for details! How about that for a cliffhanger...
JH
The answer is probably no one, but there could be someone, so here we go.
My wife also started a blog so maybe we can use these blogs to communicate to each other and avoid any personal contact. I hope not. Follow her here and maybe she will dish up some good dirt on me, no gurantees though.
I wish I had more time to devote to this first post as it seems like a milestone in my cyber life, but the fact is I am running late for an event. In fact, a pretty cool event in Charlotte, N.C; a Hall of Fame event even! Check back later for details! How about that for a cliffhanger...
JH
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