At first race, Morehouse senior sat atop pit box, met Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Students are encouraged to work as active media members at the racetrack and ultimately tell the story of their unique experience at a NASCAR event. Following each immersion, one student will have the chance to see their work published on NASCAR.com.
Last month, David Fortune, a senior at Morehouse College, attended the race weekend in Hampton, Georgia and filed this story.
Before arriving at Atlanta Motor Speedway I had some preconvinced notions of what might take place at a NASCAR event. I pictured drunken crazy fans and everyone wearing cowboy boots. Yes, I should be hunted down with fork knives and pitchforks. Clearly, I watch too much TV because that was not the case.
Growing up, all I ever watched was basketball, baseball and football. The only time I watched NASCAR was when there was absolutely nothing to watch on television. I thought this would be an opportunity beyond anything I could have asked for. That is the beauty of exposing yourself to something new. You can only speculate about something until you go out and see for yourself.
After we received our credential passes for the day, we were met by our first host, Trent Bailey, manager of competition communications for NASCAR. This guy was so cool, it felt like you knew him before you even met him. He toured us around the media center where all of the game reporters, producers and other media staff members worked. I remember going to an Atlanta Hawks NBA game, and there were not nearly as many people working in the media room. I soon understood the magnitude of NASCAR and the coverage it has on a global spectrum.
We then were introduced and had the pleasure of interviewing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Managing Director Richard Buck. The meeting started off as a formal interview, but later turned into a 30-minute casual conversation. One of the biggest takeaways I got from Mr. Buck was the work that NASCAR officials put into their job. NASCAR has one of the longest season in professional sports. It lasts from February to November, traveling to 26 different cities and hosting 38 races. That is not including a three-month offseason, which is not really an offseason due to the time that is spent working on award banquets, ceremonies and planning for next season. I realize it requires passion and a great deal of sacrifice to do their job.
Afterwards, we met Zack Albert who is a writer for NASCAR.com. Albert brought us to the racer's garage to see their trailers and vehicles. Zack seemed to know everything about race cars and more. I do not think there was a question I did not ask. I gained a lot of knowledge just by being around him. My classmates and I stood out the in the blazing sun for about 45 minutes learning about the functions of a NASCAR vehicle. Despite the near death experience it was all worth it all when I saw Danica Patrick standing in her green Go Daddy driver suit. She slowly swung her hair back and gazed passionately into my eyes. Well, that's not exactly how it happened, but the .2 seconds glance she gave to me was enough. I did not think my day could have gotten better than that.
As we continued on our tour, I realized car racing is a team sport, just like basketball or football. Most people think the drivers work independently, but that is false. There is a crew chief and members who work with each other to put together the best vehicle possible. I found it interesting after Kevin Harvick won the race because he used keywords such as, "we," "our," "us" and "together" to describe the team's performance. Everybody plays a crucial role in the team's win or loss.
After visiting the garage and locking eyes with Danica Patrick, we came back in the media center to rest. There we were greeted by Matt Humphrey who also works on NASCAR's competition communications team. I had to say Matt treated us like family. There was no need to break the ice because we immediately felt comfortable around him. He first took us out on the track and infield where you could smell the gas and burnt rubber in the air. It gave you the feel of what the sport is all about. I also took notice of the crowd and their energy. I always thought football fans were a bit obsessive, but NASCAR fans are over the top. When they love a driver, they praise him like he is Caesar, but when they hate a driver, they boo him like he a bad referee. It's like there was a personal hate-love relationship with the drivers it seemed.
Matt then planned for to us watch the NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Matt Kenseth's pit box. When the cars revved their engines, you could feel the energy blasting through your chest and eardrums. The night before the race, I saw a 5-year-old boy jumping around with so much excitement at a football game. I had the same feeling Saturday night. It was like getting on a roller coaster for the first time. I watched every second of the 195 laps, cheering for the No. 20 car mainly because we were watching the race from the team's pit box. By lap 50, the drivers came in for tire changes and gas. It was exhilarating watching the crew members replace new tires on the car in 12 seconds. You have to admire the work and talents of crew members because they are athletes as well. It takes a special gift and work ethic to do their work.
As the race came to a close and the checkered flag was waved, I reflected on my NASCAR experience. To be a part of this event was more than I thought it was going to be. I met amazing people, found my inner childhood and became a fan of a sport I never considered watching. But wait, I did not even tell you the best part of my day yet. Yes, even better than Danica Patrick's glance. Right before I was about to leave, one of my classmates spotted Dale Earnhardt Jr. Now I may not have known much about NASCAR, but I for sure knew who he was.
While he was walking out, my friend Austin suggested we meet him and get a picture. So I nervously walked up and said his name three times, but he could not hear me. I then reached out my hand and touched him on the shoulder. Let me stop there for a second. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the most popular driver in NASCAR, and I decided to touch him. If this were LeBron James, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter or Kevin Durant, I don't know if I would have lived to tell about my NASCAR experience. However, like a true professional, he calmly turned and said, "Cool, no problem guys."
It is those small moments I appreciate about NASCAR. I love seeing the families in the pits or the fans walking up and taking pictures with their favorite driver. It's like we were all one big family. I tip my hat to the NASCAR nation because of the hard work I see put in from sunrise to sunset and the amazing energy from the fans, officials and the drivers. NASCAR has made me into a fan, and I can guarantee that this will not be my last and only race.
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