A busy weekend at Iowa Speedway

I’m finally catching my breath after the first racing weekend at Iowa Speedway. As many of you know, I work there with the media relations department on race weekends. We help the press with whatever they may need, set up news conferences, handle victory lane activities and much, much more. It is a lot of work, but it is also a lot of fun. I’ve worked every racing event since the track opened and each one has been a blast. I work with some good people and have met some great people in my time there.
This last weekend’s activities were no exception as the USST trucks, ASA Midwest Tour and the NASCAR Camping World Series were all on hand – not to mention an appearance by Richard Petty and of course Kyle Busch, who won Sunday’s main event, and whose trophy fell apart in my arms, giving me column inches in the Des Moines Register, video time on the KCCI sports on Monday, and a rousing chorus of boos from the fans gathered to watch the victory lane activities Sunday evening.
Kyle Busch and his team were good-natured about the whole thing and that was good. It was a little embarrassing, yes, but on a scale of world events, pretty minor. I have to get a hold of my photographer friends to see if anybody got some good shots of me in action.
Race weekends at Iowa Speedway are like a family reunion, as series employees have become familiar faces and good friends as the seasons pass. I enjoy working with Kevin Ramsell and Doug Hornickel with ASA. I hadn’t seen them since last October in LaCrosse so it was good to shoot the bull. I’m hoping to see them again on July 3 when the ASA Midwest Tour comes to Hawkeye Downs. Working with Jason Christley, Jason Cunningham, Kevin Greene and Meghan Miley of NASCAR is also a pleasure. I will get to work with Kevin again on September 4 as the Camping World Series West cars return to Iowa Speedway on the weekend when the Camping World trucks make their Iowa debut. Can’t wait.
Richard Petty was on hand as well on Sunday. Richard has such an aura about him it is amazing. He is a great interview and his press conference was quality as Petty is a good speaker and a thoughtful answerer of questions. He is also very gracious with his time as he posed for numerous photos and signed many autographs while visiting the track. Auto racing couldn’t ask for a better ambassador. Whether you cheered for the number 43 or not (and there weren’t many that didn’t), you can’t help but admire the man for the way promotes the sport of auto racing. There are many reasons he is “The King.” Attention! - Richard Petty spent some time with the members of the Color Guard who took part in the pre-race ceremonies at Iowa Speedway - BWJ photo

I got to see Kathryn Knaack too. Kathryn is a friend of Petty’s and was on hand to catch up with Richard. She and I were able to catch up as well over lunch. I hadn’t talked with her in years and there was a lot to catch up on, and reminisce about too. Back in 1993, she and I hit a few of the Daytona Beach sites during Speedweeks, including a concert with Tex Beneke and his orchestra. Being a huge Glenn Miller fan, a chance to see and hear Beneke (Miller’s saxophone player and vocalist) was a treat, and a piece of my life I will never forget. It was great to see Kathryn at Iowa Speedway. Kathryn and The King - Kathryn Knaack and Richard Petty got a chance to catch up while at the track. - BWJ photo

One more item about Kyle Busch. In addition to being kind to me about breaking his trophy, he certainly went against the grain and his “bad boy” image that brings out the boo birds. I accompanied him back to his hauler in the pits and when we arrived, a swarm of fans was waiting. Busch didn’t hide or flinch. He waded into the people, signed autographs and posed for pictures, some top quality time with the people. The winner - Kyle Busch takes part in the post-race press conference. - BWJ photo

With the fans - Kyle Busch chats with the fans and signs some autographs back at his hauler after the race. - BWJ photo

Busch and many other drivers catch a bad reputation at times when it comes to dealing with fans. The good things are often overlooked because the confrontations make for better copy. When it comes to driver/fan relations, it is all a matter of timing – when you ask and what you are asking for. I could write 50 pages on the do’s and don’t of that, but it would be for nothing as people will always want autographs at the wrong time, or in the wrong place. Cut your favorite racers some slack and think before you approach them - that goes for Stuart, Iowa, as much as it does Daytona. And don’t forget “please” and “thank-you”. I may sound like your mother, but manners still hold some weight in 2009.
I get a month off from Iowa Speedway and then the action heats up big time as IndyCar rolls into town for its third visit. This is one of my most anticipated shows of the entire racing season, having a soft spot in my heart for Indy. I’ll give you some details following those busy three days.