After taking a week off to attend the NASCAR races at New Hampshire and Dover one would think that I’d be writing about the race and racers. Nope. I won’t be writing about Jimmie Johnson winning for the record 8th time at Dover. I won’t be writing about how Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the fans at Dover on their feet rooting their hero on. I won’t be writing about Matt Kenseth and his point lead or the disappointing performance of Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch or Danica Patrick on Sunday.
Often times attending a NASCAR race is about much more than the race. Sunday at Dover was no different. For those of you who have never attended a NASCAR event, you should. It often is a great and sometimes unforgettable experience.
Hours before the race I entered the Fan Fest area. This area is filled with race sponsors readily able to answer any questions and of course, quick to hand out free samples of their products. Thousands of race fans with bags in hand are just as eager to grab these samples. Smiles, hello’s and a good time is had by vendors and fans alike.
We came upon the 5-Hour Energy booth as young ladies were handing out free samples of the major sponsor of Clint Bowyer. Bowyer has had both his image and reputation tainted when he spun out in a race, in what appeared to be an intentional spin, in order to help a teammate of Michael Waltrip Racing.
A young lady was working the booth when a fan yelled at her, “I wouldn’t use any product endorsing that cheater.”
The vendor just smiled as the man walked away. I asked the lady if she had been getting a lot of that. She smiled back at me saying that yes, she has had several people make negative comments about the driver of the #15 Toyota, Clint Bowyer.
I mentioned how he was once such a well-liked driver in NASCAR circles but that has now changed, most likely forever. During the driver introduction, Bowyer now receives boo’s that rival those received by traditional NASCAR bad guy, Kyle Busch.
The vendor went on to describe some of the backlash that she had heard this day. Some examples are:
“Will drinking this make me spin?”
“Can we play spin the bottle?”
“Will you take me for a spin?”
Most was good natured and it was always received that way by the very friendly workers at the 5-Hour Energy booth. Good for them!
Just as the track was getting ready to introduce the drivers I noticed several people in the lower tier of section 122 waving frantically to the track ushers. Quickly several Ushers rushed up and I could see a man having some kind of medical issue.
As it was sunny I thought that the gentleman was just overheated. Seconds later I saw the man fall backwards. A fellow spectator caught him and sat him down on the bleachers. Another man jumped over a couple of rows and began to administer CPR.
A hush fell over the track as attention turned to the events happening off the track. The man quickly regained consciousness, and within minutes EMS arrived to begin offering medical treatment. Afterwards he man was sitting up talking to the EMS and fire personal.
I assume some if not most of the medical and fire personal needed for an event as large as a NASCAR race are from local volunteer sources. The action and skill of these great people might very well have saved a life on this day.
After watching kindness and stewardship at its best Sunday, the race became, well, just a race. From the concerned citizens who without hesitation helped a stranger, to the men and women of the Emergency Services who are always here for us 24 hours a day, to the track personal there to make our day pleasant, we are indebted to all of them. They all came together on this day to save a life. In as horrible a moment as one can have, these great people turned it into as heroic moment as one can witness.
Yes, it was more than a race. Much more.
On to Kansas we go as the Chase is beginning to look like a three team race between leader Matt Kenseth, Dover winner Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch.
My prediction for Kansas:
1) Jimmie Johnson
2) Matt Kenseth
3) Kasey Kahne
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Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia Commons
