[ossuks]

Cory is on a short list of the best I have seen in a life time that dates back to the late 50's! He was also on an even shorter list of one of the men I respected most, and at the top of the list of the coolest guy I ever met.

I don't claim to be a life long best friend, but he was the type of personality that made you feel that way. I only knew him for maybe 5 seasons when he ran all the National races with USAC, and a few events like Belleville. What I did know was I was stealing from him every chance I could get, I was taking everything I could get from him, in the maybe 20-25 conversation we had over those years I was stealing all the information I could from him. You just do not meet men like him often enough!

This is an example of the cool/respect that was Cory Kruesman ( he probably has no recollection of this but I will never forget, guess that is part of what being cool is): USAC constructs a deal to merge with CRA and the powers to be at USAC decide that I MUST go out and be the person in charge. I want no part of this, I do not want to go in someones backyard and be the new "authority" , CRA already had their guy, he did a great job, they all respected him, they did not want this @sshole from the mid west changing their landscape ( and I understood this and wanted no part). But, here I am in the pit area at Manzy trying to conduct a meeting with 0 support, there were cat calls, all types of derogatory comments directed at USAC and me, I am trying to get the meeting under way and the drivers, crews, owners are just getting louder and could give 2 sh1ts what I had to say. AND up rides Cory, he drives his mule up to the front of the meeting and without raising his voice simply says " lets hear what he has to say" and silence, me with one of the loudest deepest voices can not get one person to listen, but Cory in a normal voice among 100 men speaks and all go silent.

Another time he "rescued" me happened in my backyard! I arrive later than normal at a mid-week show in southeastern Indiana ( school teachers can't just leave early all the time). When I arrive the event is already standing room only and we have not even fired a car off. This is USAC's 1st time at this facility. The venue has already been inspected by USAC, well anyway, there are safety issues that have not been addressed. The track surface is below the footers for the walls, there are cars parked against the 1st turn wall and no type of catch fence, and going onto turn 3 is a exposed end to a concrete wall and a few other issues. I decide in the interest of safety to cancel the event. You can only imagine the reaction of many including my 2 superiors at USAC, I actually took a phone call from the president ( not Obama) that said I could not cancel this event. Cory was no longer a driver and was renting race cars and had towed all the way from the coast for a 3 race week, my guess is he lost some money because of my decision? Amidst all the term oil Cory walks past and yells "Carey", I look his way and all he says is "Thank You". I knew then I had made the right choice. That is the kind of respect I had/have for Cory. Excellent choice for your Grand Marshal and I hope your event is a huge success!