The Most Impressive Thing I Saw Tonight

Jerry Shaw · 8/26/12, 4:56 AM

It's not that Bryan Clauson went out tonight and personified the title of the event. Because he did. He literally laid a "smackdown" on the whole field. It was after that. Shortly after they rolled him back to his pit from victory lane, he was out of his car and was being greeted by a lot of fans. Most were telling him how good is and others about what a great job he had done, tonight. And there were still ones waiting for their chance to do the same, when a lady walked up with a little girl. BC saw this, stopped what he was doing and walked right over to them. He knelt down to be at the kid's level and stayed there and talked to her for a few minutes. He was actually asking her questions. And the kid was just jazzed, because she came over to see this race car driver and for those few minutes, he was talking to her like she was the only person around. And as they walked away, you could tell he really made that little kid's day.

This immediately put me in mind of another driver, from another era that, like BC, had a real gift for making young race fans' day. And that was the great Chuck Amati. Everybody went to the pits after the race in those days. You always wanted to go see the drivers. And Chuck was the one that you could tell, was looking forward to you coming back to see him. He loved his fans. And you always felt good after you went back and saw the One Arm Bandit.

Don't get me wrong, there a quite a few drivers that treat young race fans well and are good with them, but BC's the one that has a special gift, like Chuck Amati had. He's the one driver that reminds me the most of Chuck, in that regard. I've seen it enough times now to know that even when this guy's the man of the hour (like tonight), it means more to him to make a positive impression on a young race fan, than to listen to grown up race fans compliment him. Chuck Amati did the kind of things that helped create life long race fans. Bryan Clauson is filling that role in his era very well.

There was a lot of the ugly side of racing dominating the headlines, tonight. So, I just thought I would share this positive thing I saw going on behind the scenes.

Jerry

groove grabber · 8/26/12, 9:27 AM

Very cool

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Sausage · 8/26/12, 9:34 AM

Thanks for sharing the story. This is how the sport survives, by getting young fans connected. I hope she brings all of her friends with her to more races.

aka Liz · 8/26/12, 9:51 AM

Bryan did pretty much the same thing for my granddaughter earlier this year; she's very much into racing now. I think he has a fan for life! I so appreciate him taking the time to interact with these kids.

Eldora Three · 8/26/12, 10:11 AM

These are the sort of things that bring the next generation to the races. Started taking my granddaughter to the USAC and Woo races when she was ten. Because of the friendliness to her from some of the drivers she became my race buddy for ten years until she left for school in another state.

31bro · 8/26/12, 10:25 AM

When Bryan was at lps for midget week the same happened to my daughter. He signed her cast and knelt down and talk to her for a couple of minutes. Now every week she asked how he did in races. Bryan is a class act. And as much as I want him to make it to the big time racing, either nascar or indy car, hope he stays sprint car racing.

jjones752 · 8/26/12, 10:36 AM

I don't post a lot, but I had to make a comment this time;
Thanks, Jerry, for pointing out the good qualities of a young man who obviously has way more talent in his little finger than all of the people combined who come on here and complain about "rich boy's daddys" and alleged "traction-control" and "dusty tracks" and "tractor parades", who don't know the difference between "there", "their", and "they're" (not to mention all of the other countless manglings of the English language).
Talent that is measured by far more than his ability in the seat of a race car, which is considerable, but by the way he handles himself in situations like the one you described; with consideration for others and an obvious passion for the sport that we all love so much.
Let me make this clear; I am not a Bryan Clauson "stalker", but I appreciate the way he goes about his business, and I have great admiration for anyone who would have the skills and courage to strap into a non-wing sprint car several nights a week. Do bad, or questionable things happen? Sure. Do slide jobs get thrown a little too exuberantly? Does the "red-eyed beast" rear its' head in the heat of battle? Do racers try to skirt the rules, trying to gain an edge over the competition? Absolutely. Do dirt race tracks ever get too slick and dusty, or too heavy and water-logged? Oh, you betcha. But on the other hand, when the weather is good, and the lights are on, and the track is groomed to perfection, and the boys are goin threes just before the yellow goes out and the little boy in the seat in front of you thinks Bryan, or Levi, or Robert, or Double-D, or Jon, or any of the others is waving at HIM, and a little piece of you is thinking the same thing, does it really get any better than that?
I'm just sayin...

JarrettFarms73 · 8/27/12, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eldora Three

These are the sort of things that bring the next generation to the races. Started taking my granddaughter to the USAC and Woo races when she was ten. Because of the friendliness to her from some of the drivers she became my race buddy for ten years until she left for school in another state.

E3, I can tell you the sport is in good shape thanks to people like you. Many generations were in attendance all weekend, especially Saturday. In fact during intermission/ track prep times (friday), Chris Nunn and Sean Buckley used the kids in a mud sculpture sprint car contest. It was awesome. I think its great when drivers and those involved recognize the importance of the next generation of fans.

Sorry to hear you lost your race buddy. hope there's a dirt track close to campus!

I Miss Manzy · 8/27/12, 6:35 AM

I try to tell this to the "Stick & Ball" crowd. The conversation goes something like this:

Me: "Can you go in the locker room after the game and meet the players?"

Stick & Ball: "No,don't be ridiculous!"

Me: "I can! I can walk up to the biggest star in the joint.He'll shake my hand,sign anything I ask him to,stick my kid in his car,pose for photos and thank me for coming! What's the quarterback done for you lately?"

Stick & Ball: "I bought his jersey at the team shop."

It's shortly after this that I either change the subject or end the conversation. I have loved our sport since I was a wide-eyed 12 year old at Freeport Stadium.Initially,the action was the draw,but I soon found out the people were the real attraction! And speaking of race buddies,my grandson Nathan,that started going with me to Manzanita and Canyon at age five,has now picked up the torch.He's running a 4-cyl. Neon (pavement.......I know!) with a goal of a career in a sprint car. Thanks for starting this thread,Jerry.

Joe (no relation to Don) Ott

DHayes818 · 8/27/12, 8:08 AM

Bryan, and his dad Tim, did the same thing with my 7 year old son a few years ago at Lawrenceburg. They are super people. My son sent him a letter and Bryan sent back an autographed picture and a necklace. His sister and I assume, his mom, were selling shirts at the track a few weeks back and were also very nice. They've made lifetime fans out of our family.