While it's fresh on my mind I'd like to thank the following racing people for the kindness they've shown my youngest grandson the past few days. Bear with me as the list is long and in no particular order.
Shane Cottle, Kevin Thomas Jr., Thomas Meseraull, Coleman Gulick, A.J. Hopkins, Robert Ballou, Chase Stockon, Chad Boespflug, Dave Darland, Darren Hagen, Levi Jones, Hunter Schuerenberg, Justin Grant, Bryan Clauson, Hoffman Racing, Chris Pederson, Tony Stewart and Tom Brenner.
1,000 apologies or more if I've missed anyone. Earlier this year Jamie Fredrickson and Chase Briscoe did the same as those already named.
In most all cases little was said or done on the surface. A kind word, an autograph, a picture--things that took literally seconds to do. But it is very important that all the people mentioned, and many others who are not, at least have an idea of what an effect they are having on our younger fans. These young people go home and talk about what they've seen.
They've seen people race hard, show much emotion, ranging from extreme anger to pure joy to overwhelming sadness. They see that these people are human, of course, but often they see the kindness and interest that racing people have in kids. As one says, "They are racing's future."
There is nothing special about my grandson, though his interest and knowledge is uncommon for a three year old. But the look in his eyes when cars come on the track, or when he interacts with a driver (even when he's shy, Chase Stockon
) is very special, at least to these aging eyes. The kindness done by these named and many more is also special. Bless you all.
Many people here will look at this list and say of some, "What a @#&*. He's a dirty driver/cheater/bum/loser/low life, etc." So what? All I know is that they were kind to one of the most special people in my life--ever.
It's too easy to look for the bad. A few here do a fine job at that. But sometimes we can find a person, racer or not, who may exhibit good qualities on occasion--if we try. Instead too often we'd rather be partisan to the point where our dislike or hatred of another person clouds our common sense and our "better angels" as Abe Lincoln called it. That is sad and it diminishes all of us when we allow prejudice, hatred, ignorance, and this need to put something or someone down every time we sit before a keyboard. We lower ourselves and, even worse, show no embarrassment for doing so. All we want to know or share here is that so and so is an a@@ and the @#$%^& Speedway is a dump, unlike my favorite driver/track. It gets old.
ISW is over and I'm almost glad. Am I tired. At this ungodly hour, I'm hopelessly behind in my writing yet here I am thanking a bunch of guys who may not even recall seeing this kid in the past few days or weeks.
I'll manage.
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Senior moments. Add Bob and Monica Clauson, Andrew Quinn, John Hoover and Mark Fritz for now. Monica makes for a good race track grandmother. The others play the role of kindly, though eccentric, great-uncles. Add the daughter and granddaughter of a/k/a Liz. They were happy to let the little guy sit with them for quite awhile last night. Adrienne may be his first girlfriend.