For almost as long as I can remember, World of Outlaws has been an integral part of my vocabulary. I have seen a considerable amount of WoO events, but there are three dates that stand out and do so in varying degrees.
– 1994 –
It was the final day in August; a little more than a month following my 11th birthday. The sun was out as my dad and I made the half-hour trek south to Cottage Grove, Ore., for my first experience of a World of Outlaws event.
I’m sure I was wearing mismatched clothes and a dorky hat. When I look back at my childhood “style” it is with nothing more than regret. And I have to be honest that my initial interest was in the toy cars and autographs more than what was on the track. That was especially heightened because of a prerace autograph session in a grass lot – which is now the entrance to a Walmart – where most, if not all, of the famed Outlaws met with the fans prior to heading to the track.
I toted around all kinds of signatures on oversized, glossy paper like it was my treasure. My day was made before I even heard a sprint car fire up. Dave Blaney ended up winning the feature, which I remember little of. However, I remember my first event and I think that speaks volumes.
– 2004 –
Flash forward a decade later to the Cottage Grove Speedway, which was also the site of the first World of Outlaws race I covered.
That summer I had an internship for the mighty Cottage Grove Sentinel and my beat was the track. Each week I recapped the sprint cars, late models and modifieds. Occasionally, I was able to write a feature on one of the racers, but my real reward came on August 31 – 10 years to the day of my first WoO event.
I got to the track extra early and did some interviews for an article about life on the road. Most of the Outlaws who I talked to were gracious and invited me into their trailer. It was special access I’d never known as a fan.
That night I documented Kraig Kinser outlast the most notable sprint car driver, who happens to be his father, en route to a first career Outlaws victory. It was amazing to see Kraig and Steve interact in that special moment, and then to be able to write about it proved to be a memorable experience for me.
– 2012 –
That brings us to today – January 24 – which is my second day as the public relations coordinator for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. It is an opportunity that I honestly never dreamed would happen. In fact, when Allan Holland of Hoseheads called me to recommend a meeting with the World of Outlaws during the IMIS show in Indianapolis last month, I think my response was, “Sure, why not?”
Throughout the month of December I had a handful of phone calls with the WoO higher-ups and I became more excited about the possibility when I realized I actually had a chance. Who would figure a dude from Oregon could ever travel the country with “The Greatest Show on Dirt?”
I can’t wait to get in the mix and head to Florida in three weeks to start the season. With big shoes to fill, I’ve bugged the past two PR coordinators – Kyle Luetters and Tony Veneziano – and I’ll continue to ask questions. I have a few ideas of my own and I’m ready to take advantage of this opportunity.
I don’t want to make this into an acceptance speech, but I would like to publicly thank a few people in the business who have helped me achieve this dream. First, thank you to Greg Burgess and the staff of the ASCS Northwest Region for giving me a chance in 2009.
A big thanks goes to Brian Brown and Travis Rilat for urging me to take a leap and start my own business last year (someone please send this to Brown so he can see that he is thanked in front of everyone). Also, thanks to all of the drivers who took a chance with Inside Line Promotions last year – Brown, Channin Tankersley, Logan Forler, Austen Wheatley, Trey Starks, Danny Lasoski, Tony Bruce Jr., Tommy Tarlton, Jack Dover and Seth Bergman.
Thank you Allan for letting me write a Hoseheads column and to all of my allies within the media industry of motor sports.
I want to acknowledge ASCS and its staff for letting me hang around the past couple of years. I’m like the orphan dog who was fed scraps and allowed to sleep in the house (literally, thanks to Matt and Ashleigh for letting me crash at your place so often).
Lastly, thank you to the World of Outlaws for providing such a great memory as a kid in the stands and a reporter roaming the pits. And thanks for giving me an opportunity to showcase sprint car racing at the highest level.
