Nuts and Bolts: White flag being waved for racing page

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We have reached the end of another racing season and we will soon end our first year with this page. I have had many people come up to me this year and say they liked the page and the stories Eric Arnold, Craig Murphy and I have written. They also frequently said that they didn’t know I could write. My response was always neither did I! As far as I’m concerned I still can’t. 2008 was a good learning year for me. My involvement in racing has been at every angle but this was the first from a press standpoint. I have enjoyed meeting all the different people from different types of motorsports and appreciated their willingness to share their stories. I have stood in front of doctors and nurses giving presentations on advanced airway management in the field or on rapid trauma assessments and I even gave a class to some nurses on OB/GYN emergencies. But if you want to talk about nerves, try entering a trailer to interview a NASCAR celebrity! I am sure Colin Braun (my first interview) thought I was some kind of kook! I was amazed by how well coached professional race car drivers were when it comes to interviews. I can now talk to a Sprint car driver and pretty much tell you who will be moving up to the next level. Some advice to young racers: if you want to get to NASCAR or IndyCar, pay attention in Speech and English class or join a club like the Kiwanas or Toastmasters. You must be an extrovert and maintain a clean-cut appearance. People do notice those qualities when looking for a driver. Unfortunately, sometimes moreso than a person’s ability to drive. I became more familiar with pavement racing this year and I actually went to as many pavement races as I did dirt. I’m not sure if that is a good thing! There were many stories we didn’t get to this year, but I guess there is always next year. We really wanted to focus on the local drivers and races and I think we did that. However, having Iowa Speedway in town, we did end up focusing on some national series and drivers. Iowa Speedway, though, is a local track. We also appreciated the input from readers and always welcome story ideas. A thank you also has to go out to those that sent letters clarifying some of the things we omitted or misstated. You can always give me your two cents worth at bhgdavis@yahoo.com. Working in a firehouse has given me some pretty thick skin so I don’t get too offended. Please e-mail us if you have some story ideas for next year. I would also like to thank Craig Murphy and Mark Drudge. Without them this page would not have been possible. Craig is leaving the Newton Daily News to return to the Northwest, and racing fans will miss his dedication to covering motorsports. We will finish out the 2008 Let’s Go Racin’ page next week. Eric and I will collaborate efforts and take you back to a simpler time, a time when every driver in the pits was a local and Sunday racing took place on a dirt track. There weren’t any two-way radios and splinters left their mark in race fans’ rears. People in Jasper County headed to the north end of town, not the south. I am talking about the Newton Speedway. I think you will all enjoy this story.