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NEWS ARTICLE FROM THE PADUCAH SUN ABOUT RANDLE'S WIN 8-21-07
Sometimes, as Tom Petty once sang, the waiting is the hardest part.
And that's how it was for a couple of hundred or so fans who stood in line in
the afternoon heat for an autograph session scheduled to begin around 4:30
Tuesday afternoon at Paducah International Raceway for NASCAR Night.
The time came and went, as fans waited in the heat for NASCAR drivers Tony
Stewart, Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace.
They were not without entertainment, as the Horsepower Racing Network, which set
up a stage next to the autograph line, played music, threw beads to fans, and
even had a live telephone interview with Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, the sister
and business advisor to Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was originally scheduled and
could not make it to NASCAR Night.
Finally, as 6 p.m. rolled around, fans saw the familiar faces of Schrader and
Wallace. A few minutes later, they appeared at the autograph tent, ready to sign
autographs.
"It just means a ton," Schrader said of the fans before heading out to
sign autographs. "We live and breathe it every day, and they work a job
every day so they can live and breathe it when they can get the
opportunity."
Stewart was a little behind them, but the two-time Nextel Cup champion had a
valid excuse for being tardy. He had run in the 3M Performance 400 earlier in
the day at Michigan International Speedway, finishing 10th. He had to hop on a
plane to get down here in time to race at Paducah. He also had a brand-new late
model ready to race when he got to the track, so he had to go into the pits and
get his seat fitted for the car before he could race.
All the pieces fell into place at 6:30, as Stewart arrived to sign autographs,
and it was a relief to PIR track manager Jeff Bruhn.
"The fans have been outstanding," he said. "Some of those guys
have been taking care of them out there and keeping them occupied. I haven't
heard a single complaint. I'm just glad that they are here."
The delay was the latest chink in PIR's armor this year as it concerns holding
NASCAR-related events at the track. The first was the twice-delayed NASCAR Night
I, once because of rain and the funeral of NASCAR pioneer Bill France Jr. The
track has tried to get Earnhardt, one of the track's co-owners, for both NASCAR
nights, but conflicts with his schedule have prevented that.
"If we can get better weather and get a little help from Junior's schedule
... everything keeps falling apart on us," said Schrader, also one of the
co-owners, along with Stewart. "We've had tremendous support from the fans,
and help from the local businesses."
Bruhn also noted scheduling from drivers, along with a lack of cooperation with
Mother Nature, as factors in making adjustments to NASCAR Nights.
"Last year, we got these things in," he said. "But this year,
we've had rain, and the funeral, and more rain 10 hours away in Michigan. It's
hard to do these NASCAR Nights, you have to schedule them a year in
advance."
Stewart, Schrader and Wallace each had success in the feature action at PIR
Tuesday. Benton's Terry English won the UMP Late Model feature, leading all 25
laps, as Stewart finished second, Kevin Cole was third, Schrader fourth and
Jason Riggs placed fifth.
In UMP Modified
action, Randle Sweeney of Clifty, Ky., led all 15 laps, but survived a late
challenge from Wallace, who finished second. Sweeney had a lengthy lead for most
of the event, but Wallace closed in the final laps and attempted a slide job in
the third and fourth turns, but Sweeney had too much horsepower on the high
line.
Publication: Paducah Sun
Publication Date: 8/21/07 | |
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