A very special Rapid Reaction for you all I’m going to jump into the memory lane machine and relive the races I’ve been to. Congratulations to Juan Pablo Montoya on the win, had the best car, and needed this win.
1992 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Kyle Petty
Very first race and got to sit on the front stretch across from the pits, which was notable because my driver Davey Allison had broken his wrist (and other things) two weeks before and had a driver change we got to see. Also met Ernie Irvan, who spent more time trying to get out of giving us his autograph than actually signing stuff. To an eight year old kid he might as well have kicked my dog being my second favorite driver, thanks Ernie, you prick. Only 51 of 90 laps run due to rain. Check out Kyle's flowing locks from back in the day.
1993 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Mark Martin
We moved our seats to the inner loop, it was alright there. Slight upgrade from the front stretch, but not the best still. Mark’s first of three wins in a row. Nothing really of note here other than this was the race Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt crashed in the esses, which we heard about as my Mom made us leave early. Thanks Mom!
1995 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Mark Martin
Missed 1994 due to a cross country trip, my Dad didn’t think we’d be back in time. Of course we were, but oh well. Moved our seats to the Red/White/Blue section in the esses. Of course no dramatic finish like in 1993 to witness.
1996 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Geoffrey Bodine
Same seats as in 1995, my driver of the time Ken Schrader ran upfront all day, then dropped back near the end opening up the win for Bodine, his last in his career. At the time I thought that was the worst race ever because of him winning, now looking back that wasn’t and historically it was good to see a Bodine win at the Glen.
1997 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Jeff Gordon
Gordon starts his strangle hold on the race, nothing much of note here.
1998 Bud At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Jeff Gordon
Ditto.
1999 Kmart 400 – Michigan: Winner Dale Jarrett
First time out to Michigan for a race and it was a snoozer. No cautions, Jarrett leads 150 of 200 laps, race over in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Welcome to Michigan.
1999 Frontier @ The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Jeff Gordon
New name for the event and Gordon dominated, led 55 of 90 laps. Nothing really jumps out in the memory bank about this one.
2000 Kmart 400 – Michigan: Winner: Tony Stewart
Rain shorted race saw 194 of 200 laps completed. Most vivid memory was seeing the guy in front of me with a brand new red hat that once it rained, began running red ink onto his white shirt. No wonder we pay those Chinese kids 5 cents an hour, look at the quality they’re putting out!
2000 Global Crossings @ The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Steve Park
Local boy Steve Park (East Northport, NY) gets his first win at his “home” track. Very good to see, also led 53 of 90 laps enroute.
2000 UAW-GM Quality 500 – Charlotte: Winner Bobby Labonte
Dale Jarrett got his by crashing on lap 158, make me watch the most boring race ever last year at Michigan you prick! Coolest part about this was stopping at all the race shops on the way down in the Mooresville area. Also scored Harry Gant’s autograph that weekend, that was cool.
2001 Kmart 400 – Michigan: Winner Jeff Gordon
Last trip to Michigan saw Gordon lead 143 of 200 laps beating my driver Ricky Rudd.
2001 Pennsylvania 500 – Pocono: Winner Bobby Labonte
Of course Rudd won the first Pocono race and not the one I go to. At least I got his autograph that weekend. Labonte came out of nowhere to beat Earnhardt, Jr. for the win. Race wasn’t that bad in person, but I’ve said it, this race on TV is too long and too boring!
2001 Global Crossings @ The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Jeff Gordon
Why doesn’t he just win every race I go to! I got Kevin Lepage’s autograph that day, not too broken up that I can’t find it anymore. This was annoying because that day I was pulling for Robby Gordon, and what have I said? This guy if he didn’t have bad luck, he’d have no luck. The box that houses the information sent to the TV broadcast (i.e. speed, braking, etc) blows up in his car. Only reason this was cool, since I was using a scanner I knew before anyone else what happened, given away with my very loud expletive I let out.
2002 Daytona 500 – Daytona: Winner Ward Burton
Thanks to Jeff Gordon running into Kevin Harvick to trigger a crash to eliminate most of the field, Ward Burton won this race. This, my friends, was the single worst race ever. I finally go to Daytona, and Ward Burton wins!? Being there for a week and a half was cool, just mad expensive for all the races. Nearly $200 for one ticket for the 500! Again, Ward Burton? And to think I was complaining about Jeff Gordon winning all the time.
2002 Sirius Satellite Radio At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
Tony picks up the win over my new (and current favorite) Ryan Newman.
2003 Pontiac Excitement 400 – Richmond: Winner Joe Nemechek
Just below Ward Burton on the “if I could pick anyone to NOT win today’s race” list Front Row Joe would be up there. Another rain shortened race, 393 of 400 laps completed. Also notable for Jerry Nadeau getting messed up in a practice crash just before we got to the track.
2003 Sirius Satellite Radio At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Robby Gordon
Robby picked up the win after leading 30 of the 90 laps. I was happy, splitting my time cheering for him and Newman at this point. Notable as Johnny Miller’s second career start…don’t know who he is? Look it up.
2004 Sirius At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
This Stewart guy is going to keep winning here, so we should all accept it. No qualifying this year, but this track is notorious for rain outs for qualifying. 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008 all rained out. Plus there was a few times we had to leave (to get home at a good time) before it could start because of rain.
2005 Sirius Satellite Radio At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
Apparently “Satellite Radio” is cool again to put on the name. Oh yeah, Stewart led 83 of 90 laps, wish I had brought a pillow.
2006 AMD At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Kevin Harvick
I almost forgot this one, my Dad was excited as a Kevin Harvick fan. Random title sponsor, AMD as in the chip maker. Not those chips, chips like Intel, nice of me to mention a competitor that’s much better known to describe what they do.
2007 Centurion Boats At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
Stewart kept it to 20 laps led this time around. Curious name again, because when I think boats, I think NASCAR.
2008 Centurion Boats At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Kyle Busch
Busch is a turd, but had the best car that day, led 52 of 90 laps. Got to see Marcos Ambrose run up front and that was fun. Side note, anyone from Australia/New Zealand, I can’t ever imagine them being angry. The accent makes them sound so happy all the time. Let's not forget when Harvick and Montoya tried to talk out problems on the track...with their fists!
2009 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Tony Stewart
This one doesn’t really count. I had a ticket, was there Sunday, but rain (again with the rain!) forced it to Monday. I kept track of it work, big crash with Sam Hornish, Jr. and Jeff Gordon and that Ambrose character finished second.
2010 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips At The Glen – Watkins Glen: Winner Juan Pablo Montoya
Montoya had the dominate car, leading 74 of 90 laps. Our section cheered for Ambrose, but unless he crashed Montoya, he wasn’t going to win.
To conclude, I’ve been to a few races (25) to be exact. So if you ever go “what makes you think you’re an expert?” that is what makes me an expert on the fan experience. It was always nice to go see another track, but my heart is always with my home track of Watkins Glen.
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