Home field advantage

Being on your home turf is usually always a good thing. Sure schedules get hectic and the hours might get a little bit longer but hey, you get to sleep in your own bed at the end of the night. Normally, my week involves flying to a major hub city like Detroit on a Thursday, meeting up with Johnny Gibson and then heading out for successive nights of racing. Usually, I wrap up the weekend on Sunday morning with an early flight and a long day of laundry and cleaning.

So far in 2011, those nights of "successive racing," have been few and far between but that's another story for another day. This past week was different. After flying home from another rain out on May21st at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan, I took a little time to relax. I was in a calm state of mind because the week's race was in the Charlotte area which is a quick 30 minute drive from my apartment. Although we had a very busy schedule leading up to the race with planned live TV coverage, I was a bit at ease knowing that I would be able to go home after the checkers flew and the equipment was put up and the fact that my girlfriend would be out here.

Maegan made her first trip on an airplane to come out for the weekend. I picked her up Thursday night amidst rain and thunder. I jokingly told her that she always knows how to "make an entrance." Originally we had plans to do several things until Mother Nature got in the way. For the eighth time this year, rain either delayed or canceled a World of Outlaws Series event and what a show it was on Friday. Right after the drivers meeting, the wind and rain blew in full force. Even though it only lasted about 10 minutes, the amount of water that was dumped on the grounds was immense. Small and large pools of water emerged all over the pits and the racing surface had a bright sheen to it as the lights came on. Track officials tried their best and prepped the track with such a situation in mind. As the hours ticked on, it appeared we might be able to get the show in. An impromptu autograph session helped tide the fans over and just as the drivers had returned to their haulers and began to suit up, the rains came again, effectively ending the night. You could see the dejection on everyone's faces as they packed up once again and took off for the motels.

Saturday was the polar opposite of Friday. With sunny skies and warm temperatures all day, the track was in great shape as we began the night of racing. Once the dust settled a few hours later, Paul McMahan emerged victorious with car co-owner Kasey Kahne looking on. It's great to see some like Paul win because he does race so hard. The driver of the HR cattle wagon hasn't had much luck this year but has been fast. It truly was only a matter of time before he got to victory lane.

While McMahan and KKR had a great night, I experienced a horrible one from the checkers on. When I went to go set up my camera for the post race interview, we realized the camera had froze with the only fix being to let it slowly die on battery power and then recharge. Thankfully, Sean Cain from KKR stepped in with a beautiful Canon SLR and helped me out. Due to that and a delayed Victory Lane celebration on the front stretch, most of the drivers had packed up and were on their way to Michigan so my story was a little lean on quotes. A big thanks to Donny Schatz and Cody Darrah for helping me out in a pinch. With the internet giving me fits again and a delayed delivery on my video, I wasn't able to get our results and recap posted until after I got home. The evening finally ended at 3 am when I crawled into bed and shut my eyes for a few hours.

Sunday on Memorial Day weekend is a racers dream. The Grand Prix of Monaco, the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 highlight a day made for fast cars, good friends and even better food. Maegan and I made a quick trip to the grocery store for supplies and then it was over to Kellen's apartment for deep dish pizzas and watching America's best. I must admit, the pizza's were good and so were both finishes! I really feel for both National Guard machines. First at Indy and then at Charlotte, it seemed like the cars that represented our troops couldn't make it through the final turn without an issue.

It was another early wake up call today as I had to be at the airport by 7. Maegan dropped me off and gave me a big hug before I walked into the terminal. As I saw my pickup drive off, I realized how truly lucky I am to have a gorgeous girl who puts up with a lot. Originally, she was going to get to go white water rafting, go to a few big malls and experience her first NASCAR race. Instead, 'lil Mae,' got treated to cold and damp conditions on Friday, muggy weather Saturday and a lazy Sunday. She didn't see nearly as much of her boyfriend as she would have liked. Being the little trooper that she is, Maegan never complained and helped me out with what ever I needed. In life, you are truly blessed if you have someone that is willing to stick by your side as you do something you enjoy.

As I write this, I am hearing the boarding call for my flight to Grand Rapids, Michigan for tonight's make up race at I-96 Speedway. The radar looks clear and I feel refreshed after having a race at home to get me ready for the gauntlet stretch coming up.

More Rain

It seems like rain follows the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Series everywhere it goes these days. However, it appears that Mother Nature really sends the rain on Saturdays. So far in the month of May, the Outlaws have not raced on a Saturday. With no races scheduled the first weekend and the next two Saturdays rained out, the 'Greatest Show on Dirt,' hasn't seen a Saturday night of racing action since April 30 at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind. Even before that, the series raced twice in the month April with both dates coming during the first two days of the month.

The sad thing is that not only is this effecting national touring series like the Outlaws and others, but it's effecting regional and local shows as well. Racers are truly a different breed of people. They sink every cent they have into their machines with the hopes of glory under the lights on a Friday or Saturday night. However, when Mother Nature drops the rain and races are canceled, the money cannot be recovered. Rising fuel costs, material costs and lodging are slowly bleeding racers from the weekly factory stock driver all the way to the nationally touring Outlaws circuit. It's truly inspiring to see people hold out for so long to race. It's a passion that can't be denied.

Another group who is just as determined are the fans of the sport. As I type this now, throngs of racing fans remain at the wet and dreary I-96 Speedway, cloaked in hoodies and ponchos, anxiously waiting for the rain to stop and track packing to commence. These dedicated fans are the reason why the racers can race and the officials can govern. For that, we are truly thankful.

As we continue to wait out the rain, here's to hoping that the rain starts to go away and the roar of motors can be heard from coast to coast.

First night at 'the Grove.'

It seems like every track we end up going to on the World of Outlaws schedule is a first time visit for me. Aside from Eldora, Knoxville, Dodge City and a few more, I should be sporting two yellow stripes across the back of my khakis as I attempt to navigate the dirt tracks of American (and Canada for that matter.) One of the stops I was looking forward to the most was the Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Penn. This semi banked, half mile oval is steeped in tradition and is almost mythical. Growing up in the plains of Kansas, we rarely heard of this grand track with the likes of Knoxville and Devils Bowl Speedway dominating the headlines. I remember as early as 1995 of reading about how Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell battled for wins in the face of some of the toughest local competition anywhere. I experienced the track virtually after Dirt Track Racing: Sprint Cars was released for the PC. I spent several summer nights waiting up until my parents fell asleep and then quietly turning on our Gateway computer to experience the thrills of Husets, Knoxville and this place called Williams Grove via simulation. I had to wait up because my mother despised computer games since I usually ended up crashing the family's only computer in my motorsports pursuits I came to love racing the track on the computer and eventually mastered the set up that would carry the #5M car of Mark Kinser that doubled as my own (Big Mopar fan here and that car just was AWESOME looking) to many victories.



I arrived in person a little bit before noon on a Friday the 13th. It was interesting to take in all the sights I had heard so much about and to see the die hard fans camping for seemed like acres upon acres of green grass. Once we had completed our regular series duties, I explored a bit more and used the blue backstretch bridge, visited Beer Hill and other places.



Something that caught me as the day and night progressed was the general excitement and buzz in the air. This speedway really has the feel of a college football game. When the Outlaws come to town, it's like Ohio State going into the "Big House" in Michigan or USC coming to play the Fighting Irish in South Bend. Everyone has a side and there can be no middle ground.

As we settled into racing action for the night, I couldn't help but describe the place as Martinsville with dirt. With it's paper clip design and tight narrow corners, the right gear and big horsepower would be the keys to victory. The Penn. Posse flexed some serious muscle last night as Stevie Smith, Brian Zeppo and Daryn Pittman were the only three leaders on the night. Smith appeared to have victory well at hand until a jumped start dropped him back a row for the next one. This opened the door for Pittman to show what he had in his Heffner Racing #27 as he tracked down the leader Leppo and executed a brilliant slide job in two turn. Pittman led the final six laps to score his 30th career WoO victory (to go along with six preliminary wins) and first Outlaws triumph for his owner. Daryn is the kind of guy you can't help but pull for. The fresh faced Oklahoman has fans across the country from his years of racing on the Outlaw circuit and proved to be a big draw when the series visited the Salina Highbanks earlier this month.

As we gear up for day two, I look forward to taking in more of the sights, trying more of the food and hopefully interviewing an Outlaw in victory lane twice tonight. It really would be nice to walk into the office each morning and see that brilliant Sterling silver cup as a reminder of my first trip to 'the Grove.'

Closing a Chapter in Life: Graduation 2011

This past weekend while the Outlaws tour was dodging rain at the famed Eldora Speedway, I was headed to the Midwest for my college graduation. I completed my courses in December and was in North Carolina by mid January so my goodbyes were a bit hasty. With the racing season being as fast and furious as what it has been, I only began to reflect on the past four years as we gathered on the east end of the Cameron Stadium before the ceremony.

Many people often tell you that college will be the “best four years of your life.” Between moving out for the first time, readily available alcohol and the occasional study session, it certainly can be a time for trying new things, discovering things about yourself, making memories and forming bonds that last for years.

Initially, I didn’t really buy into this whole notion. I made it through High school as a relative unknown, intently focused on pursing what I wanted to do in life which, at the time, was the be a film director. I arrived on a cloudy morning in mid August 2007 and began unloading the boxes of my 19-year-old life. A tub of clothes and several boxes of electronics populated my new tiny space, which was to be shared with a fella from Brazil whose name I had no idea to pronounce.

I made friends slowly and kept my focus on rising through the ranks of my department. One of the first true friendships that emerged was with a guy who commands a silver tongue and a keen sports mind. Michael Faggett went on to become one of the most decorated orators in our department, smashing his way through the competition at speech and debate tournaments. Eventually Michael retired his suit and case files for a polo shirt and a microphone. We teamed together for the Aggie Video Network, enjoying a two year run of Volleyball matches, Basketball, Softball and Baseball games and plenty more involving the world of Cameron athletics. Throughout this time, Michael and I had our fair share of arguments and good times. One of the first people that spoke with on my trip back was the “Godfather of CU Sports,” himself and it was as if nothing had changed. Chemistry between a broadcast team is one of the most difficult things to achieve and it’s a fickle thing as well. However, from the first time we worked together, there was a cohesiveness that was evident to those listening at home and in the stands. It was for this reason that I called on Mr. Faggett to fill in when my partner for MacArthur Highlander Football was absent for a game in Altus, Okla.

Because of his amazing and vast knowledge of sports and command of voice, I anticipate that Michael will be on ESPN or another sports outlet, delivering scores and memorable moments to the sports faithful. I wish him all the best and I sincerely hope that we are able to team up once again in the future.

(Mike and I sporting the suits.)

Speaking of broadcast partners, my time in Lawton would’ve been dramatically different without the guidance of the following two men: David Crawford and Daren Coats.

Crawford is a man of relative short stature but has a personality and influence that rivals the Empire State Building in size and importance. Just as the towering skyscraper transformed the New York skyline, Crawford transformed me from an awkward public speaker to (for the most part) polished announcer with the ability to think quickly and ad-lib with the best of them. Crawford offered me my first shot at radio when a new afternoon host was needed on the flagship station in the Lawton market, K-LAW 101. While others had their doubts, Crawford stood steadfast in his support and coached me daily. Eventually, I rose through through the ranks and secured a full time position with the cluster of three radio stations. All the while, Crawford was there as a constant source of knowledge of which I could always draw from. I still have a great deal of memories from the times that I was working with him.

Through Crawford, I met a great deal of people. Perhaps one of the most influential in my life is Daren Coats. “Big Daddy,” as he is called is the physical opposite of Crawford. Tall and broad shouldered, Daren carries the presence of a former NFL defensive lineman and is hard to miss in a room of business professionals. He currently oversees the operations at the Oklahoma Blood Institute in Lawton and is often dispatched elsewhere throughout the area so that others can draw from his expertise and knowledge. For my first year of calling football games, Daren would regularly join Crawford and I to keep stats and provide valuable insight. When Crawford moved on and I was tabbed to take over the Play-by-Play seat, I immediately lobbied Daren to take over the Color Commentator role. What followed was a series of hilarious stories funny moments that saw us scramble from time to time. Ultimately, we found our groove and it was a very successful 2010 Highlander Football season, both on the field and in the booth. The chemistry was once again evident which made for a very pleasurable listening experience.

Not only were we partners in the booth, we were and still remain friends outside of work. Daren has been like a favorite uncle, older brother and good friend to me. He’s always been around to supply advice, offer words of encouragement and provide a much-needed laugh from time to time. More than anything, he taught me how to conduct myself in the real world and how to set realistic goals and achieve them with ease. I can honestly say he has shaped my life a great deal and I wish only the best for him and his amazing wife, Tina, and I am hopeful she can send me some of her famous beef stew via UPS.

(Daren and Kim in the middle with Crawford in the racing t-shirt on the left.)

Kim Dodds is another person who has greatly shaped my life. Kim has been a General Manager of Radio Stations for more years than she is possibly willing to admit and is one of the people I admire the most. I have learned a great deal from watching her handle tricky and complicated situations with a sense of calmness and grace that is almost unheard of. I am very lucky that Kim gave me the opportunities she did and ultimately understood what my dreams were and allowed me to chase them. I am extremely grateful that I was afforded the opportunity to work for such a wonderful and knowledge professional right out of school.

As you can probably tell, my professional life has shaped a great deal of whom I have become but it was also my time at school the developed those real work skills. Times spent studying for classes, recording and editing shows and laying out goals for large projects consumed my time at Cameron. I was lucky to come along at a time of change within the field of study. Convergence journalism continues to gain momentum as the dominant force in our fast paced world. The ability to write, shoot and edit video, post it to the web and disseminate it through social media will become the key skill sets of the 21^st century media professional.

In my time at Cameron, I hosted and produced two weekly programs for CUTV, produced (with a tremendous amount of help) the first live election night coverage, wrote for the school newspaper, The Collegian, and produced an award -winning documentary. None of this would have been possible without the amazing faculty that calls the Department of Communication their home.

(Visit Cameron's converged home on the web by going to www.AggieCentral.com)

Mr. Steve Adams was one of the first professors I met on campus and remained one of the most enduring. A dry sense of humor is the hallmark of this broadcasting data bank. Mr. Adams can tell you anything and everything you wanted to know about broadcasting and put a clever spin on it. He also proved to be a huge stickler for detail and is whom I credit for my attention to even the sharpest cuts in the video editing software to this day.

Another professor who influenced me was Dr. Christopher Keller. Dr. Keller is a man that posses boundless optimism and a passion for his craft that is rarely seen in this day and age. The man truly loves his occupation and openly admits that, despite all the drawbacks, teaching is his one and true calling. Dr. Keller was, and still is, always around to provide advice and supported many of my ideas and goals. It is because of professors like Mr. Adams and Dr. Keller that Cameron University will continue to be a driving force and college of choice for those who want to major in the ever-changing world of journalism.

(Some of my college work below. Don't laugh too hard....)

I had a great deal of help in my pursuits at Cameron but there was not a more ardent supporter than Jenyann Roig. Jenyann is the type of person that sticks with you through thick and thin, good and bad times and is there to pick you up when you’re down. We worked together on many projects and she is one of the finest people I know. I am very proud of this person I consider to be one of my best friends as she is chasing her dreams in the realm of TV news.

There are a great deal of people that deserve credit for shaping me into the person that I am today but I am quite sure that you’re not willing to read an encyclopedia to get the whole story. In my college career, there were great times, bad times and times when courage and strength was tested. I am proud to say that we (my fellow classmates and I) achieved a great deal in our time together. The awards and accolades were great but we ultimately were happy with what had we achieved together.

(Jenyann, Giley and I in the ER at the Wichita Falls hospital after she busted my head open in a car wreck.)

With all of these memories flooding through my mind as I took my seat on the turf at Cameron Stadium, sporting a black cap and gown with grey tassel, I couldn’t help but think that this truly was the end of a chapter in my life. Sure, I had left the area in the January to pursue my dreams of working in the motorsports industry but I still had one final event to go through: commencement. Walking across the stage was surreal as I was greeted by President Cindy Ross and presented with my diploma. In my time at Cameron, I had crossed paths with President Ross on numerous occasions and was always told how proud she was of my achievements at the University and of me, personally. This was illustrated greatly when I received a letter from her at World Racing Group headquarters in Concord, N.C., congratulating me on my new position back in February. As I shook her hand, she leaned in and said, “I’m so very glad you came back for this, congratulations, you’ve earned it.”

Diploma in hand and several pictures later, the commencement was over. Three and a half years of work was completed and a chapter in life closed. As I watched the fireworks illuminate the clear Oklahoma sky, I looked at the smiling faces of my classmates. I realized that despite all of the problems our country and world face, there is hope. We are the future. Wide-eyed and green as grass maybe but there is such a great deal of hope and possibility for us. Our lives are just beginning now and we have the chance to shape and mold our futures. It’s such a great time in life. A time for experimenting, exploring, discovering and, above all, enjoying this gift we get each and every day. And that’s when it hit me. In college, I had experimented with a great deal of new things (Easy Mom, drugs were not one of them) I had explored things beyond my on comfort zone. I had discovered what is that I enjoy doing and what drives my passion in life. Most importantly, I had enjoyed myself immensely with a great deal of people who have left an indelible mark on my life. Thinking of it that way, I could see the wisdom in those who offered up the phrase “these will be the best four years of your life.”

In the end, these were some of the best years of my life but I truly believe it was merely a foundation and the best times are yet to come.

In closing, I would like to sincerely congratulate all of my fellow graduates. I hope you achieve every goal you set and aspire to be the best of whatever you set our mind to do. To those of you whom I have mentioned in this blog and the countless others who have been apart of my life since I arrived as a 19 year old knucklehead to the Lawton- Ft. Sill area, thank you very much for shaping me into the person that I am today. I would not be where I am today without you.

-Gump