My First NASCAR Press Conference

On
November 20th, I attended my first NASCAR press conference. In the days leading
up to the big day I was nervous and excited. My plan all along was to be
professional and introduce myself to people. Although I didn’t stick to the
original plan, the day went pretty well.

What
It Was Like

As
I walked into the Speedway Club and stepped onto the elevator, I tried to slow
down the hundred mile a minute pace my brain was setting, thinking of what was
about to happen.

Walking
out of the elevator, it was clear we were slightly early, so we waited patiently
in the corridor. Minutes later I look up to see Travis Kvapil walk in. It seems
everyone else that is waiting, appears to be oblivious to the driver. I however,
was thinking nothing but "wow". Shortly after I regroup, I glance
around the room to see the Rousch Racing posse of Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle.
Now is the time I know for sure I am the only first timer at this too good to be
true event. My eyes are transfixed on the drivers as others casually greet them
on a first name basis.

Lunch
was to be served at roughly 11:30. About that time we decide to include
ourselves in the group of people waiting near the room’s entrance.

It
was then that Benny Parsons arrived and with a kind smile and polite
"hello", he greeted me likewise.  

I
was proud of myself for keeping cool and just as I recovered yet again from the
shock, in walks the 2001 Busch Series Champion, Kevin Harvick. Seconds later he
is standing no more than two inches away from me. If I want to work in this
sport, I better get used to situations like that. But since this was my first,
the true race fan inside of me was begging for an autograph.

Thinking
I’m going to pass out from excitement, now is definitely the time to sit down
and luckily we were summoned to take our seats. After seeing an open table, we
sat. It was then that a friendly mannered blonde joined us across the table. I
have seen Delena Harvick (Kevin’s wife) many times on TV, but to sit at the same
dinner table with her, it’s well, odd. Seconds after Mrs. Harvick settles in who
else would come and join her but her husband’s boss, Richard Childress.

As
I sit next to the famous car owner, I’m hoping the shocked look on my face isn’t
as noticeable as I think it may be.

Even
though we didn’t formally introduce ourselves, I did tell him my name, explained
how I got invited and what my future goals in the sport are. He listened and
simply told me that I have to "keep digging."

After
lunch there was a small presentation to Travis Kvapil and Greg Biffle, winners
of the 2001 Raybestos Rookie of the Year titles in the Craftsman Truck and Busch
Series. They received special jackets and each took to the podium to make a
short statement, as did Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick.

The
room then broke up for one on one interviews with members of the media. I
waited, hoping to catch a couple of questions with Travis Kvapil and Kurt Busch.
Kvapil was in the middle of an interview and Busch got pulled aside for a TV
interview, so I decided I better get out of the way and let the professionals do
their jobs. I watched for a few minutes, taking in how the interviews were
conducted and what kinds of questions were being asked.

Leaving
the Speedway, I thought about what I had just experienced. I didn’t get the
chance to interview anybody as I had hoped, but I did gain knowledge of what to
expect at events like this in the future.

The
fanatical side of me, thought, "I just ate lunch with Richard
Childress." I remember taking a bite of my salad, looking up and seeing
Kurt Busch straight across from me. Being in the same room with these people
that I normally see on TV was a very fulfilling feeling for me. Many people turn
on the TV each week and think how cool it would be to work in NASCAR. The only
difference is, thinking it and actually doing it. One day I decided I wasn’t
going to think about it anymore and I was going to do it. Getting the chance to
attend the 2001 Raybestos Rookie Luncheon wasn’t even a second thought to the
majority of the people there. But for me, it was a realization that the goal I
set for myself is very attainable, and in the words of Richard Childress; I
simply have to "keep digging."