Logano and Edwards talk to media at Kentucky Speedway

On Friday June 12^th the NASCAR Nationwide Series took the 1.5 mile Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. The track’s premier event usually sells out, and with Speedway Motorsports Inc and Bruton Smith now running the place, the facilities have become top notch. Is Kentucky ready for the next step, the big step, up to NASCAR’s elite stage? Well, according to many drivers it could be.

But first, more on the Friday practice. As the Sports Intern at WCPO Channel 9 here in Cincinnati, I’ve gotten to do some pretty interesting stuff. I interviewed Boomer Esaison, stuck a microphone in front of beleaguered Bengal wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (the artist formerly known as Chad Johnson) and now I can check one more thing off the list; interviewing a winner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

When I arrived at the track with photographer Mark Slaughter, we set out to film some practice laps from the top of the grandstands. After shooting Joey Logano and Carl Edwards, we headed down to the infield and got an up close and personal look at the garage area.

While the cars were still on the track—and therefore still flying in and out of the garage stalls—we paraded through the garage area. Needless to say, I was like a kid in the proverbial candy shop. Mark, who admittedly knows very little about NASCAR, followed me around and shot some things that I told him to shoot.

(From left) WXIX's Dan Wood, me and WCPO camerman Mark Slaughter

We received word from the Kentucky Speedway media contacts that Carl Edwards would be behind his hauler at 6:20. Once again, the kid in the candy shop in me was bouncing off the walls. I had a chance to talk to Carl Edwards, a former teammate of my favorite driver and idol, Mark Martin at Roush Racing.

As I stated later, ‘Pinch me, this ain’t real.’

But there I stood, just two feet from one of NASCAR’s biggest stars, listening to him describe the track, his car, the commute from Michigan and many other things. As the interview winded down, I took my turn, asking Carl what the similarities between Kansas and Kentucky were.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Carl Edwards

“Well,” he said. “They have the same shape and distance, but that’s about it. Kentucky is the longest track that drives like a short track out there.” After he wrapped up his interview and headed off Slaughter and I walked over to Joey Logano’s hauler where NASCAR Now pit reporter Mike Massaro stood with an ESPN cameraman, waiting to interview the 19-year old superstar.

Massaro (right, wearing red) talks with Logano on ESPN

After Joey’s one minute on ESPN with Massaro, we stepped in. It was just the two of us from WCPO and two guys (a cameraman and reporter) from WXIX in Cincinnati. This interview was decidedly shorter—plus Joey had to get back to his car within fifteen minutes for the second practice session—but I still had an opportunity to ask the kid, a year and a half younger than I an interesting question.

Logano climbs from his #20 Toyota Camry after turning the fastest practice lap in the first practice at Kentucky Speedway

‘Joey, we just asked Carl if going back and forth between the Cup cars and the Nationwide (it took every ounce of my being not to say Busch Series) cars, from one track to another, from one rule set to another ever confuses him. Does it confuse you? I know you’re still young and learning, but is it ever confusing?’ Logano kept his eyes trained on me, ironically the amateur in this situation, patiently waiting for me to finish my thought.

I had to keep reminding myself that Joey is a year younger than I, and probably has more money than I'll ever see!

“Well, sometimes it does, but I have to sit in the car for a minute and take a deep breath,” he explained. “I say to myself, ‘Ok, this is the Nationwide Series car,’ and by the time I’m back on the backstretch I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, now I remember this place’.” We thanked Joey for his time and headed off to grab some food.

Needless to say the Friday night journey to Kentucky Speedway was one of the coolest trips of my short time at Channel 9. I’m looking forward to doing the same thing when the Craftsman, check that, Camping World Truck Series (old habits die hard I guess) visits Kentucky in a few weeks.

Maybe then Kyle Busch will make the practice sessions and will chat with the media. He didn’t make the trip from Michigan to Kentucky to practice the Nationwide Series car, but here’s a photo of his car anyway.

Kyle Busch's Nationwide #18 strolls through the garage area

I know that will make one Markaholic happy, and the rest want to stop reading my stuff. But, you just can’t, because later today I will describe my trip to Kentucky Speedway on raceday. Hopefully you can click back in a few hours to read more on the young Logano capturing his second win in as many tries at the 1.5 miler in Sparta.

Until then, I hope you’ve enjoyed my photos and stories. Maybe in 30 days I’ll have some more stories like this, only those would be from Speedway, Indiana. Ones that might, of course, concern Mark Martin