For me, the 2003 Brickyard 400 was just going to be another Brickyard 400 enjoyed from the couch. As it turns out, there was more in the cards than just sitting and watching from the couch. If you don’t remember my 2003 Brickyard 400 story from last year’s Brickyard 400 countdown you can re-live it here: http://adamniemeyer.blogspot.com/2008/07/brickyard-through-my-eyes-moment-9.html
And, if you didn’t click on the link above—it’s ok, I forgive you—then I’ll give you a quick synopsis of the events that led to my surprise visit to Indy.
Matt Kenseth’s show car was at a local Ford dealership (part owned by my uncle’s family). A local radio station had a drawing for free tickets. My dad won two free tickets compliments of Smirnoff, a Matt Kenseth sponsor. The girl working at the table and picking out names couldn’t read my dad’s admittedly bad handwriting, and I basically flipped a table over on the poor girl telling her we won.
And, if you didn’t click on the link above—it’s ok, I forgive you—then I’ll give you a quick synopsis of the events that led to my surprise visit to Indy.
Matt Kenseth’s show car was at a local Ford dealership (part owned by my uncle’s family). A local radio station had a drawing for free tickets. My dad won two free tickets compliments of Smirnoff, a Matt Kenseth sponsor. The girl working at the table and picking out names couldn’t read my dad’s admittedly bad handwriting, and I basically flipped a table over on the poor girl telling her we won.
Me, on the track before the 2003 Brickyard 400
The biggest wreck in Brickyard 400 competition to date (that I can recall) occurred right in front of us in between turns three and four. I believe to this day that Mark Martin got loose and caused a chain reaction of checking up, leading to Terry Labonte being booted to the inside of the track.
After the race we visited Victory Lane where Kevin Harvick (the first Brickyard 400 pole winner to go on and win the race, and he’d still be if it weren’t for last year’s parade of a race) was celebrating. During the team photos, we heard a very drunk fan yelling at Richard Childress. All the man wanted was, “a (darn) hat.”
That’s a semi-short version of the Brickyard 400 from 2003, a year that basically cemented my dad as a Matt Kenseth fan—although he doesn’t quite follow NASCAR like his eldest son (that’d be me) does.
Matt Kenseth has had some success at IMS. In nine races at the Brickyard he has four top fives including two second place finishes. Couple that with Jack Roush’s great record at Indy and I think we’ll see Matt run up front this year. Last year he got caught up in a tire situation (and we all know how that ended up) and finished way back in 38th. This year I think we can see Matt run near the front—as he did at California in the second race of the season.
Although Kenseth has hit a lull and isn’t running as well as he was in the beginning of the season, I look for the next two races to be huge boosts of confidence for Kenseth and his DeWalt team.
---------------------------------------------
I once again apologize for the tardiness of the post and I hope that you’ve been able to enjoy the posts over the last few days. Although I’m running short on time I’m attempting to put my best effort on the line for you. Hopefully next week I can find a little bit more time to share some more information with you. Tomorrow I plan to preview the weekend’s cup action. Tune into qualifying this evening on SPEED Channel and have a great day.
That’s a semi-short version of the Brickyard 400 from 2003, a year that basically cemented my dad as a Matt Kenseth fan—although he doesn’t quite follow NASCAR like his eldest son (that’d be me) does.
Matt Kenseth has had some success at IMS. In nine races at the Brickyard he has four top fives including two second place finishes. Couple that with Jack Roush’s great record at Indy and I think we’ll see Matt run up front this year. Last year he got caught up in a tire situation (and we all know how that ended up) and finished way back in 38th. This year I think we can see Matt run near the front—as he did at California in the second race of the season.
Although Kenseth has hit a lull and isn’t running as well as he was in the beginning of the season, I look for the next two races to be huge boosts of confidence for Kenseth and his DeWalt team.
---------------------------------------------
I once again apologize for the tardiness of the post and I hope that you’ve been able to enjoy the posts over the last few days. Although I’m running short on time I’m attempting to put my best effort on the line for you. Hopefully next week I can find a little bit more time to share some more information with you. Tomorrow I plan to preview the weekend’s cup action. Tune into qualifying this evening on SPEED Channel and have a great day.
No comments:
Post a Comment