Great stuff as usual. Some highlights of the weekend for me:
Of course, you can guess who's pit area I was in. Dave Rief can credit ONE guy in the world for helping him find his sunglasses on Sunday... ME! He removed them to interview C-Mac, then got called away in a tizzy... so we caught up with his poor squinting-self a while later and told him, as his Mom probably did a million times growing up, "they're right where you left them, David!" Sitting in plain sight on the fold-down table by the fuel mixing station in the Fram pits!!!
Saturday, taking a friend to the race, as posted here earlier.... after being in the Mac pits, my buddy was equally impressed when we walked to the Vegas Fuel and my name was actually on the guest list!!!!! (sorry I missed y'all).
Being in the staging lanes, seeing Lee Beard's reaction Friday when the 1st 1000-footer lit up.
Bandimere is really unique because you get to roam the staging lanes, as drivers are getting strapped in. I highly, highly recommend you all to come here once. Some incredible photo ops from that alone.
Lastly, on a sad note.... I broke down like a little baby twice, when I started reading the notes fans left on the PowerAde Banner set out for Scott. I looked up, imagining the DHL hauler there... but there was no Mikres, no Andy, no Bear, no Scotty. Just the rolling machine shop, oddly-parked. How sad. Also one day, Bob Frey commented on the track that Connie & Corey were out there, Corey even waved....... Man that was so emotional.
My Dad (who knew Connie when they were teenagers), got to shake his hand and offer a quick condolence on Friday. I don't care what anybody says; Talking to The Technicoat Cowboys, they were markedly low-key and still are broken-hearted over the loss of Scott. It will never be the same.
Once again though - a BIG "hell Yeah" goes out to the Bandimere family.... you guys took a huge risk in resurfacing over the winter and investing in the cooling system,,,,,,, and it paid off in triplicate. The track was really amazing.
God bless, and keep Scott's family your prayers!
