Nice Guys Finish First

By: Trish Carlton

The “Gateway trip” started out so well.We (Myself, Becky and Susan) were excited, and well down the road by 8:30 am–off to Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., in search of Women in NASCAR. By 11:00 we had reached the Comfort Inn. By 11:05, we realized our reservations were gone. The Inn claimed the reservation was made for July 26 not July 29. Susan had been checked as a No-Show. Apparently there were some negative feelings expressed during this revelation, but I’m only guessing because I waited in the car.

On to Plan B: We check in at the Renaissance hotel. They shuttle us to the Metro and we board a empty metro train. In answer to her request about the departure time, Susan received another snarl, “Just read the sign, lady.” But, hey, we are going to the Gateway Race, there’s a smile on our faces. No matter that it’s already in the 90’s outside.

The train ride is cool, then we board the bus for the Raceway. Two smiling gentlemen greet us and we become passengers two, three, and four on the race-bound bus. We arrive at the race park about 12:30 pm. In retrospect, I imagine some of the drivers were just getting out of bed about then. We don’t want to miss a minute of this day and with just seven hours until race time, we won’t.

At the Gateway International Raceway’s Busch Silver Celebration 250, I am making a concerted effort to seek out and/or interview the Women of NASCAR. I soon realize that this will be an extremely short article if that remains my theme. Basically, there are very, very few. But here you are:

  • 1. Erin Crocker, NASCAR driverThe only woman driver in this race, she was interviewed for perhaps a minute on the big board after she qualified. She started in 21st position - finished in 19th.
  • 2. Anonymous female (1)
    A pit crew uniform on. Perfect! But she is in a hurry. No chance for talk.
  • 3. Miss Gateway
    Somewhat Barbie-ish blonde in a long pink dress: her total function - eye candy.
  • 4. Anonymous women (2), yellow uniforms, white helmets in hand
    Maybe they are officials, but their suits looked similar to those of firemen. We noticed there was one yellow suit/pit.And that’s it for the women of NASCAR that we saw on this day, other than the ladies in the Credentials trailers, who were helpful in resolving a credential situation.

    The point: NASCAR is growing, to be sure, but more women should make their way to the inside of the infield.

    So, we decide we need a new topic.

    As you may or may not know, the three of us are from Columbia, Mo., just two hours from the Gateway International Speedway, and the hometown of Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 60 Ford car. This being the closest track to Columbia, Mo., it is Carl’s “home track.”

    We encountered his pit crew, and met Tom Giacchi.

    This Tom, also from Columbia (like CSR publisher Tom Alexander), grew up three doors away from Carl. Early this season he vowed not to shave until Carl won a Nextel race. He said his beard is now about 5 inches long and he’s still waiting.

    Beards and summer heat don’t seem to mix, but that’s not the only problem. Apparently the beard seems to have interfered with Tom’s social life specifically dating.

    And so we’ve found our theme: How and/or why did you become a Carl Edwards fan. I begin talking to every fan wearing a Carl Edwards shirt.

    Not a Tom, but an Alexander, Robert Alexander is a Gateway season ticket holder. He was selected to be a part of the trophy presentation ceremony for the past Busch winners. I take his picture while on stage wearing a great Carl shirt. This Mr. Alexander also wrote a short paragraph about Carl Edwards for the Gateway program.

    It seems that Alexander was a Rusty Wallace fan growing up, watching him at the Race Park in Fenton/Cool Valley. When Rusty retired, Alexander went looking for a new driver. The program relates a tale of Edwards running full speed past him and his daughter, when Robert yells out, “How about an autograph?” Carl stops about 10 feet beyond the father and daughter. Then he “races back just as fast” and “with a country grin” gave them his autograph. Robert said right then and there he knew he had found his new driver. His daughter was there to verify the story.

    Near victory circle during the opening presentations a tall dad is carrying his three-year-old son on his shoulder. The son has on a Carl Edwards t-shirt so I mention to the little boy, “Nice shirt!”

    The dad proudly shows us where Carl has autographed it this very day. And he tells us that Carl is now the driver for their family.

    While we are talking to the father-son, another fan volunteers to share how he too became a Carl Edwards fan. It seems he also cheered for Rusty Wallace and since that retirement, he has followed Carl because “he seems like such a nice guy,” unlike some other drivers, specifically mentioning one driver, who may or may not drive the Home Depot car.

    And this becomes our theme. You know how it always makes you feel good deep down when someone compliments a relative, or your children? Well, the same holds true for this home town celebrity. It makes each of us smile every time we hear another good story about Carl Edwards. Just because he is from Columbia, Mo. Just because he went to Rock Bridge High School, where our kids went to school. Just because he seems like such a nice young man.

    Carl is human, to be sure–he proved it recently when he showed his temper by tapping on Stewart’s bumper on pit road. But, he’s also “having fun,” complimentary and appreciative of his fans and crew. How often do we hear, “He’s just a nice guy.”

    And who says that kind of a story won’t sell newspapers? If bad behavior is the only newsmaker, we the reading public begin to assume that nice guys/gals finish last. So, in order to get ahead in this world, you have to be a jerk.

    Dr. Phil had a recent show about the “Bitchy Woman.” He interviewed several women, one of whom said, “I wasn’t like this growing up, but I got tired of always getting the short end. So now I’m making sure that I get what I want, when I want it.”

    An occasional printed story about a nice guy who won the race or made it to the top would perhaps provide some encouragement to the good guys and gals of the world. Maybe more negative people would even be encouraged to emulate and we would have more nice guys and gals.

    After a rain delay and 200 laps around a 1.25 mile oval, as darkness enveloped greater St. Louis, a pretty nice young man did a back flip out of a stock car, and I thought that maybe, at least in this place, on this night, good guys do come out on top.

    Carl Edwards had come in first.

    Trish Carlton is an elementary school librarian in Columbia, Mo., and a big-time NASCAR fan. She also has the dubious distinction of being CSR publisher Tom Alexander's mother-in-law. All photos for this piece were taken by Becky Homer and Susan Nichols.

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