All the other drivers
Carolyn Henery
Monday, August 6, 2007
I WANT to know why all the local race car drivers never get recognized by The Emporia Gazette.
I picked up a copy of the Chanute paper over the weekend — lo and behold, the sports section had great features on local Chanute and Humboldt fellows and a real nice write-up on Johnny Allen, driver of the number 98 car.
Our own local drivers — J. King of Americus, S. Coffman, B. Daily, E. Mueller, A. Henery, J. Stevenson, R. Phillips, J. Hall — drive their hearts out, but are never mentioned by The Gazette.
Clint Bowyer, another local boy, seems to be the only one ever to get a spotlight. We are all proud of Clint. But he, like our other young men, started right out there with the other local drivers.
There’s a lot of work that goes with a race car. These guys and gals have jobs through the week and still work evenings and right to the last minute before a race to get ready for an event. They head out for Thunderhill or Heartland Park with pit crew and family, hoping for a win, never knowing what shape their cars will be in at the end of the night.
Emporia also has Julie Buckridge out there driving her heart out, and I have to admit she does pretty good being the only lady out there among all those big ol’ boys.
Racing is a family sport and you meet many nice folks out there, pulling for their favorite drivers. It would be nice to be able to see them mentioned in our local paper.
Spend $5 — go to Heartland Park some Sunday evening. Watch our local boys. Then maybe you will see they deserve a spot in The Gazette.