"View From The Tower"

Busch East Weekend

By: Gary Wilcox, AIS Head Announcer

     The biggest race weekend every season at the Adirondack International Speedway, headlining the Nascar Busch Grand National East series, sponsored by the Edge Hotel and Casella Waste Systems, is now in the record books.  Excitement and controversy covered the entire foot of the Tug Hill, with giant race shows over two days, to the delight of a packed house. Starting with a slue of hot laps, I personally couldn't wait for the meet and greet session on Saturday's show.  It seemed like thousands poured out onto the racing surface when the AIS gates flew open.  What a thrill for everyone to meet all the NASCAR Busch East stars, including young Jeff Earnhardt.  Jeff, son of Kerry Earnhardt from Mooresville, NC, had the fans lined up all the way to the end of the 26-car field.  I had the chance to interview Jeff down front, and I must say Jeff looks like his Dad and sounds like grandpa. Let's face it, the Earnhardt's are racing royalty; and it was great to have the next generation of the Earnhardt legacy racing at AIS.

     What can I say about the two-time winner of the Edge Hotel-150, Matt Kobyluck #40.  This very professional race driver with Edge wins in 2004 and 2005, had definitely jumped the re-start Saturday evening.  I was told that Matt was asked by NASCAR twice to give the lead back.  Kobyluck elected not to give the lead up and was sent to the pits on a pass-through penalty.  

     The fiasco at the finish of the Edge Hotel-150 was a jaw dropper to say the least. As Yogi Berra always said, "It ain't over until it's over.  Joey Logano #20 never led a lap of the Edge-150 except the fourth turn to the finish line and the checkered flag.   I guess if that's all they'll give you to lead, it's pretty darn good real estate to own.

     If I would have been Bryon Chew #99, I would have sat right down and cried.  Bryon had a strong car all day and was working to the front lap after lap.  God, I felt bad for this great driver and his team for not getting this big win.  As always, you must be in the right place at the right time. Chew was a bridesmaid for the second straight year at AIS.  Joey Logano was right where he was supposed to be and made the pass and got his first Edge Hotel-150 win.  Logano, from Middletown, CT. has been in the steering seat of racers ever since he was 7 years old.  That gives this old timer a decade of racing already.  Joey is at the ripe old age of 17.  Working for Coach Gibbs will always insure great equipment.  It's just a matter of time before we'll see Joey Logano on Sunday in the big race, just like Martin Truex Jr., who competed twice at AIS with the NASCAR Busch East series. 

     Working with NASCAR is always a treat for me.  From the pit area to the tower, NASCAR is a class act; and it's always a welcome learning curve for all of us to watch this professional team work the AIS show.  Man, I never saw so much equipment come up AIS's tower stairs as I did for HD Net's live television coverage of the Edge-150.  These people worked their hearts out; and I'm so proud of all of the AIS staff for being ready for the live coverage to begin at 6:30 p.m.  In fact, I was shocked when the call came down that the network needed another 4 minutes.  Boy, I'd rather have it that way than have the network waiting for us.  AIS proved to everyone that we could provide proper coverage and entertainment for the fans in the stands and be ready for a live TV coverage too.  

     What a great show AIS's American Speed Association (ASA) Challenger Late Model 50-lap feature was.  Cruising the constant lefthand turn 4.83 mile race track at 103 mph, AIS's premier division had everyone in attendance at full attention.  The battle started in just a few laps, with Tommy Cloce #3, John Papin #50, Lee Gill #7, and the "Flying Farmer" Jason Herrington #37.  Also, a young man with a burning desire to win was Bryant Trim, piloting the Edge Hotel #59.  Gill and Herrington were going after each other again this week, and just what nobody wanted to see happened.  Two top (ASA) Late Model chauffers were heading to the rear of the pack.  Jason spun out on turn two, and the AIS officials deemed the incident as rough riding; and "The Gentle Giant"  joined the "Flying Farmer" in the rear of the field.   Now the battle was between Tommy Cloce, Papin, and Trim, with Trim seeing the checkered flag first.  I'm telling you, when you can win a hard fought (ASA) feature on your sponsor's night at the Speedway, that's pretty special.  I must say, it rarely happens, but it did for Bryant Trim and his #59 team.  I had to keep telling all the fans at AIS that this is the way all four of AIS's divisions battle every week.  I hope that got through to everyone, because there's no bull about that notion.

    I think that AIS's Friday evening show was very special too.  Most years many fans have stayed over in the camping area on Friday night.  This year I believe there were many more people coming to the Speedway for the first show of the NASCAR weekend.  With the added class, the USAC Ford Focus Series, and AIS's True Stocks, Light Trucks, and 4-Cylinder class, it gave newcomers to AIS an opportunity to watch a traveling series and AIS's regular divisions.  Talk about a total package.  AIS provided that to everyone in attendance during the Busch East series weekend.  I want to congratulate all four of the feature winners from AIS's Friday evening race show. 

      As always, I must thank everyone at AIS and its wonderful staff and sponsors for the hard work again this year for the NASCAR Busch East series event.  I have to give special thanks to AIS's infield announcer, John Flock, for doing a professional job, not only with the great fans down front and Victory lane, but for serving up the great grub over in the NASCAR pits again this year; Cindy Shaw and her staff and Rosie and her Dog House for keeping the great food coming everyone's way; Candy & crew in the AIS trinket booth; Todd Bailey clicking photo's; and Barney with Steve Weed Productions.  My good friend and AIS's race director, Frank Fazio, for keeping me smiling through the window in the tower when things started to get intense. Elywin, Barb, and Darla compiling the numbers right and a big thank you to one of the newest additions to the AIS staff, our GM Billy Gibson.  This young man took the bull by the horns and ran the entire AIS show in the boss' absence and did an excellent job, in my opinion.   Billy, thank you for the hard work. Everyone at AIS appreciates it.

     This Saturday evening the (ASA) Adirondack International Speedway will be hosting "Fan Appreciation Night".  Everyone coming through the AIS gates will only pay $5-Bucks a head to watch the races.  The Got Good Cheese.com 500 for the True Stocks will highlight the evening's card.  AIS is expecting many invaders for this big True Stock payday, with additional bonus money being awarded for laps led.  The Speedway will also have racing in its (ASA) Late Model, 4-Cylinders, and Light Truck Divisions.  Gates will open at 5:00p.m., with the first drop of the green promptly at 6:30 p.m.

    Well, that's going to wind up this week's effort of "View From The Tower" .  Thank you for taking the time to read it.  E-mails are always welcome.  You can contact me at gears@twcny.rr.com.  Until next time, be sure to tell all of your friends about "The Auto Racing Thrill on the Foot of the Tug Hill", that's The Adirondack International Speedway.   We'll all be looking for you this Saturday evening.