Thursday, August 19, 2004
By Noé Hernandez
Staff Writer
Mike Stanton of Jackson wouldn't jump hurdles to get an autograph of Kasey Kahne, his favorite NASCAR driver.
But he does understand the value of getting one.
"You get a personal connection with the driver, especially if he's your favorite driver," Stanton said. "You feel you know him. It draws you into being a fan longer."
As the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch series descend on the Jackson area this week, Stanton and other local racing fans are finding it more difficult to make the bond they seek with their favorite drivers.
Bill Janitz, a Michigan International Speedway spokesman, said that's because NASCAR's biggest stars are busy making appearances for their sponsors, shooting commercials or showing up at events with a nationwide appeal.
"No matter where you go, the Jeff Gordons, Jimmie Johnsons and Dale Earnhardts of the world will be tougher to see," he said. "They're expected to do a lot. I think they do a great job, as best they can, to sign autographs and meet the fans."
Janitz said NASCAR drivers are still some of the most accessible professional athletes, but don't expect to see Johnson hanging out at Lowe's, his primary sponsor in the Nextel Cup Series.
Activities get into full swing Friday at MIS with Busch and Nextel Cup qualifying and practice and continue through the weekend, culminating with the GFS Marketplace 400 on Sunday.
Fans' best chances of snaring a prized autograph from a driver might be to purchase pit passes -- along with a grandstand ticket -- for Friday's qualifying session. Fans lined up along pit road have a shot at getting an autograph from drivers walking from the garages to cars.
Meeting and greeting big-name drivers away from the track is less of a surety.
Tina Gordon, a driver for the Jay Robinson Racing Team in the Busch Series, said it's a lot easier for Busch drivers to make appearances than it is for Nextel Cup drivers. The Busch Series is a step below the premier Nextel Cup Series.
Gordon, 33, one of the few female drivers in the Busch circuit, is among a handful of lesser-known racing stars making the rounds here this week.
"The fans are the biggest part of racing because if itwasn't for the fans we wouldn't be able to go out and race," Gordon said.
She handed out autographed posters, signed autographs and met with fans for about two hours Wednesday at Kmart, 3555 O'Neill Drive, to raise funds for AWARE Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter and services to victims of domestic and sexual assault.
Gordon appeared at the store on behalf of Vassarette, a brand of women's apparel, to support AWARE. Vassarette donated $10, or a minimum of $1,000, to the shelter for every woman that got bra-fitting advice.
Gordon drives the purple No. 39 Vassarette/Yahoo! car, which was parked in front of the store.
"I love it," Gordon said of making herself accessible to fans. "I always try to make myself as accessible as I can."
She said other drivers make themselves accessible, but not all of them.
"It's a great boost and it's an honor to have a driver here at the store," David Carpenter, store manager of the Kmart, said. "Jackson's a race town and to have one of the drivers creates excitement and a lot of fun for everyone."
Ellen Steinmiller of Jackson showed up at Kmart with her daughter, Amanda, and some of her friends. "It's kind of interesting, and the fact that it's a woman makes it more interesting," Steinmiller said. "Not enough women drive in these race cars these days."
In the area's only other driver appearance that's been publicized, NASCAR's Scott Wimmer will be at the Meijer on E. Michigan Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday to sign autographs.
A rookie on the Nextel Cup Series, Wimmer drives the No. 22 Caterpillar/Bill Davis car and finished third in the Daytona 500. He is 26th in the series points standing.
The more established drivers tend to make special appearances for companies. That's the case with Ward Burton, who visited CertainTeed Corp., 803 Belden Road in Jackson, today.
Burton, who won the 2002 Daytona 500, was being joined by Rosequeen Hannah Lynn to sign autographs, pose for photos and answer questions. Taking part in the event were plant employees, professional siding contractors, wholesale distributors and local dignitaries.
Paul Drushal, owner of Pauly's Sports Bar, 1900 Lansing Ave., said he expects about 2,700 people at his race party this weekend.
Drushal said he remembers when it wasn't difficult to get a NASCAR driver to make an appearance in his bar. "I think drivers are not as accessible as they used to be," Drushal said. "I had them constantly for two or three years.
Mike Stanton, 50, said he hasn't gotten a driver's autograph in four years, unlike Sarah Stanton, his former daughter-in-law, who got an autograph from popular driver Bill Elliott at the Red Lobster on Shirley Drive in June and from Tony Stewart when he was a rookie.
"Nobody knew who (Elliott) was except for me," Sarah Stanton said. "He was very nice about it."
Sarah Stanton said her 7-year-old son, Jacob, hopes to get an autograph from Earnhardt, Johnson, Kahne or Dale Jarrett.
"It would be more interesting," she said, "if I could meet the drivers and take the kids."
