Saturday Night Sprint Cup Rac'n

[Lt.Del]

Ok guys, keep you eyes on the richmond race saturday night (on fox).  You just may see a very good looking deputy sheriff sergeant out there amongst the drivers/camera crews on pit road.  I'll either be with Mike Messaro, Dave Burns, Jaimee Little or Alan Bestwick--I won't know until I get inside the track at 5pm. There are four of us deputies-one for each pit road tv crew. I have such a blast there during pre race ceremonies and the actual race itself...a lot of action. Maybe I'll be in winner's circle again--depends on who wins and which TV crew is assigned to him.  One time I took a shower of champagne, beer, pepsi, and gatorade---all at once!  My wife was suspicious when i got home.
  

[DnStClr]

Another tough assignment.

[Blazin]

Tax dollars hard at work!!! lol, sounds like a good gig.

[Lt.Del]

Tax dollars hard at work

I can't believe they actually pay me to do this--stand around pit road during the race, or around all the drivers during introductions, and after the race for interviews, etc..

however, it isn't tax dollars, the networks pay those of us who are with the cameras crews.  The ISC (owner of RIR) pays the other officers who are scattered around for security.  The taxpayers wouldn't approve of paying all that money out, even though the races that come around (twice a year, and IRL in June) are an economic boom for the community---all hotels booked up, restaraunts busy, gas stations, grocery stores, etc...with 110,000 people coming in for the race, i hear it dumps $200 million in the local economy.

I just love it when Larry McReynolds and the guys pronounce our county as Henreeco, instead of the long I (as in ice) Henrico. We are one of the eight oldest counties in the country (named after Prince Henry--son of King James (ie: Jamestown, James River)

[Lt.Del]

There's another race today in the Bluegrass State.  Churchill Downs will have quite a show on NBC at 6pm. 

My pick is Pyro.  I have done very well picking these things in the past. My method? I chose by whose name i like the most. 
Pyro it is.

I know, most of this site will like for "Big Truck" to win.  I don't think he has a chance.  check out the  latest odds....
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/news/2008/05/03/updated-odds-kentucky-derby-134

[Toolmaster]

I guess I cant pick Big Brown to win ?  Too late 

Have Fun,  I set the DVR ,  I'll be sure to look for ya !

[Blazin]

The tax thing was a joke. N.H. International does the same thing. They and sponsors foot the bill.

[Lt.Del]

Wheww!  what a race.  I was in Denny's pits the entire race, until 20 to go.  Then my TV crew and I went to Gatorade Winner's Circle.  Clint drove his car right up to my knees in winner's circle.  Steve Byrnes was my tv reporter...he did the interview of Clint after the race, i was 5 feet from him.  Richard Childress came by me and patted me on my shoulder and I let him in front of me----he was some kind of happy.  Then Jeff Burton came by and congratulated Clint after he got out of the car.  I was standing right next to crew chief Gilmartin---he got soaked when the gatorade, beer, and pepsi flew all around. I stepped back when that took place...i learned from two years ago when i was in the same spot.

I wanted to see Denny win so badly.  He is from Chesterfield County, the county right next to Henrico where the race is.  I was in his pits when all of the sudden, all the crew members grabbed tires and air wrenches and jumped on the wall in preparation for a pit.  I looked behind me, the yellow lights were'nt flying.  I said to myself, must be a problem, denny is coming in and there is no caution.  Apparently he came in too late.  I was watching his dad, who was about 10 feet from me and he just threw his arms up---very dejected.  Oh well, there's  always September's race.

My vcr stopped recording right after clint's burnout....therefore, I don't know if the crane camera got me in winner's circle standing next to childress and gilmartin.  I am sure it did. 

I left the track at midnight and got home at 1am...not bad for an 8 mile drive, huh?


Did you guys see the flyover after the anthem? Man, that was awesome!!  Those six Blue Angels split formation right over my head and the sound of the jet engines made the hair on my neck and arms stand straight up. Gave me chills!

[DnStClr]

I had to work too but didn't get to see the race. Hamlin had to have been super disappointment guy after winning the pole and leading most of the race. Goes to show ya- the fastest car doesn't always win..

[80stepsideguy]

I`ll tell ya who i s a sore loser and a total cheater KYLE BUSH!! He is following the footsteps of his older brother, if you look at the end where he was under Jr, his wheels were turned in, he totally intentionally put Jr out of the race cause he is a cheater, a whiner and a sore loser cause he lost his ride and Jr was the better man for the job and if you heard when he was getting interviewed in daytona they asked him what he thought of Jr in the 88 cars chances?His reply "i don't care as long as i beat him" to me i see jealousy.


thanks
pat

[JRConnieK10]

SgtDel, man that sounds like a great time. I went to the Daytina 500 in 2000 and we had pit passes it makes it great when you get that close, but dang not as close
 as you got.
 80stepsideguy I totally agree but out of respect to this sight and everyone here I'll just say Busch's luck is going to run out I just remeber when Jimmy Spencer punched Kurt I am sure Kyle's day is coming.

[Lt.Del]

I'll tell you guys something, Jr has some fans.
I was standing next to Hamlin's war wagon (tool box the crew chief sits on) nearly the entire race with the reporter Steve Byrnes.  Well, he had the #1 pit stall because of the pole position.  So, i was kind of in front of the pit car/rescue vehicles, etc...where they all enter the pit road to enter the track when caustions fly.  Because I was literally about 50 feet from the track, with my ear plugs, all I heard were the motors of the 43 cars. But, I'll tell ya, I could tell when Jr. took the lead because i heard the crowd over the engines....I couldn't believe it. 
By the time Kyle did his stunt, I was already in Victory Circle, and, again, I heard the crowd over the engines when Jr spun out.
I would say at least half of the 110,000 people out there were Jr fans.

[Lt.Del]

I just read the Richmond Sunday's paper.  I am a celebrity.

It's a bird, it's a plane, not, it's, it's a great lookin' deputy....

[Bitzer!]

awesome m8 - nice picky