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2-13-2010
 Writing this on the plane back from Daytona. It occurred to me that most fans can relate to how a driver feels after a win, when he is standing in victory lane or doing the burn out after a emotional win, but not many people know what it is like for the other 42 drivers and crew. In football there is one winner and one loser. In NASCAR Nationwide racing, one winner and 42 losers, but there are degrees to losing. Some teams consider a 20th a win for them, some know making the race is a win, but many others have high expectations and nothing short of the smokey burn out and Gatorade bath will do. Colin and his #16 Con-way Freight crew feel that way.
After starting 9th due to 2009 owner points when qualifying was rained out the guys were happy with the first few laps, just hanging there in the top 15 and settling in. Then the right side door gets caved in from another car bouncing off the wall and right into Colin. No big deal, Eddie Pardue and spotter Lorin Rainier got to work on the radio. They figure it is just the door and the crew makes repairs on the pit stop very calm and controlled. Every one figures they dodged a bullet and will be ok, whew, close one.
Back to green and Colin makes progress thru the field and the guys are pumped up, knowing that given a few laps they will be right back in this thing. The radio call comes in from Colin “really loose and it is getting worse.” Looks like the crushed in door has messed up the air along the side of the car and rear spoiler making it loose when the tires wore some. Bummer and the guys have to watch Colin slip back and finally lose the draft pack. He may get lapped and everyone is worried as that may be the end of any hope.
Eddie and his Engineer Joey Cohen have a plan for an adjustment and Eddie tells Colin and the crew, “just stay in line and we will fix you up on the pit stop.” Ok so Eddie has a plan, good we may be ok. But, oh no Colin will have to pit under green and has no drafting partners. The guys change tires and add fuel and make that adjustment, so things are good….nope Colin gets out right in front of the lead pack and is sure to go a lap down. But wait, a yellow, perfect he gets to come around to the tail end of the field and after pit stops by others will restart 18th. New tires and THE adjustment... back in this thing with plenty of laps to go.
Lorin is really on it and Colin is making the right moves running with Harvick and Menard. Right in the lead pack just protecting the car. The change really helped the car and suddenly the crew knows they are back to normal and ready to take it to them. Then Lorin on the radio “watch it, watch it”... oh... The crew see the #16 Ford spinning down the tri oval getting hit by 2 or 3 other cars and ends up in the grass destroyed. First thoughts by all, is Colin ok, that looked big? The window net drops and Colin climbs out, good. But not good, the car is junk but Eddie says they need to do a lap to get ahead of the other 9 cars in the crash. The crew rush to the garage and get tools and parts ready. Lorin is looking in the binoculars accessing the damage and telling Eddie what they will need to fix the car.
 Colin is released from the infield hospital and shows up at the garage. None of the crew can ask how he is as they are all over the car. Colin watches and wishes there was something he could do to go back in time 20 min and prevent these guys from having to do all this work. Crew members with bloody hands and burns from power steering fluid from burst oil lines, just keep working. It is pride now. They want one more lap, they need one more lap. They know there will be no smokey burn outs today, but this is for them, they never give up.
The car makes a lap and Colin pulls it in to the garage for the final time. No cheering, no high fives, no gatorade showers, no party, just pack up the heap and start thinking about Fontana next week. Emotional roller coster redefined!
I know by the time the Roush Fenway Racing plane touched down in Charlotte Colin and the whole crew KNOW they will meet in victory lane next week….all is back to normal.
Jeff Braun |
