We have long said we have the best fans in motorsports at Pocono Raceway and we will occasionally utilize this space to share their stories in our Fan Spotlight.
NAME: Ken
HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh, PA
FAMILY, KIDS & PETS: Wife, Rebecca; Elsie, The “Great” Dane; Normandy the Cat
FAVORITE DRIVER: Kyle Busch
FUNNIEST TRACK STORY: My wife Rebecca and I got lost traveling to Dover in 2010. We had no smartphones yet at the time, no navigation devices. Just a MapQuest printout. We swore that we weren’t 100% certain which state we were in! We were in the southeastern most part of Pennsylvania, but only put 2+2 together because we hadn’t yet seen a road sign for Delaware. We got confused with the two different “Highway 1s,” one in Maryland and one in Delaware. Maryland’s has a shield, Delaware’s has an oval. Then we get to Dover, and walked 3/4 of the way around the circumference of the venue before sitting in our seats. It was Lap 97 of the race before we were settled.
MOST MEMORABLE TRACK STORY: Coincidentally, the most memorable day was that same day at Dover. Kyle Busch won, and I went nuts drinking and splashing some NOS Energy Drink. Upon leaving after taking pictures with Miles the Monster, Mr. Charlie Brim of Interstate Batteries rode up to us in a golf cart and thanked us for our support of the #18 car and team. He took our address and sent each of us an autographed car and autographed hat. We were distinguished that day, as no other fans were seen wearing M&M’s pit shirts. Talk about a mixed bag of a day, however, one that ended on a very high note!
HOW MANY RACES HAVE YOU BEEN TO: 27. Pocono (3), Watkins Glen (6), Charlotte (5), Martinsville (3), Talladega (2), Bristol (2). Darlington, Dover, Indianapolis, Kentucky, Michigan, and Richmond have each been visited once.
FAVORITE PART OF POCONO RACEWAY: May I have two? I love how the track has three straightaways of different lengths, three different degrees of banking in the turns. I find it to be the most uniquely shaped venue in motorsports. I also salute Pocono Raceway’s efforts to be environmentally friendly. I’m all about recycling and alternative means of energy.
WHEN/HOW/WHY DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN RACING: I had become interested in racing in 2003 through a girlfriend in college. We started watching every weekend during that summer. She loved Jeff Gordon and sold him so well. I like and respect all of the drivers, but just to enjoy a friendly rivalry and smack talk relationship, I had first taken to Tony Stewart. Made for interesting conversations.
ADVICE FOR POCONO RACEWAY FANS: Please take pride in this venue, show your love and appreciation. Go Green with them! Sustain their recycling efforts! Shout out to Rick and Emily Weismantle, and my family at Primanti Bros! That was quite the Monster Energy can collection!
FIRST JOB/FIRST CAR: I started my first job at Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers in February 1998, I was a Product Coordinator (utility player). My first car was a Dodge Neon. WHAT
DRIVER WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AND WHY: I’d love to meet Tony Stewart. He’s a wheel man, quite the racer. His passion for winning is unrivaled. Motor oil is in his bloodstream. Whether right or wrong, on or off the track, he isn’t afraid to be right or wrong. He’s honest with his thinking, his emotions. Colorful personality. Like Kyle Busch today, it was so exciting to go to a track and watch him be successful, and I enjoyed his interviews.
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