The Collegian

Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Andrew Dodson

Junior Richie Vershay left his seat a third of the way up the main grandstand, his arms and neck covered in burnt rubber flung from the race cars as they sped past each other.

He and his father had approached the Michigan International Speedway that morning just as the sun was coming up. For miles, fans waited in their campers, littering the side of the highway, flags put up to support their favorite driver.

"When we got to the track, the grandstands were just piling up," Vershay said. "The sun was shining on those grandstands. It reminded me of the Colosseum in Rome in 'Gladiator.' It was just one of those moments when I was in awe."

Then those who perhaps would die stood in salute - drivers holding their helmets, waiting for the race to begin with their wives, their girlfriends, their newborn babies. Racing is a dangerous sport. At any moment, a car zipping through the course at the highest speed possible could smash into another. It could spin out of control, burst into flames, crush the driver within.

"Nascar safety has gotten a lot better over the years, but there's still the possibility that if someone gets in a wreck, they might get seriously injured or die," Vershay said. "The drivers are going out there and racing and making a lot of money, but it's a kind of bittersweet moment before the race. They're spending those last few moments when they step into the race with their families, and when they're done, their families are there to greet them."

The drivers stand and listen to the national anthem. Military troops parade the nation's colors before them. F-16s fly overhead, jetting up straight above in salute of the nation.

And then, it begins.

"When the engines started, just the entire place began to rumble," Vershay said. "It was just a deafening sound, and I was like, 'Wow, this is amazing.' When the race began, there were over 100,000 people standing, and when the cars came by and started accelerating, the noise was just incredible. That was the thing that did it for me. NASCAR is amazing."

That is how Vershay went from hating the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing to watching it on television with mild interest. Now he loves it.

He had initially followed drivers as his interest was piqued. Then he followed the racing season more seriously. But that first experience at the Michigan International Speedway sold him. Now, he can tell you his phone number in NASCAR drivers' numbers (Earnhardt, Kahne, Earnhardt, Edwards and Stremme).

Continued...

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