Jeff Gluck: Any loss hurts NASCAR community

By Jeff Gluck - Associate Editor
Thursday, April 10, 2008
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Harold Hinson
HHP

COMMENTARY

AVONDALE, Ariz. – The NASCAR community arrived in Phoenix short one member this weekend, mourning a loss still very fresh and very raw.

Brienne Davis, a 28-year-old NASCAR official whose responsibilities included inspecting engines, was killed in a car accident near Charlotte on Tuesday.

Fans know the drivers. They know the crew chiefs. Maybe they even recognize some high-profile media members.

But fans never see or hear about people like Davis, who perform their jobs out of the spotlight but play an integral part in keeping the sport moving.

NASCAR inspectors like Davis, along with those in other such unsung positions like crew members, public relations representatives and track officials, are all part of the tight-knit NASCAR community.

Each week, the members of this community assemble at a track hundreds or thousands of miles away from their homes and families. Then, they quickly go their separate ways after the checkered flag falls and join together again in a different state or time zone a few days later.

It's the same small town, just always in a different location.

The community is more than just the drivers; in fact, the drivers are just a very small part. Hundreds of people – the same ones each week – travel together through airports, eat at the same restaurants and sleep at the same hotels.

So when this small town gets hit with a tragic and untimely loss like Davis' passing, everyone feels it.

To fans, this weekend's race won't look any different, even though Davis isn't there. But to those in the garage who are used to seeing her around, it will feel decisively different.

As with any loss, friends of Davis will try to go on with their jobs despite being stunned and devastated.  Yet NASCAR is somewhat unique in that the community is small enough that even those who didn't know Davis well still recognized her, knew her name and face.

Just last week, many in the garage were saddened at the loss of Motor Racing Outreach founder Max Helton. And last year, the community lost Dodge manufacturer representative Ray Cooper, who was dear to many.

Like Davis, Helton and Cooper's names and faces might not have resonated with fans.

But when the NASCAR community suffers a loss, the hurt is still there – celebrity or not.

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2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings

Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500

1 Jimmie Johnson 6248
2 Mark Martin -184
3 Jeff Gordon -192
4 Juan Pablo Montoya -239
5 Tony Stewart -279
6 Kurt Busch -312
7 Greg Biffle -340
8 Ryan Newman -402
9 Kasey Kahne -414
10 Carl Edwards -437
11 Denny Hamlin -448
12 Brian Vickers -556

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