The Auto Racing Journal: Winston-Salem

In 2003, we were at Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C., for the last Winston Cup Preview. I was trying to get into the upper level to talk to fans and drivers for the Winston-Salem Journal, but staff members wouldn't let me in.

So I went down on the floor — if I couldn't get into the upper level, how could I get on the floor? — and I went to see Winston PR guy Rob Goodman. Rob, someone I knew pretty well, was dealing with Tony Stewart. Maybe he was showing him around; I don't know.

Anyway, I told Rob my problem, and he said I should get anywhere with my credential, other than the auction section (where I didn't want to go anyway). He sent me back upstairs. As I was leaving, Stewart hollered at me and said to tell them Tony sent me. We laughed, I waved, and I went on.

I went back to the upper level. After the staffer let me in, I told him the Tony Stewart "Tell 'em Tony sent you" story. The staffer laughed, and asked me to guess his name.

Tony?

I didn't have any more problems that day.

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