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This is my first Nationals without my dad. Some of you may have known him, but most of you probably didn't. My dad was the greatest sprintcar driver in my eyes, followed closely only by his hero Steve Kinser. The Knoxville Nationals has always been our family vacation. This year is quite different without dad here. He was the man that would always wake up early and check hoseheads. He was the guy standing outside selling Petron, telling a good story, drinking, and just people watching. He made a mean biscuits and gravy and one year way back they sold it at Dingus. Dad was the kind of guy who could feed you a line of bs two miles long and you'd still walk away believing everything he said. He almost always had a smile on his face because this sport is what dad was made of. Every year he would sit up in the stands and root for that green quaker state car or the red, white, and blue valvoline car... the sponsors didn't matter, it was the #11 he was cheering on from the backstretch. It will be a year on October 16 that he's been gone, but this nationals feels like it's missing a little piece of what it should have. He may be gone, but he is definately not forgotten. I just wish he could be here this year for the 50th Nationals to worry about his stupid superstitions about Friday th 13th and see that #11 decked out in gold.
I'm sure he has a better seat than any of us in Heaven and I'm sure that it's right next to "Noodles" Anderson, Steve King, Jesse Hockett, & maybe even Dale Earnhardt & I bet they have Jack Miller announcing up there.
I just wish he could of been here for this.
RIP RANDY WAGLER & all the other racers and racecar fans that have passed. You all may be gone, but you are all still in our hearts <3
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This message was edited on
August 13, 2010 at
12:42:36 PM by highwayboys
We lost Dad 3 years ago but this year hurts a little more than usual. He was extremely proud of his grandkids. Whether playing sports or racing he was thier biggest fan. Dad, Davey, and I had the oppertunity to have a match race one night at Arlington speedway thanks to Bob Allen. Oh Dad did beat us that night but he did get a "better start" than we did. No doubt he is also watching with his buddy Mike Creech, uncle Ron and uncle Dick.He is probably telling him his favorite line " I tought them everything they know but not everything I know". He would be so immensly proud of Danny winning the 360 C, Davey passing 41 cars last weekend and now qualifing for the A main at the nationals he would be absolutely beaming, as am I Rest in Peace Dad they made it!!
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