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Fathers Day was largely pushed to the side last week. We'll celebrate that next year. This time, the NSS family was wounded and needed a race night to remember a fallen friend, and to hopefully begin the healing process.
Track management was determined to race last week. Anyone with a phone could see that the rain would just kept coming our way, but we could also see that it would end eventually. When it did, track drying got underway, and the their determination paid off when the show finally went green at 10.
19 year old Pro LM driver Zack Donatti was lost Saturday morning to injuries suffered early in the week while on the job. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of friends, fans and supporters were in Zack's corner all week via social media. We waited and hoped for some good news, but unbelievably things seemed to get worse every day...
There was a large group of Zack's friends at the track. We seldom see a big group of teenagers and young adults like that at the track, but they hung together all night. Before the parade lap and the National Anthem, there was a look-alike LM that carried Zack's number, "9Z", parked on the front straight. All of those kids stacked up at the fence, three deep, to get a look at the type of car that Zack raced. They stood there with their arms around each other. Maybe I am getting old, and maybe teenagers are a little more dramatic and emotional than I am, but I have to admit that it was a touching thing to see those kids mourning their friend.
The races were fine. There were enough cars, I didn't detect any obvious bad sportsmanship, and thank Goodness no one got hurt. Our sport after all is not really about machines, but its always been about people.
Zack Jerrell, the young man who provided the look-alike 9Z during the parade laps, also started the pro LM feature on the front row. These two young racers, both named Zack, were friends and competitors for the last several years. Zack J. took off at the start of the feature and it was on to catch him. Another young driver, Will Carroll drove a determined race from the back of the field, and steadily ran down Zack J. in the closing laps. No doubt Will Carroll will win another day, but I was so happy that Zack J. won this one. It and set up a very emotional victory circle; the likes of which I have not seen in 40+ years of racing.
Tom Donatti, the man who lost his son earlier in the day, was at the track all night. I think everyone in the place had a kind word and a hug for this brave man. Sorry, I don't know Zack's mom, but I do know that Tom was soaking up the support from so many who knew his son, and who will miss him. There was no rushing this victory lane ceremony. Tom and Zack Jarrell's dad had a heart to heart, so did Tom and the winning driver. A lot of the teenagers came down for pictures too.
It was a life-changing day for the Donatti family, and I hope that somehow the wonderful people at the track can helped them heal a bit, and to better face the lonely days that will be coming.
Track management was determined to race last week. Anyone with a phone could see that the rain would just kept coming our way, but we could also see that it would end eventually. When it did, track drying got underway, and the their determination paid off when the show finally went green at 10.
19 year old Pro LM driver Zack Donatti was lost Saturday morning to injuries suffered early in the week while on the job. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of friends, fans and supporters were in Zack's corner all week via social media. We waited and hoped for some good news, but unbelievably things seemed to get worse every day...
There was a large group of Zack's friends at the track. We seldom see a big group of teenagers and young adults like that at the track, but they hung together all night. Before the parade lap and the National Anthem, there was a look-alike LM that carried Zack's number, "9Z", parked on the front straight. All of those kids stacked up at the fence, three deep, to get a look at the type of car that Zack raced. They stood there with their arms around each other. Maybe I am getting old, and maybe teenagers are a little more dramatic and emotional than I am, but I have to admit that it was a touching thing to see those kids mourning their friend.
The races were fine. There were enough cars, I didn't detect any obvious bad sportsmanship, and thank Goodness no one got hurt. Our sport after all is not really about machines, but its always been about people.
Zack Jerrell, the young man who provided the look-alike 9Z during the parade laps, also started the pro LM feature on the front row. These two young racers, both named Zack, were friends and competitors for the last several years. Zack J. took off at the start of the feature and it was on to catch him. Another young driver, Will Carroll drove a determined race from the back of the field, and steadily ran down Zack J. in the closing laps. No doubt Will Carroll will win another day, but I was so happy that Zack J. won this one. It and set up a very emotional victory circle; the likes of which I have not seen in 40+ years of racing.
Tom Donatti, the man who lost his son earlier in the day, was at the track all night. I think everyone in the place had a kind word and a hug for this brave man. Sorry, I don't know Zack's mom, but I do know that Tom was soaking up the support from so many who knew his son, and who will miss him. There was no rushing this victory lane ceremony. Tom and Zack Jarrell's dad had a heart to heart, so did Tom and the winning driver. A lot of the teenagers came down for pictures too.
It was a life-changing day for the Donatti family, and I hope that somehow the wonderful people at the track can helped them heal a bit, and to better face the lonely days that will be coming.