Top Row Seat - Sears DieHard Fan Of The Year
Dateline: 12/16/97Guide Note: The following is a result of an e-mail conversation I started with Lynne after visiting her website and learning that she won first prize in the Sears DieHard NASCAR Fan Of The Year contest. Here's how she became a race fan and what it takes to be considered for the Fan Of The Year.
While working as a reporter at my hometown paper during a 1973 Journalism summer intern program (while a student at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN), I was asked to write a feature story on USAC World of Outlaws sprint car driver, Jan Opperman. After attending my first sprint car race at nearby Selinsgrove Speedway, I was hooked as a race fan! I began exploring other forms of racing and liked them all.
When I moved to Virginia in 1978, stock cars received the most media attention in the area newspapers, so that is what I followed most closely. In the fall of 1979 a friend, who worked as a commentator for NBC, asked if I could fly to Charlotte to “spot turn 4” for the camera man located there. I watched my first live stock car race from the media center roof. I had pit credentials and one of my highlights was having my picture taken with Richard Petty.
When Sears DieHard/MRN announced the 1997 “Fan of the Year” contest, I KNEW I had to enter. If you could see our house, our cars, our offices, our clothes, etc. you would understand why I felt I was a qualified candidate! As the official press release stated when I was announced as a first prize winner, “Her passion for the sport shows in every aspect of her life.” And this is so very true!!
Lynne
racin@cfw.com
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