North Country Race Talk

The meet and greet and the fireworks were the best way to end a night when the track was too wet to race on. It really helps promote racing at AIS when the fans get to meet the drivers, and not just their favorite drivers, but all of the drivers. The fans really seemed to enjoy themselves during the meet and greet, and I made a point to thank the fans for coming out to watch us race. They stayed through a really hard rain during our drivers meeting, and that rain ended up being the reason we couldn't race. My windshield was so fogged up on the inside and outside that we could not have raced safely anyway. After the meet and greet I had trouble finding my way back to my pit stall, and forget driving my car onto the hauler! I couldn't see anything out that windshield.

I didn't expect to sign a single autograph, but I stayed for the meet and greet because the fans endured some really nasty weather to watch us race. So I felt I owed it to the fans to go out onto the track for the meet and greet. I wanted to personally thank them for staying, and also invite them back next weekend for some great racing. To my surprise, I even got to sign a bunch of autographs. I allowed kids and young adults to sit in my race car when they asked, and that always goes over real well with the fans.

For those drivers who didn't stay for the meet and greet, you missed a great opportunity to stay and meet those hard core race fans who braved the rain and wind under an umbrella while we were gathered in the tech building, nice and dry. Next time we do a meet and greet, stay for the fans, because they appreciate being able to put a face next to your car number. It means more to them than you can possibly imagine. Those are memories that make a kid's summer, and they will go back to school this fall and tell all of their friends that they got to meet all the drivers and AIS, and got to sit in race cars and AIS.

Thanks to all the fans who braved the nasty weather. I hope to see all of you, and more, next weekend .

On a final note, the fans wanted to see us race in the worst way. I think we could have had the fans convinced to walk a bunch of laps around the track in their socks to help soak up the water . They probably would have thought about it for a minute before saying no.

Todd Bailey
Sport Compact #1

Todd,
I am a really great Fan. My brother is Dan Bellinger Jr. he drives Light Trucks #51. I would have done anything just to dry that track I love watching every divison race. I would have been the only one out there in my socks but i would have done it!!!!
Thanks for going to the meet and greet it was great!

I usually pit next to Dan, and my son has been a fan of Dan's since 2007. He has really done his homework in that truck class. It's good to see him running up front, and that's no easy task in any of our classes.

I also would have been out there in my socks!! I am sponsor and fan of Dan Bellinger. The meet and greet was great.