Fans meet drivers at Busch Series Preview
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
January 20, 2002
1:07 PM EST (1807 GMT)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Standing in line is nothing new for the fans of NASCAR. Just ask the hordes that attended the Busch Series Preview on Friday night.
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Jay Sauter and Jeff Green sign a poster.
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The event, sponsored by Team Monte Carlo, was held at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Charlotte on Friday evening. Fans from several states traveled in to meet their favorite Busch driver, see display cars and take part in fan auctions.
Anticipation was growing as drivers took their seats for the autograph session from 5-7 p.m. Some fans had been in line long before that, in order to get that coveted autograph and/or picture.
"I've been in line since 2 p.m. this afternoon," said Jerry Carter from Mt. Vernon Heights, Ohio, who was holding two die-cast's with Kevin Harvick's signature on them. "It's pretty neat to get these signed by him. I collect these like some guys collect baseball cards."
Carter then headed off to meet Kerry Earnhardt and get a signature.
Earnhardt, who will be driving the No. 12 Chevrolet in the Busch Series this season, said he enjoys events like the Busch Series Preview.
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Larry Foyt unveils the new 2002 paint job for his Harrah's Chevy
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"Oh yeah, this deal is a big one when with all these fans coming out," he said. "I'm really looking forward to this year. I have a good team, good equipment, and the support of Dale Earnhardt Inc. engineering and fabrication.
"I'm ready to get the year started, get the first race out of the way and get on down the road."
Besides Harvick and Earnhardt, other drivers in attendance were 2000 series champion Jeff Green, two-time champion Randy Lajoie and 2001 series Rookie-of-the-Year winner Greg Biffle as well as Larry Foyt, Jay Sauter, Jack Sprague, Ricky Hendrick, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Christian Elder, Kelly Denton, Andy Houston and Chad Little, among others.
Denton gets a charge when he meets fans in person at events like the Busch Series Preview.
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Kerry Earnhardt
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"Man, it's great and I love coming to this every year," Denton said. "These fans are so dedicated and it shows that they're here. They love to talk and carry on about things that have happened and what's going to happen.
"When I get done with this, it just charges me up to go racing. When I leave I'm like, 'When's Daytona?' because I'm ready."
The annual event is put together by Cathy Green, the president of the Busch Series Ladies Association and wife of Mark Green. She was very pleased with the turnout.
"It's wonderful, it seems the fans are lined up for miles outside," Green said smiling. "Every penny we make tonight from the event goes to a special fund in our organization that helps out any driver or crew member who gets hurt during a Busch Series race."
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Greg Biffle signs an autograph for a fan.
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Some fans made the Busch Series Preview a "warm-up" for another preview taking place this weekend in North Carolina. The 13th annual T. Wayne Robertson Winston Cup Series Preview takes place in Winston-Salem on Saturday.
"We drove four hours to get here and have been in line since 3 p.m.," said Donna Corder, from Merrimack, W. Va. "I have a Busch banner for all the drivers to sign. They are all so very nice and talk to you when you come here.
"We are going to the Winston Cup Preview tomorrow, too. We do this as a family and 10 of us made the trip together."
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