A Phoenix Fan Memory
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11/11/2015 Jeremiah Thalheimer |
This past week, while NASCAR was preparing for the race in Phoenix, I began thinking back to another trip our sport made to The Valley of the Sun that stands out in my mind. That date was October 27, 1996, and the race was the Dura Lube 500.
As the sun shone down on Phoenix International Raceway that afternoon, Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett were locked in a tight battle for the championship. However, that wasn't what captivated my eight year old mind that afternoon; rather, it was the red and blue STP Pontiac piloted by my hero, Bobby Hamilton.
Bobby was nearing the end of his second season piloting Richard Petty's legendary colors. He had had a good season and was in the top ten in points, but he just hadn't been able to crack through and reach Victory Lane. That season was also the 25th anniversary of STP sponsoring Richard Petty, and to celebrate Bobby was driving a livery of five different paint schemes commemorating the King's history with STP. This was also the first die cast collection I purchased, and every Sunday I would place Bobby's colors for the week at the front of my collection. Anyway, back to the race.
That Sunday began like many others from my childhood. My family and I would go to church and then spend the afternoon in front of the TV cheering on our heroes. On this particular day, Bobby started nineteenth but had a car that could really slice through the field with ease. My anticipation grew with each position Bobby gained. This had happened before during the season, but this day felt different and I wondered if this was finally going to be the day Bobby Hamilton would win a race.
My anticipation reached a fever pitch as Bobby took the lead near the end, and I could no longer contain my excitement as he took the checkered flag in first place with TNN's Eli Gold proclaiming that Bobby Hamilton was a first time winner. I had been a NASCAR fan for four years, and I finally got to experience the pure, unbridled euphoria that comes when your driver reaches Victory Lane. Many of my friends at school rooted for the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, so they got to experience this excitement often. The next day, I excitedly went to school so I could proclaim to them that at long last Bobby Hamilton was a NASCAR winner.
As the sun shone down on Phoenix International Raceway that afternoon, Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett were locked in a tight battle for the championship. However, that wasn't what captivated my eight year old mind that afternoon; rather, it was the red and blue STP Pontiac piloted by my hero, Bobby Hamilton.
Bobby was nearing the end of his second season piloting Richard Petty's legendary colors. He had had a good season and was in the top ten in points, but he just hadn't been able to crack through and reach Victory Lane. That season was also the 25th anniversary of STP sponsoring Richard Petty, and to celebrate Bobby was driving a livery of five different paint schemes commemorating the King's history with STP. This was also the first die cast collection I purchased, and every Sunday I would place Bobby's colors for the week at the front of my collection. Anyway, back to the race.
That Sunday began like many others from my childhood. My family and I would go to church and then spend the afternoon in front of the TV cheering on our heroes. On this particular day, Bobby started nineteenth but had a car that could really slice through the field with ease. My anticipation grew with each position Bobby gained. This had happened before during the season, but this day felt different and I wondered if this was finally going to be the day Bobby Hamilton would win a race.
My anticipation reached a fever pitch as Bobby took the lead near the end, and I could no longer contain my excitement as he took the checkered flag in first place with TNN's Eli Gold proclaiming that Bobby Hamilton was a first time winner. I had been a NASCAR fan for four years, and I finally got to experience the pure, unbridled euphoria that comes when your driver reaches Victory Lane. Many of my friends at school rooted for the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, so they got to experience this excitement often. The next day, I excitedly went to school so I could proclaim to them that at long last Bobby Hamilton was a NASCAR winner.