Comcast, Pocono Raceway and Dover International Speedway last week brought drivers to greet fans and promote an upcoming race as part of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Philadelphia Takeover.
One of the stops was at Swenson Arts and Technology High School. There, drivers Brandon Brown, Chad Finchum, Joey Gase and Kaz Grala met with auto tech students.
The Xfinity Series, the minor league of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, will have a race on June 1 at Pocono. Students were given a goody bag that included two tickets to the Pocono Green 250 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast the race.
In all, 18 drivers took part in events May 14-15. Justin Allgaier threw out the first pitch at a Phillies game. The drivers spent time at the Comcast Center Plaza, the Franklin Institute, Geno’s Steaks and Chickie’s & Pete’s
Brown, Finchum, Gase and Grala wore their fire suits to Swenson, where they were greeted by principal Colette Langston. Gase took part in a similar event last year at Mastbaum.
The NASCAR light blue Hellmann’s Camaro also made its way to Swenson.
In a question-and-answer session, the drivers stressed the teamwork and safety associated with the sport.
The drivers wear seven seat belts, all of the equipment is fireproof and the walls of racetracks are made to absorb impact. Cars must pass inspection at a NASCAR site in Concord, North Carolina.
Grala works for Richard Childress Racing, which has more than 400 employees.
“It’s definitely a team sport,” he said.
Brown said it’s not just about pushing the gas pedal and turning left. Drivers are in constant contact with their spotters in a sport where their cars are an inch away from other cars in front, behind and to the side of them.
“We get to do the fun part,” said Brown, who is sponsored by his alma mater, Coastal Carolina University.
The drivers offered career tips to the auto tech students. Brown encouraged them to engage in trial and error.
“It’s all right here at your fingerprints,” he said.
Anyone interested in a career with a racing team can apply to work at a local short track.
“That’s where you get your foot in the door,” Finchum said.
Finchum, 24, of Tennessee, said he first became fond of Dale Earnhardt Sr. for his blue-collar background that included racing on dirt tracks to put food on his family’s table.
“Black No. 3 was the only way in my family,” he said of Earnhardt’s famed car. ••
