Jim Hartsell

I attended a Legends race at Columbus Motor Speedway, in Columbus, Ohio, during the summer of 1996. Ernie Irvan, Michael Waltrip, Jeremy Mayfield, and Richard Childress were at the race, along with Derrike. The group was signing autographs at a long table before the race.

I waited in line with a nervous excitement, knowing I was going to be very close to Winston Cup drivers for the first time in my life. I idolized these men for what they did. I was hugely disappointed when I reached the table. The four drivers mentioned first simply pushed an autographed picture towards me without acknowledging my existence.

When I reached Derrike, he looked up and said, "How 'ya doing?". I then stepped back and took a picture. He looked directly at my camera and smiled. He truly cares about Winston Cup fans. He gained me as a fan from that day forward. I'll see 'ya at Daytona in 1998 Derrike. Lets win number 2.