Dear Number Crunchers: The Recession is NOT Over

So, if you are reading this, you most likely know me well enough to know that 'I love me some NASCAR' and that I also am, perhaps, a bit of a social butterfly. Ok, fine. I'll admit it, I'm flat out addicted to social networking. Mix these two passions together, and I am transported to a whole new world without ever leaving my couch...or my PJ's.

I first ventured into social networking WAY back in the day, when MSN chat rooms were free...and fun. When Yahoo messenger introduced video chatting with web cams. When euchre night involved my computer, a beverage and partners across the country. So, my friends and family found it quite ironic that I was one of the last to join Facebook, but once I did, I was hooked. In my defense, I joined shortly before having surgery, so I really did have NOTHING better to do for nearly 4 weeks. But anyway. First came Facebook, then came Twitter.

I had ventured into Twitterville once before, but really didn't 'get it'. Then I started hearing folks like Kyle Petty and Michael Waltrip talk about using Twitter, so I ventured in again. And WOW! Sponsors, Drivers, Fans, Spotters, Crew Chiefs, Engineers..................and Journalists. Everyone was there. Which brings me to the point of this post.

In 2008, my husband and I lucked into 'volunteering' at the NASCAR race weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. I was hooked-and that was before I had the chance to meet all the cool people that make up the NASCAR family. While my experience in 2008 was awesome, it had nothin on 2009, thanks to Twitter. In my early days, I stumbled upon this awesome writer by the name of Jeff Gluck. Initially, I sat back and watched. Tried to learn the ropes. And somewhere along the way, I caught the attention of Jeff and we had a brief exchange about racing. I then, of course, immediately went to work finding out who he was. Man, I could not believe it. This guy worked for NASCAR Scene Daily, which, for those of you that don't know, is the Holy Graille for NASCAR fans. His job was to talk to drivers and owners and officials and anyone who was everyone in the sport - and he took the time to discuss my opinion with me. Little old me. Here in smalltown U.S.A.

Naturally, I didn't stop there. I began searching out his work, although, thanks to Twitter, I didn't have to search far. In between running from the Media Center, to the garage for the Driver's meeting, then out to the stands for his infamous 'Tweet-Up'( for those of you non nascar fans reading, that is no small journey, even at the 'short' tracks), Jeff always took the time to let Twitter know what was happening. And with Jeff, there was always something happening. Sometimes, I think he can write a column faster than Kyle Busch can qualify for a race.

Because of Jeff's amazing talent and his love of the sport as a fan and as a writer, I got a crash course in NASCAR 101. Through his updates and his posts and his opinions and exchanges with others, I learned about rule changes and start times and who was at the track and practical jokes and where to watch and or listen to the race. I learned how sponsorship does...and doesn't work. I learned about drafting and track bar adjustments and paint schemes. And I learned that as a fan, I wasn't alone. Not only did Jeff give the fans a voice and an incredible inside view of the sport we love so very much - he connected us. He brought us fans together - through his weekly polls. Which driver will win? Which driver will take the pole? Which driver will wreck first? And his infamous #blamestremme hashtag.

In a time when sponsor dollars are so very hard to come by and fan loyalty is even harder, Jeff was a lucky charm for our sport. His ability to take us along with him to the track kept us interested in the sport, even when we couldn't afford to attend the race. He kept us watching, which kept the ratings up, which lined the sponsor's pockets, which kept the cars going around the tracks, etc....

So this week, when I read that he, and a slew of other talented writers, had been let go by Street and Smith, I had to check my calendar. Surely this is a joke. It's April, right? April Fool's on us. But as the day went on, I sadly realized that it was not a joke. At all. That.Just.Happened. Yet, in typical Jeff Gluck fashion, he took it in stride. Posting pictures from the traveling meal of the recently unemployed, to following through on articles he had prepared for his blog on scenedaily.com to continuing to communicate all the bits and pieces from the NASCAR world that he could get his hands on.

So, short story long....the recession is NOT over. When someone as talented and humble as Jeff Gluck falls victim to the economy, the recession is not even close to over. When a company that has been an icon in the racing world for 2 or so decades, has to cut employees, who also happen to be fans, the recession is not over. When the most loyal fans in all of sports lose one of their best connections to their sport because of dollars-the recession is most certainly not over.

Those of us that know Jeff, know that he will land on his feet. That's just what he does. In the meantime, I for one, will be petitioning Rusty or Denny or Mikey or KHI or anyone else flying to the track week after week, to give Jeff a lift so he can keep doing his thingand us fans can keep doing ours. So I can still feel like I am right there at the track - even when I am not. So I can continue to enjoy the "quiet track" picture after all the chaos is said and done. So that I can stay connected to a world where everybody knows not so much your name....but your number....your driver's number, that is.

And to those number crunchers? I think you crunched the wrong numbers. Because down here, in the HEART of America, the recession is still in full swing.