May 26,2007

Normally I would not be home this weekend writing a weekly thought. This memorial day weekend is quite bittersweet for me. What I wouldn’t give to be in Springfield, Illinois at the moment for the next round of the AMA flat Track season. Am I truly bummed out.. Of course or that’s what I am telling my boss anyway. I had been sitting on the fence about my decision to attend and it has boiled down to this. I can’t go as my boss needs me to work.. After that sunk into my head, it just may be a blessing.

Last year at the Memorial day weekend festivities I experienced a real shocker. The last lap of the historical Mile went black for me….

If you have ever seen me at the track, you can tell I am in my element. I walk from pit to pit wishing good lucks and talking with everyone. I shoot pictures and at times get autographs. Walking thru the tunnel for some food and cocktails and actually passing out promos into the stands. I just love it.

I remember distinctly Terry Poovey giving me hell about wearing the Mike Hacker Supertrapp team shirt and he thought I should be wearing a Terry Poovey shirt. He pretty much thought Red was my color over Blue ( he is sadly mistaken!! Hacker Blue baby!!) I saw Terry everywhere that day, which isn’t usually the norm for me. Terry on his pit bike waited for me after the use of the restroom to clearly give me more shit. He harped about a website he had asked for last Daytona and asked me why I couldn’t get one up and running. I explained to him that I called and called him to get info and he never called back… really don’t you think I would remember that Texan accent!! Throughout the whole day he would whisper.. “ hey Jennifer, I need a website!” and I would reply.. “Answer your phone”. The conversation started with that famous Poovey smile and ended that casual laugh, head cocked sideways and those darn eyes that would grab you. Hard enough for anyone to respond with a no…

Terry was ready to head out on the track and I was ready as I went to the staging area to give some hugs and thumbs up… I breezed past Poovey as some sort of Ha Ha and continued on. He pointed at me.. So I walked over and gave him a hug. You know I have no problem hugging anyone in the pits but there are a few I am so star struck over that I feel a hug may send me over the edge.. Poovey being one, Springer, Chris Carr.. Everyone else no problem. Don’t know why exactly. But after that hug I will treasure forever from Poovey the show started…

Little did I know after the race, there would be no celebration, no cocktails at the bar just pure sadness. Jumped into the rental car, as dirty as can be and headed to the hospital… I cried all the way there. The outside area was swamped with fellow fans all in tears as we waited for updated news. I took off my Hacker Blue team shirt and felt so helpless. How could this happen? Terry Poovey fighting for his life after a freak accident the last lap of the Springfield Mile. After several announcements made to the fans at the hospital I headed for the chapel inside. I wanted to scream, wail and punch the wall, but once inside, I sat there as tears rolled down my face for over 30 mins. My husband (fairly new to the sport) said nothing.. He let me do my thing. He was hungry, I was sick. I approached the prayer tree to enter my prayers. Would that be enough? The chapel was dark, cold and uninviting, but there I was helpless. I was trying to think of our last moment.. Me dissing the infamous Terry Poovey in staging area.. What was I thinking? Trying to be funny I guess. I am glad he reached out for me, I am glad I got that hug.

Terry Poovey is getting better everyday. His strength and determination sends shivers down my spine. He is a remarkable man, a legend a hero and a friend. He is funny, goofy and that smile unforgettable. He means the world to everyone he touches. Sunday marks one year of this horrible accident, which no one will ever forget, there will be no replays…

Terry will be watching this race at home and so will I. It’s hard on him to watch from the sidelines equally hard for me.

Don’t forget to sign Terry’s guest book on Sunday, let him know you are thinking of him on this day and stand beside him on his road to recovery.

Jennifer