Troy's Tidbits - by Troy Hennig
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Youth Revolt in Sprint Cars
The Fall Nationals concluded my 12th year behind the microphone at Silver Dollar Speedway. It’s not an easy or glamorous job. It doesn’t pay all the bills and sometimes comes with putting family activities on hold for most of the spring and summer months. But like that old adage states, “Someone’s got to do it.”
Yet, it’s what I do and I feel I do it pretty good. It’s my recreational outlet and I get paid doing something I love and care about. It also has it perks. Preferred seating for my family and friends. Never having to pay for a race and in general all the great relationships I have built throughout the years. It has also helped with the lady’s. (Kylie, just joking, even though we did meet at the awards banquet)
I am fortunate to have been tutored by such great people before me. Growing up listening to Gary Gerould, Dennis Gage and David Vodden gave me a solid foundation to build on. Getting hands on experience from Dennis in the late 90’s and getting the encouraging phone calls from Bobby Gerould helped me hone in on what I have become inside the announcers booth. I have always tried to show them how grateful I am.
I have the personality of a jokester in real life, but on the microphone I come across as a “just the facts” type of announcer (exclude trophy cup). I will never get confused with a Monster Truck or X-games style of announcer. I have always felt, I don’t need to sell a show. I’m never really going to use the analogy over the microphone “I can’t believe what I just saw, Oh my gosh! That was the greatest single thing I have ever seen in my life.” Stuff like that doesn’t jive well with what I would want to hear at an event. I like to talk to the drivers, get their stories, and relay that info to the fans. I am not to keen on announcing every sponsor, every time a car hits the track. Boring and not needed. In fact, it’s easier just to announce sponsors. But I care about the people behind the wheel and sitting in those stands. If they want to hear a commercial of sponsors then tune into a NASCAR race. Drivers and fans need to build a relationship. If I can help with that on the PA, then I feel it’s in both party’s best interest. These are the values I want to transfer to future announcers of the sport. Later I will recognize some of the next up and coming stars of our sport in the media relations field.
Thankfully this year, I was able to work under one of my mentor’s, Dennis Gage, and travel with the King of the West series. Big thanks to Dan Simpson and George Hauge for allowing me to come and have some fun. Also, I am so thankful for John and Robbie Padjen. Back in 1998, they gave a 25 year-old, non announcer, the keys to the announcing booth and had faith that I could do the job. I will never forget that. It’s why I stayed friends with them when they weren’t the most popular people around the speedway. I consider them family.
However, enough about me because I am perfectly content at Chico and KWS. This whole process was about what I consider the future talent of media associated with sprint cars and to give them the recognition they deserve.
Gary Thomas continues to shine. At the young age 24, sprint car fans can rejoice that Gary has the knowledge and ability to keep this sport fresh and alive while preserving the integrity of its history. Thomas shined last year at Watsonville and has a big supporting cast led by his family and HoservilleCA. KWS was lucky to have Gary available to jump on board and commit the last year and a half of his life to promoting 410 sprint cars in California. Thomas conducts great infield interviews and is able to ask the right questions at the right times. Thomas is always the first to help me out when I am in a pinch at Chico. Infield interviews, calling races and writing stories for me have never been a problem for Gary. Thomas has a cool demeanor and takes his work seriously. He conveys a strong announcing voice on the microphone. His writing skills are second to none and his race reports are as detailed as anyone in the business. It’s really great for me to be a little part of Gary’s growth in the business.
Steven Blakesley- the Sacramento racing entrepreneur is just 24-years-old also. He comes with a strong racing back ground, primarily, on the asphalt side. His transition into the dirt track scene has gone well. Steven took over the spot vacated by Thomas at Watsonville this year. I have heard some really positive feed back about his work on the microphone down there this season. Like me and Thomas, Blakesley also pens his own pre and post race releases. It’s a rare combination to be able to do both. He also designs and updates racers websites. Steven also slotted himself with the USAC Western Racing Classic Series. He seems to fit well with Tommy Hunt and the West Coast USAC organization. Working side-by-side with him at the dirt track shows in Chico has given me great insight into his enthusiasm and dedication to his announcing duties. The sky is the limit for this talented writer/media member. His own site is located at http://www.norcalmedia.com/
PJ Peterson – The 23-year-old Sacramento State graduate is making big waves in the dirt track racing scene. Petersen is building his empire, Petersen Media – a public relations specialist, that focuses on writing individual press releases for drivers and teams. He also helps front the media write ups for the popular website and clothing company 7 industries. While he is not too keen to jump on the microphone, he is doing the next best thing, post race interviews on video. Sharing these thoughts of the drivers directly after an event is very important. Things in the heat of the moment are always better than quotes a day or two later. Petersen has a strong knowledge of the local racing scene. Where this kid might have an advantage is that he also races. The last few years he was piloting a Pro-4 style sprint car at Marysville. Petersen excels at visualizing a unique and modernized view of sprint car reporting through his written words and video productions.
Brad Kennedy – This kid has the “it” factor. At just 13, Kennedy comes from a large, extended racing family that includes drivers, mechanics and car owners. However, this kid has expressed he wants to be on the other side of the catch fence. Kennedy has a strong confidence that translates into pure gold on the microphone. His knowledge and nicknames for sprint car drivers is very popular. He studies the craft of announcing by watching all of Grove Hill’s old racing tapes and listening to the track announcers. He is talented enough to be able and mimic the best calls on those tapes. He has knowledge of who won what race, at what track and even can tell you what car they were driving. In a few years he will be ready to take over as a track announcer. I really hope to continue and be friends with Brad and help him along the way. I think he has a real shot to bypass me and get on television one day. This kid has the whole package, talent and the looks!
Drake York – Jason and Julie York’s oldest son is just 7 years-old but at the age of six, Drake jumped on the microphone at Chico and nailed the lineups and called some on track racing. Talk about getting an early start on a profession. It also takes a brave, confident young man to do what he did on the P.A. system. It’s something that can at times even scare the seasoned professional. Drake practices his skills by announcing sprint car races in the comfort of his home, in his room, playing with his die-cast cars. This summer I sat with him in his room and thoroughly enjoyed hearing him announce sponsors, driver’s names and what the lap time was that each car turned in qualifying. Of course, he is still a little biased. Of the 22 cars that started the main event, the winner of the race was his dad, Jason. Drake just got a big surprise, an outlaw winged kart to go racing this winter. It will be interesting to see what he wants to do when he grows up. Drive, or announce? No matter what directions he heads, I am confident he will excel at whatever he chooses to do.