By Jane Smith

This past weekend I learned alot from the drivers and fans in the Sunshine State when it comes to racing and karnac. People know my name but not my face so that helps me learn alot without being associated with anything. I am just one of the guys who love racing.

The key word in everything I do is "love". See, I am lucky enough that I get to know all these guys and gals who do the racing for the many fans that sit in the stands and get entertained. I know how hard they work to race, the blood, sweat and tears that goes behind the scenes that fans never get to see. Then, I am also lucky enough to know some of the owners and promoters of the tracks. And believe it or not, they are human.

Recently, Kevin Ruic called us "karnac Gods". But I disagree with that since karnac has no more control over drivers or tracks than anyone. Karnac is the place where everyone comes to see what is happening where, to find results from different tracks, maybe to read a story or two but not anything else. We have opinions just like you have opinions but that is all it is, opinions. You can write your's as well as we can write our's.

Some track owners have come to realize that Karnac is the place to advertise their tracks and promote their events. They realize just how big the computer world has gotten and more and more homes seem to have these magically machines. Yes, many tracks have their own web-sites but there is only one place on the web that has every track in the state and that is karnac. We have worked hard to supply the out-of-state fans with news from every track and believe me, this is not an easy task.

Five years ago we were barely known and now, everyone knows us. Not by face but by karnac.com. They read our message boards, they read our stories, they look to us to inform them of what is happening. And as we grow, more and more good things grow for the fans and drivers of our state. But by no means are we Gods nor do we have any intention of being a God.

Everyone loves their "home" tracks, everyone loves their "home" track drivers but we are lucky enough, at least I am, to love them all. In that respect, I am not a God but very, very lucky to be able to know some of the greatest guys and gals on the asphalt and dirt surfaces this state has to offer. There is not a track that I go to that does not have at least one driver that I know. that I have met while covering the tracks in our state.

This weekend I learned for myself that we are the place that everyone goes to first on their computers when they are involved in stock car racing. They appreciate what we do for the fans and drivers of our state and how hard we work to keep them informed of all our tracks. Gods we are not, just people who love racing and realize that racers do deserve to be known.

In the last five years, I have stated my opinions when things were not right, when safety was lacking and someone was hurt due to that. I have seen many changes and I have seen track owners realize that they needed to listen as well as talk. I have seen drivers and fans open their hearts and wallets for other drivers who have been hurt or killed at our tracks. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly just as you all have and I am still here but by no means a God.

Jane Smith

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