Dinner with a Michigan Original

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It started with poking around the Internet about a week before heading off to Michigan for the weekend. I discovered BK was going to be appearing at a bar in Jackson, Michigan called The Chase.

I immediately got on the phone and spoke with some of the great people of The Chase including Heather. I asked for some information, basically to see where and when I will have to line up to get a wrist band to meet him. Unfortunately, the appearance was going to be a private event and if there were time available, BK was going to meet as many people as he could after the event, however there was no guarantee. She then asked me how big a fan I was.

I said, “Well, I’m NASCARDO.”

I’m just kidding. But I said I would be coming down from Canada even if there is the slightest chance to see him. She told me to hold on a sec, and she put me on hold. She came back on and asked, “How would you like to have dinner with Brad and have a chance to get his autograph?” I was like, “Umm ya, how do I get to do that?” She asked for my name and said she would leave me two tickets and I could come pick them up when we get into town. I couldn’t have thanked Heather enough, and man, I couldn’t wait for Thursday. I called my brother and asked him what he was doing for dinner on Thursday and wondered if he wanted to have it with the Champ!

We arrived at the bar, and to be honest, really didn’t know what to expect. It was a great place. It even had a real race car that Rusty Wallace drove a couple years ago. We spoke to a waitress, and sure enough a couple tickets were waiting for us. Now I was really pumped. A few minutes later we were allowed to go to the second level of the bar where the event would be held. The place had all kinds of stuff set up for BK to sign for some of the employees, and a huge bucket full of Miller Lites and Redds Apple Ale. We grabbed a seat and a Miller Lite, and were told by the staff that BK would stop by each table and talk with you. A few moments later, the Champ arrived to the delight of the crowd. He came in a signed all kinds of stuff for employees and family and then he began to make his was to each table.

When he arrived to our table, I had set up my NASCARDO hat to see if BK recognized me from the Crew Challenge. He came and said, “How’s it going guys?” I was like awesome man, thanks for coming out tonight. He began to sign a couple cars and the big poster I got last year in Miami at Wild Wings. He commented on my Miller Genuine Draft custom car that I made — he thought it was really cool and done really well. He also noticed my NASCARDO hat. I told I him who I was, and BK chuckled and said, “That’s cool man, thanks for participating!” He took a picture with me and my brother and my favorite part of the whole deal was he put his hand out, and I shook his hand and he THANKED ME for being a fan. Just another example of the kind of driver he is, one who appreciates his fans. He continued on to other fans and grabbed a beer and a couple slices of pizza and continued to mingle with the crowd.  

He also had a brief Q and A. He was really funny as usual, especially when a question was asked who was his favorite, Ricky Bobby or Cole Trickle. He chose Cole Trickle because he had Nicole Kidman, and BK mentioned how he learned about drafting from a famous scene in Days of Thunder. (I’m sure most of you know what scene I am talking about.) When BK was on the way out, to head down to the bar and serve some beers to everyone, he stopped by our table to sign a couple more autographs for other people and he had put his beer down on my table. He continued on forgetting his beer. I was like, “BK, you forgot your beer,” but he didn’t hear me, he was walking and talking to other people. A guy beside us was like hey you need to put that on Ebay, and I was like, “No way, that’s going with my collection.” And as soon as I move into my new house in July, it will be happily placed beside the White Deuce die cast I got at the track.

Overall, like always it was another amazing time getting a chance to see BK.