Tomorrow will mark one year since you left us, and for the life of me,
I still have problems accepting it. It seems like just a few weeks
ago we were talking at your first race up at Peach State, and you were
laughing at the fact that my hair was "dadgum near as long as
Daddy's!" And I remember that mischevious grin you had when Kyle told
me "He's out there to get experience, seat time.", and I told him
"Yeah, wasn't that your story when you went out and won that ARCA race
at Daytona in '79?"
I still get choked up when I think about how hard Poppa, my
grandfather, was pulling for you in that race. Every other dadgum
lap, he'd elbow me and say "There's my buddy! Look at him, he's doing
a great job!" Heck, man, when you got caught up in that wreck, he
wouldn't watch the race untill you came back! He just sat there
reading the program, but when you came back, he couldn't tell you who
was leading, but he knew what position you were in and what your lap
times were!!!!!
It may seem odd, but you and your family are very special to me and
mine. My father was not the kind of person to look up to, and was not
really a part of my life. My heros, my roll models, was my
grandfather and your grandfather. And when you came up in your
career, and you and I met, it was almost like you were living a dream
for me. I had allways wanted to be a race car driver, but things
never panned out for me. But you were living your dream of being a
racer, and it was like I was riding right there with you. I have
NEVER been so e***d watching a race as I was in '99 when you went
for the lead in that first race at Daytona. I don't think I'll ever
be that e***d again. I felt very proud for you and Kyle when you
won the ARCA race at C***te. It was magic, man, pure magic.
I tell people when I talk about you that you were the type of kid you
hoped your daughter would bring home for dinner. I can't say I've
ever seen a person your age who was as well mannered, friendly, and
generally pleasing to be around as you. Now, mind you, I never hung
out behind the scenes with you. I'm sure you were human, could get
your behind up on your shoulders from time to time like the rest of
us. But from all of my dealings with you, you never dissapointed.
I hope this doesn't sound greedy, but I was looking forward to
watching you grow up. I felt like watching you grow and mature and
become a more and more polished racer would be almost like my
grandfather watching Richard come up through the years. It hurt then,
and it still hurts now to look at the field of cars in a BGN or Cup
race, and you're not there. It's not the same, it just doesn't feel
right. It feels incomplete, like there's something missing. And
there is. You're missing, as well as a piece of my heart.
I saw an interview with your mom and dad last night. They're still
hurting badly for you, and they need some good things to happen, some
sunny days to help them see past the clouds. Do me a favor......you
and your granddaddy need to get together and go talk to the big man
(no, not Dale, the BIG MAN), and see if ya'll can't finagle a really,
really good day for the family. They need it so bad, man. Maybe a
good run at C***te, just something to help boost their spirits. If
you'll do what you can, we'll keep praying down here, and maybe, just
maybe, we can get that good day for them.
Tomorrow I'm going to do alot to keep busy. I'm going to spend the
day with my family, celebrate mother's day a bit early, and try not to
get bogged down. But I'm sure there will be a point when Poppa and I
will go off by ourselves and reminisce about you, our meeting at Peach
State (remember the story about him telling Lee how much he hated him?
He still loves that ya'll called him "The Ford Man from Georgia!"),
and I'm sure we'll cry a bit in the midst of it.
But we haven't forgotten you, man. I still wear my 45 hat, and when
people comment about my Sprint Racing jacket, I tell them it's an Adam
Petty jacket, and Kyle's just the relief driver.
We haven't forgotten. Thanks, man. Even though I was only able to
share you for 3 years or so, I wouldn't trade that time for the world.
Except maybe to get you back.
We were blessed to have you. I'd have rather known you for the short
time that I did than to have never met you.
Take care, and see what you can do on that day for the family.
We still care, we still believe, we won't give up.
Your Friend,
Brandon