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Scott Brayton
I have been coming to the Indy 500 since I was 9 years old, since the cold may race of 1992, and I have been hooked since. I have been to the last 16 races and encountered many great experiences, so many I could probably write a book. The most favorite one of mine that I will never forget is of Scott Brayton. It was brief, but memorable. Since Scott has passed there has been an award in his owner to the driver that best exemplifies his sprit through out the month of may, the truth to me is that though the winners have had a spirit all their own, none will ever come close to matching the kind of person Scott was. I was a fan of his before he passed for this very reason. I would collect autographs as any kid would, and Indy Car drivers were the best athletes at graciously being accessible to all people.

I remember in 1993, I was able to get into the garage after the race due to a photographer giving me a media pass after he was done with it. I had been hanging around in there for a while and I was even able to get into Penske's garage and meet most of them right after the race. At the end of all the commotion and long after drivers had disappeared, there was Scott Brayton being interviewed on Donald Davidson’s radio show. I waited eagerly to get his autograph, hoping I could get a moment to step up and not be nervous to ask for it, I didn't want to interrupt. Eventually my mom grew tired of waiting and we decided it was time to leave and go home. I had walked all the way out to the back entrance towards the museum, when before I exit the garage area I hear someone yelling for us to hold up a second as he was running towards us. To my surprise it was Scott Brayton running up to me with a rolled up poster in his hands that he had autographed for me. All I remember is that he said he could see me waiting there patiently to talk with him and that he was unable to break from what he was doing, but that he wanted me to have the poster of his car and his hat.

I never could have known that day how lucky I really was to have that experience as Scotty passed away just a few years later. I did have one more moment with him in 1996 when the IRL was formed. He and Tony Stewart, an unknown rookie, were signing autographs for a handful of people at Union Station in downtown Indy. I had drawn a picture of Tony Stewart that he signed for me, but Scott Brayton was much more enthusiastic about, asking me questions about how I did it and how long it took me, I was just a kid. I felt bad cause had I known that I was going to have such a reaction from Scotty then I would have drawn the picture for him instead. Scott was a great man and I can only say to those who win the trophy that while they have a piece of metal saying they resemble the spirit of Scott Brayton, which is all it will ever be. Scott Brayton was one of a kind and will always be held in high regards by this race fan that got a few chances to have some memorable moments over the few years I attended the races while Scott was with us. Thank you Scott.
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