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For several years, I have frequented a host of mid-Michigan race tracks, including Springport (Mid-Michigan), Spartan, Auto City, Owosso and Berlin.  I first visited the tracks as a fan and later, as I met people more seriously involved in the sport of racing, I entered the gates as a "promoter" of sorts.  I have had the good fortune of working with drivers like Phil Massuch and Terry Cook with public relations activities on and off the track.  As I learned more about the business and personalities of racing, I was able to use the "pen" as a tool to help advance their efforts.

Through the Michigan Racing Scene, Raceweek Radio Show and the Michigan Racing Scene radio show, I've been able to meet many great people in the sport.  Drivers in virtually all series in racing have been on the other end of my questions.  And, as many of those drivers would also attest, the questions have improved over the years as well.

I mention the drivers above, because specific actions they have taken through racing have left an impression on me.

First, not only did I meet Phil Massuch very early on in my race writing "career," he did a great deal to educate me about the sport.  He also has served as a role model to many other drivers.  His driving style is classy and smooth.  No surprises.  But he also realizes he is not bigger than the sport - or those who need an extra boost.

The weekend after September 11, 2001, Massuch's actions after winning a feature at Owosso Speedway exemplified his classy and smooth style.  After a particularly intense 35-lap feature, the No. 01 held off charges from names like Felver, Finley and Wing.  The heat in the air was only multiplied by the heat on the track.

An exhausted Massuch climbed from his red race car to answer the questions of track announcer Matt "Hollywood" Prieur.  A crowd dressed mostly in red, white and blue enthusiastically cheered the race winner.  And when Prieur asked Massuch to summarize the race, he said the only thing that mattered was helping those affected by the week's terrorist attacks.  He then informed the capacity crowd, his winnings from the night were being donated to the Red Cross to support those lost in the Twin Towers and the Pennsylvania field.

That's class.

A few years later, I had the pleasure of meeting NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Terry Cook at the Ohio 250 in Mansfield, Ohio.  During our interview, the questions turned to Cook's community service efforts.  In particular, the driver of the No. 10 Ford F-150's involvement with an organization know as PAWS.  This group, headquartered in the southwest Michigan community of Wayland, provides service dogs to disabled individuals.  These amazing animals help people with tasks like picking up a ringing phone, opening doors and even taking items out of cupboards.

Cook felt it important to help raise money for this organization so people with physical challenges could have a better quality of life.  To do so, he donated one of his race trucks to the organization for conversion to a computerized racing simulator.  The race truck then traveled along with the NCTS series and was set up outside the tracks for fans to compete with each other - for a donation - on the computer game in Cook's truck.

During the 2006 racing season, PAWS received nearly $100,000 from fan generosity and Cook's efforts in taking his converted race truck to racing venues throughout the country.

Massuch and Cook's examples are just two in many to be found through the racing community.  Acts of "heroism" on the part of drivers and their teams can be found from Merritt to Milwaukee and Darlington to Dixie.  They're all around us.  We are fortunate to have these racers - with heart - helping so many.