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May 13, Long Beach, NY--- This week, I’d normally write about the goings-on at my local racetrack, Riverhead Raceway. This week is going to be a little bit different. Contained here are a few stray thoughts, as well as a few facts, that I’ve never put into print; I’m not exactly quite sure why. Whatever the reason, this is as good a time as any--- and probably more appropriate than most.
Every year at about this time, Lori (my long-suffering wife) and I get to reminiscing about a friend of ours. During the off-season, I was going through one of our old photo albums showing family pictures to our grandson. Placed in the album was a Polaroid of an old friend. I was surprised to see the shot in this particular album, since this person wasn’t actually a family member. His name was Scott Brayton.
The photo was taken many years back showing Scott, my wife Lori, and myself posing for the photo at the temporary road course that used to be set up in the Meadowlands when the Indy Cars used to race there. It’s usually about this time of year that our thoughts start to drift to our friend. Scott was a 2nd generation driver, while his father Lee, also a former Indy Car driver, is enshrined in the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Scott started in Go Kart Racing, racing Formula Karts in 1975. By 1979, he had moved up to the Skip Barber Racing Series, including winning nine races and its championship. He moved to Indy Cars in 1981 in the family-owned Brayton Racing, making his first start at Phoenix that year. He qualified for his 1st Indy 500 in 29th spot, and never looked back from there.
During the 80’s, he helped introduce the Buick Stock-Block V-6 engine. Although very powerful, it was quite unreliable. In 1985, Brayton qualified 2nd for the Indy 500; but he finished 30th when the engine blew.
John Menard continued to develop the motor under the Menard V-6 name after Buick pulled out of Indy Car racing in 1993. Without a regular season-long ride in 1994, Scott joined the Menard team, although it was only for Indy. Their faith in the motor finally paid off next year.
In 1995, Scott garnered his first Indy pole. Persistent motor problems say him finish 17th.
He followed that up the following year (1996) by taking his 2nd consecutive pole position. It should be noted that his rookie teammate that year was Tony Stewart. On May 17th during a practice session, he blew a tire going through turn two, spun, and slammed into the wall doing an estimated 235 MPH. It was about an hour later that he was pronounced dead at Indianapolis Methodist Hospital. He was the 40th Indy 500 driver to die at the track. Stewart, who qualified the team car on the outside pole, took over the pole position for the start of the race. As for the car that Scott qualified for the pole, Danny Ongais took over the ride, and finished the race 7th.
In 1997 the Indy Racing League began awarding the Scott Brayton Drivers Trophy to the driver who "best exemplifies the character and racing spirit of late driver Scott Brayton". John Paul Jr. was the recipient of its first award. Other winners were Roberto Guerrero (1998), Eliseo Salazar (1999), Eddie Cheever (2000), Davey Hamilton (2001), Arie Luyendyk (2002), Buddy Lazier (2003), Helio Castroneves (2004), Kenny Brack (2005), and Sam Hornish Jr. (2006).
His widow Becky eventually married another driver, Robbie Buhl.
Lori and I had met Scott at a business function we attended (having nothing to do with racing), and we made sure to attend the races that were held at the Meadowlands each year afterwards. He was a very fun-loving guy, who always had a smile on his face, even in the worst of times, although he was dead serious about his racing.
One of our favorite memories is of Lori and me hanging out in his trailer in the paddock area one day during practice. As the three of us were talking, in walked AJ Foyt and Danny Sullivan. Lori didn’t really recognize them. However, I took one look and have to admit that I was somewhat awestruck. Lori commented to me later that she never heard me quiet for so long!
We didn’t often talk too much of racing when we were there, other than asking about his lap times, etc. About the only racing thing specific that I remembered Scott and I talking about was me asking why he seemed to brake way earlier than other drivers when approaching a certain turn on the road course. He asked where the other drivers were braking.
After getting the answer, he must have remembered. After going out for another practice session, he approached the corner somewhat slower for two laps, and then came in full bore the 3rd lap. After hitting the braking point exactly where the other drivers did, it picked up his lap speed considerably.
I had purchased tickets to fly out to Indy that year and for the 500 itself for our first visit to Indianapolis. Needless to say, we never used them. Come to think of it, we haven’t even thought of going out there since 1996; probably never will. Still, every year at around this time, we stop and remember our friend.
*****
Those are out thoughts this time. What’s yours? Questions, comments, and complaints will reach us at liracenews@hotmail.com. Until next time, Happy Motoring!
Mike Fields has written for the Area Auto Racing News, Raceway Media Magazine, as well as being a contributing author for the book Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul. He has also been a co-host of a weekly motorsports radio program, and a track announcer. Fields currently writes a weekly internet column, and is an occasional contributing columnist for the Riverhead Racer, the track program for Long Island's Riverhead Raceway.
While not at his full-time job (babysitting
his very rambunctious 4-year old grandson), he is the owner of The
Hero Card Store!, providing
specialty autograph cards to racecar drivers and teams. He may be contacted by
e-mail at
info@LongIslandMotorsports.com, or by phone at (516) 376-4028.
Modified graphic by Tom Coufalik of www.pcracers.net.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by columnists and all others on this website are strictly their own, and may not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of the management of Long Island Motorsports News.
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