Update: As I posted yesterday, I returned to Road America for the 57th Chicago Region SCCA WeatherTech June Sprints and got the win (hooray!). But I want to discuss my off-the-track experiences on my return to Elkhart Lake this weekend.
Saturday morning, just before the cars went on-track, I approached the chief of safety at RA. I introduced myself and explained what happened last month; while he wasn't at the track that day, he certainly knew of the incident. I asked if it was possible to meet the safety crew that responded to my wreck. He said he'd have them visit my paddock at the lunch break. He did thank me for approaching him and asking to thank his crew. He said this happens very rarely...surprising to me as where I race in NE Ohio, racers, corner workers and safety crew are all part of a big tight-knit family.
At lunch three people drove up to my rig; two guys and a woman. The lady come up to me and gave me a big hug. I returned it and said, "This is not only from me, but my entire family."
I asked who was the first to my car, and one of the two guys admitted he was. He said that when they got the call to "scramble," the head of safety led them to expect the worse. He said they were told is was a really bad wreck. So when they were driving up to my car, they all could see I was moving inside the car, a good sign. When they got to me, he asked my three questions: my name, what I did for a living, and what happened. He said I was "spot on" in my responses. So he asked if I could get out of the car; I said yes (this is the only part I remember) and climbed out of the car.
He then radioed back to his chief and gave him the code that represented the lowest level of injury to the driver. The responce from the "other side" was of disbelief. They all fully expected the worst.
These three were all thankful that I took the time and effort to look them up and thank them. This still amazes me.
So, I go and win the race on Sunday. After the podium ceremony, I said to my crew chief I was going to take the golf cart back to the rig so I could change and clean up. I drove down the hill to where the rig was, and the entire time I clutched the checkered flag just like Linus holds on to his security blanket. I did not have my thumb in my mouth...
About halfway down the hill I hear my name called out. I stopped when I see it was one of the safety crew that I met the day before. He asked for my business card. It turns out he took some pictures of my on my victory lap after the race. He explained that he was with two different people during the race, and when we were on our warm-up lap he pointed my car out to the two new people, then showed pictures of my wrecked car, telling them that the driver of both cars was the same. He said their eyes were like saucers when they saw the wrecked car, and couldn't beleive I was "out there" so soon.
When I won the race, he stayed at his station to take the pictures he's sending to me. This is significant as our race was the last of a long day, and normally the corner workers and safety crew "beat feet" when their day is over. So for him to stay over, even for ten more minutes, is something. He told me he wanted me to have some good memories from Road America to help erase those bad ones from May. Very cool.
I keep saying this...it's not the speed that keeps me coming back; it's the people.
One more step to get this behind me: Round 5 of the SRT Viper Cup at VIR. One more step...
So fitting you won! 
