COLUMN: I can see for miles and miles

            CONCORD – I’m 20 years old on the Sprint Media Tour, which is every bit comparable to being 53 years old overall.

            On the other hand, some of my colleagues are 30 in media-tour years, which is as old as one can be on this annual whistle-stop campaign. It wasn’t ever held until 1983. It certainly isn’t as taxing now as it was back then.

            Why is it easier? The equipment’s better. I know my way around. My position within the media is more stable. I don’t have that hunger and desperation that comes from being ambitious and determined to make a name for myself. I’ve got the name now, for better or worse. As Popeye the Sailor Man was fond of saying, “I am what I am.”

            I know the shortcuts. I know what I’m looking for and how to get it. Once upon a time, I told a colleague, “You know, that job you got can be done a lot easier than the way you’re doing it.” Nowadays, I don’t waste nearly as much effort.

            There are many go-to guys, the ones I can depend on to provide a quip that includes both insight and laughter. I can read their expressions and they can read mine. I know what’ll set them off and what’ll make them laugh. I know when they’re pulling my leg and when they’re casting the company line, hook, line and sinker. The best at pulling my leg was Harry Gant. I’ve missed him for a long time now.

            I’ve talked to some guys on every single one of these marathons. Jeff Gordon arrived at the same time I did. I’d like to think he’s changed more, but I may be wrong. My perspective may be skewed.

            Some of the hands are older than mine, but 20 years is a considerable length of time. During my time, I’ve been to a lot of places over and over, but there aren’t many other places besides the Media Tour where my attendance is perfect. Soon I’ll match my 20^th straight media tour with my 20^th straight Daytona 500. During this age, I’ve never missed a race at Charlotte, Darlington, Martinsville, Richmond and Talladega. I was sick for one Bristol race, so the absence was excused. I outlasted North Wilkesboro and Rockingham. Rain cost me an Atlanta.

            There’s nothing particularly new about this one. So far I’ve made Tony Stewart and Mark Martin laugh. David Ragan and I tried to top each other on the issue of which one of us gets up earlier in the morning. I got Donnie Wingo and Leonard Wood to laugh at my imitation of Bud Moore.

            Where once they probably rolled their eyes at me and asked, “Who is this guy?” now they roll their eyes and say, “Oh, he’s quite the character.”

            What I never particularly aspired to be is precisely what now I am: a veteran. I try to be the seasoned variety instead of the grizzled one.

Monte Dutton; 704-869-1841; twitter.com/montedutton