This message was edited on
July 14, 2009 at
02:27:36 PM by Gary Costa
(Bruce Velo Photo)
Reflections from One Tough "Cowboy"
By Gary Costa
San Martin, CA (July 14, 2009) - During the last GLR Investments 360 Sprint Car race at Ocean Speedway back on June 26, veteran driver Craig Smith suffered a heart attack sometime throughout the course of the evening. Smith is one of the nicest and warm drivers that you'd ever hope to come across. He is one of the good ones who gives it his all on, as well as off of the track. I had a chance to catch up with Craig this morning.
"I want to thank everyone for their well wishes. The outpouring of support from the racing community has been overwhelming, and it makes me feel so honored to be a part of it. I want to thank all of you for everything that you've done."
By all accounts, nobody that was in attendance that night, including myself would have ever have known that he was under such excruciating pain, not to mention him driving under life threatening circumstances, as he was still driving the wheels off of the No. 39 in the main event.
"After the heat race, I had some pressure in my chest, but I kept thinking that I could make it through the night. During the main event, I felt real bad. During the lap 1 red flag, my chest hurt like hell. Then on Lap 13, I hit the wall, and broke the front end, while all of that was happening Burt Foland, Jr. turned over."
After the car was towed to the pit area, it was there that this one tough "Cowboy" as he is so affectionately known to us, finally gave in and had his family take him to the Hospital. It was also there that the realization of why he was feeling so bad became known.
"I planned on going to the Hospital anyway after the race. After arriving, they ran some tests that confirmed that I did in fact have a mild heart attack. If I happen to become the catalyst for people to learn more about heart disease, well, than what I went through is worth it to me."
Smith who is an avid runner, and is careful about what he puts into his body. After the incident that could have taken "Cowboy" away from us, it stands and serves as a sober reminder of what's most important to him.
"There are too many dead guys that didn't take this serious enough. Everyday that I wake up now, the skies a little bluer and everyday is a special day for me. I will be back racing as soon as I can comeback. I'm getting out of town this weekend to spend some quality time with my family. Again, I want to thank all you for the support that you've shown toward me, it has been extremely touching."
We love you buddy, please continue your charge of getting better.
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