By Joe Crowley
allstate400atthebrickyard.com
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Tony Raines drives a race car for a living. He also enjoys flying airplanes in his spare time.
So one would think it would take a lot to get him excited, given his already adrenaline-pumping lifestyle.
It took an F-16D fighter jet from the Terre Haute Air National Guard.
Former Indiana resident Raines, driver of the No. 96 DLP HDTV Chevrolet for Hall of Fame Racing in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, got the ride of his life Aug. 1 courtesy of the 181st Fighter Wing based in Terre Haute, Ind.
Col. Chris "Bert" Colbert gave Raines an orientation flight, and the two spent a little more than an hour flying over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, site of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Aug. 6, and parts of Indiana and Illinois.
"That was awesome," Raines said. "I can't believe I got to do that. It was just absolutely incredible. We took off, and we were at the Speedway in about eight to 10 minutes. We flew right down the main stretch.
"I just can't even describe the feeling and the adrenaline. The rolls, the loops, the G-forces; it was incredible. It's something I've always wanted to do, and it was everything I thought it would be."
Raines spent the morning in Terre Haute getting a flight physical and then learning about the F-16D in which he would fly. He was given instruction about entering and exiting the aircraft, how to handle g-forces and emergency procedures.
"You can tell why these guys are as good as they are," Raines said. "They're incredibly professional and leave no detail uncovered. They are a lot like a race team in that they like to joke and have a good time, but when it's time to get down to business, they don't look over any small detail."
Raines joked that the only reason he was offered the ride is because Colbert is a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan. Hall of Fame Racing is co-owned by legendary Cowboys' quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.
"Col. Colbert told me how big of a fan he was of the Cowboys and how excited he was that Roger and Troy got a team," Raines said. "He's a big fan of our DLP team. I just can't thank him and the whole Terre Haute Air National Guard enough. That was awesome."
If Raines didn't have enough excitement in his day, after the flight he headed to Interstate 70 to make the 73-mile journey to Indianapolis to throw the first pitch at the Indianapolis Indians/Toledo Mud Hens Triple-A baseball game at Victory Field.
Raines, who pitched in high school at LaPorte, Ind., threw a fastball, a little low and outside.
"I was talking to the guy who was catching, and he said, 'You were really throwing some heat at me,'" Raines said. "It was a lot of fun. I'm not sure why the pitch went low and outside, but I'm sure I can come up with a couple of excuses.
"It was just an awesome day. That's a pretty good way to spend a Tuesday, flying in an F-16, throwing out the first pitch and then watching a little baseball. I can't thank the Terre Haute Air National Guard, the Indianapolis Indians and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway enough. It was just a really cool day."
So what are Raines plans for the rest of the week after an exciting Tuesday?
"I'm probably going to play a little golf and watch my DLP HDTV in the motor home," Raines said. "Something a little more relaxing before the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard."
***
Tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Reserved seats start at just $35.
Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.
Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday, while online orders can be made at any time.
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