Lowry had no idea what to expect with this experience and neither did I. What I thought would happen did, Lowry became a bigger fan. “I never thought I could be a bigger fan,” Lowry explained from his Ohio home last Friday. “But the experience put everything in a new perspective for me.”

exclusive photo by Ed Coombs

One thing that Lowry had decided was that he wanted to purchase one of the Chevy Impala pace cars. He really did not think that it would be possible but Darrel Waltrip sort of pushed the subject and so did Claire B Lang from XM radio. Lowry said that he had financing arranged and a place to display the car. One of his friends owned a museum that he would display the car at. He did not think it was possible but all of the hoopla surrounding the car by the media got his sorts up. “It wasn’t a bad thing, not being able to purchase it,” he said about the attempted car purchase.  “I can’t think of a bad experience all weekend.”

One thing he wanted to do was thank all of the people that he dealt with all weekend. He said that Richmond International Raceway was absolutely awesome. “It wasn’t just me that they took care of. They took care of my parents, my friends and family. We really had no expectations. My friends bought tickets but somehow ended up in the pits. It was just great,” Lowry said.  But what came to a shock to me was when he thanked me and the other media. “You guys have been great.”