A good first run: New general manager and owner are pleased with their first NASCAR race

NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY general manager Jerry Gappens was dog tired last night and for the first time in weeks he was sitting at the dinner table with his family.

Gappens' first NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend as the top man at a Speedway Motorsports Inc. facility was smoothly behind him. Despite rain throughout the weekend, good racing went on around it.

Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, pronounced race weekend a succcess. (THOMAS ROY)

"I'm tired. I gave it my all and my staff, I'm so very pleased with them, did too," said Gappens. "It was a little different for me. I even signed some autographs. That just shows you how passionate these fans are. I was surprised they knew me and at first I thought they had me confused for Jimmy Spencer (a retired driver)."

Throughout the weekend Gappens visited with campers on the grounds and he routinely walked through the corporate areas and grandstands. It was the first time Gappens has ever been here during a NASCAR race event. He said fans staying the weekend in motorhomes were down 300 to 400 (they totaled nearly 4,000) yet the speedway produced its 27th consecutive sellout.

"The drop-off wasn't as drastic as other tracks," said Gappens. "And we had some corporate block tickets that were no-shows, probably because of the weather."

Gappens said he has already started reviewing spectator letters and e-mails.

"For the next couple weeks we'll continue reviewing the feedback. On July 9 we'll have a post-event critique with the staff. I call it an autopsy. See what worked well and what areas need improvement. There's always need for improvement though."

Gappens said it was "important" to honor speedway founder Bob Bahre with a "moment in the spotlight" on stage before Sunday's race.

"(Bahre) has a lot of his blood, sweat and tears in this place," said Gappens. "He cares deeply about it. It's still his baby if you will and I'm glad Bob is here."

It was the first time ever that Bahre addressed a race day crowd in Loudon.

"I told him he could be mad at me for two days and then we'd go for breakfast," joked Gappens.

Gappens had the added pressure of having his boss, Bruton Smith, visiting the speedway on a race weekend for the first time ever.

"(Smith) liked what he saw," said Smith. "The fan reaction and the passion for the sport here, when he commented about that it made me feel good."

Smith met privately with sponsors and select spectators in the garage area Sunday morning. Smith fielded questions from them after meeting with the media. Smith also met civic leaders. In all instances Smith made it clear New Hampshire would not lose its NASCAR Sprint Cup race dates.

"It was good for everyone to put a personality with the name, Bruton Smith," said Gappens.

"I would say things overall exceeded my expectations," said Gappens. "When Bruton left I said, Thank you for your faith in me.' He said, I have a lot of faith in you.'

"We'll close the office Thursday and break for the holiday and then come back and roll up our sleeves to start promoting the Sylvania 300 in September," he said.

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Kevin Provencher covers motor sports for the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. His e-mail address is kprovencher@unionleader.com.