"Close Encounters of the Kenny Irwin Kind II: Two Months Later"

Well, this day, May 8th 1999, wasn't exactly what I expected. It seemed more to be a #20 Tony Stewart day at the NASCAR Convention in Dayton, OH. We were too later for #25 Wally Dallenbach's session and Cale Yarborough's WAS too late. Each driver was to be there at different times, and I was told that the Tony Stewart line and the Kenny Irwin line was the same line. Well when I was almost near the front of the Tony line with those metal divider bars like at a roller coaster line, the Nutter Center people decided to make a totally different line for Kenny. So when I got to a part of the line that was right next to where Kenny was at, I asked some security guy to hand Kenny a present I had for him which said 'Do not open until day of Richmond qualifying'. The reason being was that I didn't think that I would have made it to get Kenny's autograph. So he handed the gift to Kenny, who turned around with the most beautiful smile I've ever seen and said, "Thank you very much". My Mom got a picture of him then. So after that moment in heaven, we got to Tony Stewart, who is also left-handed, and I had him sign my autograph book, a Tony Stewart autograph card, and a newspaper clipping about him from the Columbus Dispatch, which is no longer propery of me. After that I got my picture taken with him, with my arm around him and my head on his. He feels real muscular too! Doesn't top the feel of Kenny though. Then my brother and father were getting tired and we wanted to get a couple things, so I really didn't get to get in Kenny's line which was backed up to almost around the building. I wasn't too upset though since I still got to talk to Kenny and give him my present. I even got the autograph of the show car member of Kenny Irwin's crew, Bryan Something. Also at the convention, there was a cool race simulator, which was really fun, but not as fun as Kenny, who I still think is the nicest and sweetest driver I've ever met. #28 KENNY IRWIN ROX!!! 8-)

NOW THE PICTURES TO PROVE IT ARE HERE!

Me and Kenny Irwin's 1999 #28 Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus

Ernie36Fan(Dan) and Ernie Irvan's 1999 #36 M&M's Pontiac

Kenny Irwin telling me 'Thank you very much' for his present

Me and #20 Tony Stewart