Valentines’s Day Race to Love

“Drivers start your engines..” I never tire of hearing this statement. Yes, it scares me, it also shoots adrenaline coursing through my veins. I have been at the tracks practically, since I was born. I honestly, was almost born right in the middle of the infield, during the Daytona 500. No joke. Mom was not due for a few more weeks. She says she wanted one more race with Dad before I came along. It was so sweet. Dad was #1 on the poles. Mom had one of the crew take over as Dad’s spotter, She says she was too, pregnant to climb those stairs. I think she just wanted to stay with Dad, up to him jumping in the car. Mom gave Dad his good luck kiss, and waited for him to get into formation. The moment they dropped the flag, Dad was off. The whole pit was cheering and clapping with the crowd. Mom on the other hand bend over in pain. She says it felt like someone kicked her in her kidneys. My parents, like many drivers and crew, stayed in the infield in their RV. Nick, my dad’s best friend and crew chief, caught a glimpse of Mom bent over. He motioned for his wife, Sara, to come help. Sara, with her son Junior who was six months old strapped in a baby wrap, ran to Mom and they tried to get her to the RV. Mom, said she could not stand up. Sara tried her best but in the end she called for help. The medics came to help Mom, just as everyone heard the sound of crushing metal and squealing tires. The crowd let out a collective oooohhhh, then they were silent. The paramedics had just got Mom into a chair and she waved them off. Mom saw them drop the Red Flag. She could not see the crash from her vantage point, but she knew the smell of burning gas and oil. She was raised on the track, her father racing. That’s how she met Dad. Apparently there were five cars and drivers involved. Mom and Sara were holding their breath waiting to hear which drivers were involved. The drivers were all stopped on the third turn away from Mom’s view. Mom said, she and Sara looked up to see the back sides of Dad’s #47 pit crew jumpers running towards the turn. They both had unshed tears in their eyes, but they would not cry. One of the most important things in racing is to be patient, and wait for the news. Mom or Sara having a panic attack was not going to do anything to help the situation. Hysterics have no place on the track. Loosing your s**t, causes mistakes. Sara normally would have gone with the crew to bring supplies and hydration. Sara’s job is to take care of the crew needs, as mom is normally, above the crowd spotting for, Dad. She chose to stay and sit with Mom this time. Mom says she was suddenly nauseous. Completely understandable being due to deliver in a couple weeks and the stress of not knowing if her husband was alright. Mom turned and grabbed Sara’s arm and squeezed it to a point of almost breaking. Sara said, “oh no, no ma’am.. I know that death grip I used it myself with Junior. You my friend are in labor..and I ain’t birthing no babies..” Sara joked with Mom, I am a Pitcher and not a Catcher. Mom was laughing at her friend’s horrible jokes and bad references. Mom was barely able to tell Sara this is racing, not baseball, when she felt a pain rip through her. Mom looked down to see her water had broke. Sara saw as well, just before they heard the thowp, thowp, thowp sound they knew too well. The rescue helicopters. Mom said to Sara I hear three helicopters, what is going on? Sara just shook her head, she did not have anymore information than Mom. Sara ran to find any pit crew members left who might have a walkie talkie. She could not find anyone so she called 911; to see if they could walk her through delivering a baby. Mom overheard Sara and the reality of her current situation set in. Mom says she was sure her eyes were going to pop out of their socket any moment. Sara was doing as the operator asked trying to keep Mom calm, breathing and me inside. The operator must have asked for Mom’s name because according to her while Sara was helping Mom breathe, the Paramedics came back with a stretcher and told Sara, she can ride with her husband. Yep, that’s me in a nutshell, I have been a pain in Mom’s backside, since February 14, 1999, that is how I got the nickname PITA (Pain In The Ass), most people believe it is my name. Every year since, someone has made the comment about me ruining Valentine’s Day for my parents. Halifax Hospital in Daytona, was over run with racing families trying to find out about their loved ones, my mother included. The labor and delivery nurses tried to calm Mom, down. Yeah, so that didn’t work. Mom was refusing to do anything until she heard about Dad. The doctor had to medically sedate her to prevent me from having any issues. Yes, another family joke is that I definitely have issues. Dad was in emergency surgery and Mom was two floors above him, when I decided enough is enough and made my very dramatic entrance into this world. Yes it is our family’s “fish story” and everyone at the track adds a little more each time the story is told. Sara and Nick tag teamed between the floors with updates. Dad was apparently out of surgery and in ICU, just ten minutes before my arrival. Sara called Nick with the announcement, baby girl, 9lbs7oz, 23 and 1/4” long, 37.2cm head circumference, she is perfect. Sara says, Dad was supposed to name me if I was a boy and Mom if I was a girl. My parents were both unconscious when the nurse asked for my name. Dad must have come out of the anesthesia first. Hi, my name is Heath Lee Colton.