12-2-2006 - DC Williams talks about Krohn Racing and Colin

By DC Williams - Motorsport.com

GRINNIN' and PICKIN'

Here we are in one of the cruelest times of all for motorsports lovers: between seasons. As a result, withdrawal pain goes up 'cause news slows down. But without much happening to create the news, what else can happen?

How about Ol' DC waiting until now to release his 2006 Rolex Series season highlight picks -- or lowlights, depending on point of view?

It'll give at least provide something about which to talk before next week's Rolex Series Homestead-Miami Speedway test.

The 2006 Rolex Series' respective categories and winners are:

LEAST CRAZY TEAM: Krohn Racing.

First, let's get real. At least a few folks think racers already run on the ragged edge of being fitted for a little white jacket. I mean, how many people do you know who undertake a Pampers moment then immediately don another set of absorbent material and have another go at what made them undertake the apparel change in the first place?

Thus established, there are only degrees of crazy in this sport.

Frankly, I thought team owner Tracy Krohn was, well, a bubble off level-center when at the end of the 2005 season he spilt with two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winning driver/team owner/manager Kevin Buckler (one class - 2002; one overall - 2003) and built a new, ground-up Krohn Racing for 2006.

Oh, it wasn't that Krohn point-man Jeff Hazel, Krohn team members or any of Krohn Racing's drivers weren't capable chaps, it's just that one generally doesn't abandon a winning combination in favor of uncertainty. But, Krohn was born in the rough-and-tumble world of oil exploration and I should've known he isn't the kind to stand pat.

Following the season-ending Discount Tire Sunchaser at Miller Motorsports Park and just minutes before Krohn Racing's Jorg Bergmeister was officially crowned Rolex Series Daytona Prototype driving champ, Krohn said to me: "Everyone on the team read about us being crazy ... you never know what motivates people."

Glad I could help, Mr. Krohn, but what'll be the team's 2007-season motivation?

So far, Bergmeister's been absent from Krohn's off-season tests when even he had told me just weeks before that he'd be in attendance.

I understand the team's 2007 driver lineup is close to being finalized and one of the talented names likely on it, Colin Braun (you know, the so-called "kid" who at three 2006 Rolex venues was immediately supposed to undertake cigarette smoking by merely being in the proximity of its advertisements), pushed the Krohn Ford-Riley Daytona Prototype to consistent but "unofficial" top-5 speeds at the early-November Daytona test.

Though I'd like to see Bergmeister return to Krohn, I've done learned my lesson: I ain't calling Krohn or Hazel "crazy" no more.

MOST GENTLEMANLY: Tracy Krohn

I promise, this'll be the last award I'll give Krohn herein.

But it's really hard not to pick Tracy Krohn. We are talking class act.

In a paddock filled with class acts (Mark Patterson comes to mind, but he gets another award, below), Krohn was tested by my fire and wasn't anything but gracious afterward.

As has been proved time and again before in the wake of this writer authoring critical pieces, I fully expected Krohn to be like many others and start ignoring me, beginning with the 2006 Rolex 24 at Daytona -- prior to which I cut my "crazy Krohn" piece.

He didn't.

Sometimes people angrily misunderstand this pundit inasmuch as my thoughts aren't intended as personal attacks -- flying fists work best in delivering that message, anyway -- and I've got opinions that can be changed, to boot.

As the previous award indicates I was wrong on at least two counts involving Tracy Krohn.

Krohn is a class act who exemplified one of the most important principals on which the United States was founded: "While I may disagree with what you say I will defend until my death your right to say it."

That's something I'd expect from a Texan. At least I'm correct on that count.