As I loaded up my van in the wee hours of the morning on Friday June 2^nd, I had a very uneasy feeling as to what I might find when I arrived at Watkins Glen for the 25^th Anniversary edition of the Grand American Rolex – Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.  After all, I had made arrangements earlier in the week to interview 17-year old Daytona Prototype sensation Colin Braun of Krohn Racing, and was fully expecting to talk about the his participation in the race that weekend.  How was I to know the controversy that would unfold the Thursday before the event concerning Colin’s possible exclusion from the race, and the legal wrangling going on in the courts between Krohn Racing trying to get him in the event and Team Penske and Philip Morris Tobacco trying to make sure that he didn’t.

I arrived at the track at 3:15 in the afternoon, went into the media center and found out that Tracy Krohn had basically capitulated and agreed to not run Colin in the race for the sake of the whole event.  It was a big gesture on his part, and showed that he was willing to put the fans and the event before his own interests.  The big downside was that Colin would not be able to compete.  I went to the Krohn Racing hauler, fully expecting to see a horde of media around Colin.  To my amazement, he was readily available to talk to me and showed a tremendous amount of professionalism in granting me an interview under some very difficult circumstances.

The following is a synopsis of that interview:

Paul Metzger-Oke – “Colin, thank you for granting me this interview on a day when things have not been very upbeat for you.  Could you give me your feelings on not being able to compete in the Six Hour event here at The Glen?”

Colin Braun – “Well, obviously I’m tremendously disappointed with how it all worked out.  Tracy Krohn and the whole team made a decision originally to take legal action in an attempt to allow me to race.  For a second, it looked like it was all going to work out, then it just didn’t happen.  I can’t believe the effort that Tracy and whole team put in to try and make it so that I could compete this weekend.  They did everything they could and more.  I owe so much to them for standing behind me, and for giving me the opportunity to drive this car in the first place.”

P.M.O. – “When did you find out for sure that you wouldn’t be competing?”

C.B. – “About 30 minutes before the start of the first practice session today (Friday June 2^nd).”

P.M.O. – “There were clear no-smoking messages on the Krohn Racing # 75 and # 76 Daytona Prototype machines during the last race in Phoenix.  Was that part of an effort to allow you to compete in joint race weekends between Grand-Am and the IRL with the whole tobacco advertising issue on the Penske IRL machines?”

C.B. – “Actually, No.  It is just something that the team decided to do in light of me not being allowed to compete initially at Homestead back in March because of the tobacco sponsorship issue.  The team simply wanted to promote the no-smoking message and felt that is was an effective way to do it.”

P.M.O. – “Concentrating on racing now, what was your first experience in racing?”

C.B. – “My very first racing experience was behind the wheel of a quarter-midget at age 5.  I raced at a track just outside of Austin, Texas, doing lots of quarter-midget racing until I was old enough to start racing Karts at the age of 8.”

P.M.O. – “How old were you when you drove your first race car?”

C.B. – “I was 14 years old back in 2003 when I drove in Formula Renault, and I was fortunate enough to win a Championship.”

P.M.O. – “How do you feel about the opportunity that Tracy Krohn and Krohn Racing have given you to compete in the highest level Grand-Am Racing, the Daytona Prototypes?”

C.B. – “I am just so excited and thrilled for the opportunity.  It is just an unbelievable experience for someone my age to be doing this.  The whole team, from Tracy, my teammate Jorg (Bergmeister), the mechanics, the crew, everybody has just been so supportive.”

P.M.O. – “Speaking of Jorg Bergmeister.  What has it been like having him as your teammate this season and what have you learned from him?”

C.B. – “I have learned so much from Jorg.  He is just such an amazingly talented driver, and he has so much experience in Sports Car racing.  I have also learned a great deal about the political side of racing from him, and he was very supportive at Homestead and also this weekend at The Glen.”

P.M.O. – “Will you be in the car at the next round at Mid-Ohio?”

C.B. – “I will definitely be in the car at Mid-Ohio.  We just finished tire testing there, and the new surface is terrific.  We managed to set some very competitive times, and even turned a couple of laps in the 1:19 range.”

P.M.O. – “Your story has been very big news in the racing community this weekend.  Can you tell me some of the media who have interviewed you today?”

C.B. – “Well, I have been interviewed by USA Today, AP, local electronic media, local print media, Speed News Sunday and more.  It has been a very busy day with the media, that’s for sure.”

P.M.O. – “How do you enjoy competing in the Grand-Am Rolex Series in the Daytona Prototypes?”

C.B. – “I am really having a great time.  It is such a fantastic series.  There is good competition, the cars are good and very fun to drive, and I have learned a lot about driving high horsepower machinery in a competitive environment.

P.M.O. – “You are considered to be one of the “Young Guns” in racing these days.  Who were some of the other top young drivers you competed against as you made your way up the racing ladder?”

C.B. – “Well, I competed against both Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal in karting, and I know both guys really well and I am good friends with both of them.  They are both just great guys to hang out with, and obviously, they have both done very well in their own right.  I was really excited for Marco for his finish at Indianapolis and excited for Graham as well for his win in the Atlantics in Mexico.”

P.M.O. – “Colin.  Thanks again for your time, and best of luck at Mid-Ohio and throughout the rest of your career.”

C.B. – “No Problem.  It was my pleasure.”

It should be noted that Boris Said took over Colin Braun’s spot at the Sahlens Six Hours of the Glen, and he combined with Jorg Bergmeister to win the prestigious event the very next day.  It is the second year in a row the Krohn Racing has won the Six Hours at The Glen, and marked a fitting end to a very tumultuous weekend. 

Many thanks to Colin Braun and Krohn Racing for the interview, and for all the Watkins Glen International staff for being such gracious hosts during a fantastic weekend of racing.

Paul Metzger-Oke