6-12-2007 - D.C. Williams take on Colin going Stock Car racing

Most everyone in tune with the Rolex Series and NASCAR worlds already likely knows Colin Braun - driver of Tracey Krohn's No. 76 Krohn Racing Pontiac-Riley which, with co-driver Max Papis, finished fifth at this past weekend's Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen -- signed a 13-year deal with Roush Fenway Racing.

It ain't for sportscar racing.

Braun will take on a few ARCA Series races this year, giving the 18-year-old a tune-up for an ARCA rookie-of-the-year run in 2008 with Braun/Roush Fenway Racing likely moving toward a NASCAR effort after that.

Just about this time last year Braun was coming off an undesired, unexpected and darn-sure involuntary weekend holiday from racing that team owner Tracy Krohn did all he could to prevent -- causing at least a few bad feelings as a result.

Prevented from racing in the 2006 six-hour by anti-cigarette contract language between Watkins Glen International and cigarette companies that evidently didn't remotely anticipate the possibility of an emancipated 17-year-old, Braun watched as teammate and eventual Rolex Series 2006 Daytona Prototype driving champ Jorg Bergmeister win the team's first race of the 2006 season (with Boris Said, who said "I didn't do all that much, really.")

Given that Braun wasn't able to compete in a couple or three 2006 races, no one can say with certainty that he would've also scored a piece of that DP driving championship, but such certainly was probable. For sure, without being able to match Bergmeister's points accumulation, in the 2006 championship standings Braun nonetheless finished only 80-points down in fourth place.

I've watched and talked with Braun from the time he, Brad Coleman and Adrian Carrio showed up at Daytona International Speedway for the 2005 Test Days (the Rolex 24 At Daytona hoe-down preparation). Let there be no doubt that Braun is a talented fellow. He's also a young man who is mature beyond his 18-years. I've been duly impressed, time after time, with his "command and control" whether in or out of the race car. His parents, Diane and Jeff Braun, have done well -- from providing the DNA double-helix to upbringing -- and no doubt rightfully take great pride in him (and brother Travis, too).

Still, such doesn't mean Braun can match his more experienced piers "wisdom-for-wisdom." As Mr. and Mrs. Braun likely also attest, those who've survived more than a couple of decades ended up learning a whole lot more than we thought we'd learn when 18. Colin won't be an exception to the rule. That is guaranteed.

"Colin is a talented driver," said a fellow racer, on the condition of anonymity, who is familiar with Braun's style. "But he isn't inclined to compromise in the set-up department. He likes his style of racing -- and it's fast -- but he needs to have a co-driver who is able to adapt to Colin's set-up style because he doesn't like to bend on that account."

Is that why Braun today isn't where he was -- point for point -- in 2006?

Braun doesn't think so.

"I've got a new car, new crew chief, new car chief, new engine and a new co-driver," Braun pointed out at Sahlen's Six Hour, "The only thing that isn't new is the chassis and me."

Unless some sort of major change comes to stock car racing, it won't be long before Braun won't need to worry about sharing the seat of his race car. (Then again, only about one person was thinking about NASCAR's "Chase" six or so years ago.)

I know NASCAR is where it's "at" and ARCA lends a big assist on one's climb to the top of North America's racing ladder but I lament Braun all but stop his climb of the sportscar racing ladder. It would've been a climb worth watching.

Maybe I'll now have to more regularly tune to the stock car shows to learn just what kind of driver Braun will become.

Here's hope it'll be spectacular -- if nothing else but to demonstrate that "sporty-car types" really are real race car drivers.