Zachary Block Indy Story

Jennerstown Speedway’s official Junior Flagman Zachary Block received some very generous and impressive surprises during his recent trip this past weekend to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway to see his first ever NASCAR Nextel Cup race, the “Allstate 400 at the Brickyard”. On-track announcer Mike Milliron and his wife Dee traveled to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to represent Jennerstown Speedway, and assist the folks from NASCAR in making this a day to remember for young Zach. 

Zachary, along with the entire Block family, have been staunch supporters of the Jennerstown Speedway NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series program for many years. Over this time Zach, now 11, has utilized his full complement of half-scale racing flags to display a colorful and enthusiastic presentation from his grandstand seat location. With the help of a radio scanner and headset, Zach monitors the track official’s frequency, and follows along precisely and accurately with his flags throughout the entire racing program, from practice laps through the final checkered flag. His ever increasing skills have not gone unnoticed by local track officials, as well as visiting VIP’s and officials from regional Touring Series race organizations.

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   Recently Zach’s father Dan related to Mike that they had made plans to attend the NASCAR race at the famed Brickyard as a birthday gift for his son, since Jennerstown Speedway would be holding the Rolling Rock Town Fair music festival that same weekend, and not racing.

Zach was obviously excited about attending his very first NASCAR Nextel Cup event, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway no less. This is where the idea for surprising Zach with a special Jennerstown Speedway birthday gift began. 

   NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida were contacted, and the request for Zach to have a ‘Meet & Greet’ with NASCAR Nextel Cup flagmen Rodney Wise and Rick Monroe was presented. Within just a few days the request was given the green light from NASCAR Administration along with word that NASCAR Officials were looking forward to the event, and more information would be given as the date became near. 

   At this same time Jennerstown Speedway owners Jen & Dave Wheeler decided to spice up the once in a lifetime birthday surprise meeting, by donating a full set of Official Race Flags and carrying case, to be presented to Zach by the NASCAR Nextel Cup flagmen, along with hats and shirts for them to wear on race day. They also included Jennerstown Speedway hats and shirts as a special ‘thank you’ to the flagmen. 

   With all of the exciting and dramatic activities put into place, it was only natural to want to have this moment captured on film to be shared and remembered for years to come. The decision was made to contact Speed Channel, and see if they would be interested in having their program NASCAR Nation play a part in this dream birthday surprise for Zach. They quickly agreed and planned to have their crew on hand for the presentation. 

   As the race date drew closer, word came from NASCAR that they were adding a very unique gift for Zach. An authentic NASCAR Officials hat and shirt, embroidered with Zach’s name! This very limited edition keepsake would be the icing on Zach’s special birthday surprise. But there would be still more surprises in store, as we were to see. 

   On race day Mike & Dee met with Flagmen Rodney Wise and Rick Monroe at the NASCAR Nextel Cup communications trailer within the garage area, prior to the pre-race activities. This is when Rodney announced that they were upping the birthday surprise ante for Zach. They were now going to permit young Zach to climb up into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway flag stand, for the presentation of his flags from Jennerstown Speedway! On top of that, they were going to have Zach and Dan step out onto the famed ‘Yard of Bricks’ that make up the Start/Finish line on the Speedway, for the presenting of his authentic NASCAR Officials shirt and hat! 

   The call was made to Zach’s dad, to make their way to the flag stand. At this time Dan Block only knew that Zach was going to meet the flagmen, and that his son would be receiving the shirt, hat, and flags, most likely at the base of the flag stand. Young Zach may have been wondering, but still knew nothing. When they finally met things began to quickly take place. Everyone was through the fence, and up into the flag stand. It was exciting to see Zach receiving his flags from right there in the flag stand. Then at the enthusiastic requests of Rick and Rodney, everyone watched him unfurl them and demonstrate his flagman’s technique, from one of the most famous perches in all of motorsports. Even the veteran flagmen were excited as they worked their way through racing scenarios with Zach, calling out “Caution, Move over lapped traffic, Last lap, and Finish”, while handing Zach the accompanying flags for him to wave. 

   After some photos and the presentation of the Jennerstown Speedway hats and shirts to Rick and Rodney from up in the flag stand, it was time to go below and cross through the gate, onto the most famous finish line in all of racing. This is where Zach received his NASCAR Official’s shirt and hat from Rick and Rodney, and also where he demonstrated his flagman skills for the NASCAR Nation host and crew. Once the photos with NASCAR Officials were finished, the birthday surprise celebrations were complete. After a multitude of handshakes, hugs, and thanks were shared, it was time to race. 

   Both Zach and his father Dan continued to express how they would never be able to repay everyone for the generosity shown by NASCAR and Jennerstown Speedway. It was made clear to both of them that this special surprise was meant solely as a gift. It was a way for NASCAR and Jennerstown Speedway, to show their thanks for Zach’s past, present, and future support to the commitment of helping provide an entertaining and exciting atmosphere, one that everyone can come out to see, share, and enjoy. 

   As Rodney Wise so eloquently expressed, this was not the efforts of one or two individuals who were presented with the chance to offer Zach a special gift, but the combined culmination of what the entire NASCAR family is all about. Everyone within the entire NASCAR organization can take pride in sharing this moment, because it is the essence of what makes this sport different from any other. Whether you are the NASCAR President, a high profile race winning driver, or simply someone who works at your local NASCAR track, we’re only as good as the sum of all of our combined parts. 

   Just ask young Zachary Block what he thinks about NASCAR. You’ll get the picture.