Gluck Tribute

Do you know how hard it is to try to write a tribute piece about Jeff Gluck while performing one’s normal, paying job? Let me give you an example of my past two days at work…

…type, type, type … effusive praise Gluck … type, type, type … [phone rings] “So-and-so school, how may I help you?” ... listen to question … answer question … type, type, type … anecdote Gluck … type, type, type … [child arrives at desk, crying piteously] … “You what? You swallowed a dime? Any trouble breathing? Well, why are you crying? Well, probably so, but mostly they’ll be glad you’re ok. Let’s just give ‘em a call. Now you know why we shouldn’t put money in our mouths.” … type, type, type … Gluck, Gluck, Gluck … [parent enters through office door] … “Hi Mrs. Parent. What’s up? You picked up a 1^st grader hitch-hiking his way home from school?!” … typo, typo, typo … ohforgetaboutitI’llwritewhenIgethome!!!

So that brings me back to my little piece about Jeff Gluck, that I promise you was started, several times in fact, well before this one InfieldParking, this one StuffOnBrusimmsobSports, or this one BleacherReport, appeared in my Twitter feed. First off, thank you to the writers of each of those for sharing; I comprehend fully the need to share your angst. Here’s mine below…

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During the 2009 season Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck on Twitter) wrote for NASCAR Scene, NASCAR Illustrated & scenedaily.com. Jeff was a scribe for EveryFan. His behind-the-scenes insights, his unique sense of humor, and his gentle observations of & about the world of NASCAR endeared him to a small legion of Twitter followers. Gluck’s fans soon developed a new way to ‘watch’ a race and it included some type of device on which to interact with Twitter (& Jeff) during the race.

And interact we tweeps did! Part of Gluck’s appeal is his genuinely honest interest in everything that’s happening and in other people’s reactions/opinions. I believe Jeff truly enjoys his exchanges with his followers because partway into the season he instituted tweetups between himself & Twitter fans.

A tweetup, should you not know, is a real world meeting between two or more people who know each other through Twitter. Gluck’s twist on the tweetup was to arrange one at each race weekend track he was covering.

So it was with eager anticipation that I looked forward to the tweetup to be held at the Auto Club Speedway in October. I was going. I’d get to meet other NASCAR Twittizens at the track. The tweetup was for race day/Sunday, but I had plans to be at the track for all 3 days of NASCAR action – qualifying, Nationwide and Cup.

Friday found me (and my pit pass) wandering the area behind pit road as I waited for my daughter, Kallie, to arrive. I find it almost as much fun to people-watch this section as it is to stroll along all the pit boxes, so I texted Kallie my location and happily bided my time gawking & woolgathering.

By the time she arrived I’d decided that the best spot to watch drivers and cars entering/exiting pit road was at the east end of the garage egress. It’d been a month since we’d seen each other so we chattered away as we wended our way through the crowd, full of catching-up and plans for the weekend ahead. Soon we were passing the media center area of the complex. Naturally our conversation turned to the tweetup set for Sunday, when suddenly, as if thoughts could materialize deeds, there sitting at a computer on the other side of a large plate glass window was Jeff Gluck. He was deep into a discussion with someone. (Was that you Bob Pockrass? Your head was down so it was hard to recognize who you were.) We certainly didn’t want to intrude or interrupt work. Besides, what do you do? Skitter up to tap on the glass like the monkey house at the zoo? And who are the monkeys in this instance anyway? We didn’t wave, we didn’t tap, we didn’t even stare … we kept walking.

Kallie was just finishing up the tweet she was about to post about seeing @jeff_gluck when the door to the media center sprang open and out galloped Gluck…

“Hey wait up!” he exclaimed. “I know you guys.”

And with that we fell into a wonderful chat with Jeff and he really DID know us. Whether he has a fantastic memory or had been studying up on the people he’d had contact him regarding a tweetup or what, I don’t know, but he called me out on a picture/comment I’d posted in jest about his comments regarding wheeled computer bags and moving walkways in airports. He even put me at ease when I flushed with embarrassment when he asked where my t-shirt was. (Men with bags) His comment was that he was fine with it since he wouldn’t dish it out if he couldn’t expect to get some in return.

Jeff in person was/is the person you’ve met on Twitter. He had information to answer our questions. He offered encouragement for my daughter’s future aspirations. He had no forewarning whatsoever that he was about to engage in a conversation with two near strangers and yet speaking with him was like reminiscing with an old friend. His skill as a reporter had us at ease and relaxed as he adeptly interviewed us without either Kallie or me even realizing it. Soon though, Jeff had job responsibilities to attend to and Kallie & I wanted to inspect the midway offerings so we went our separate ways. When we parted, it was as friends.

The souvenir haulers siren call was too strong to ignore. Sucked into the maelstrom of merchandise we marveled at some of the things being hawked. Then the booth peddling NASCAR Illustrated/NASCAR Scene caught our eye. The huckster's pitch was honed to perfection. He offered a patter that promised not only subscriptions but also a FREE!, FREE!, FREE! driver-themed fleece throw, driver calendar, pocket guide, the book Portraits of NASCAR plus current issues of both publications. I actually signed up but NOT for any of those incentives. What motivated my decision was simple and his name is Jeff Gluck.

Kallie was so tickled with our little adventure at the NASCAR Illustrated/NASCAR Scene stall that she had to text Gluck the glorious news that we’d re-upped our NASCAR Illustrated subscription for another year and signed on for 2-years with NASCAR Scene. In true Gluck form, Jeff fired back a text that said, “2 YEARS?!! Now maybe I can rethink my plans to dine at Del Taco tonight!”

Do I need to tell you that at least one of us did indeed then have to ‘dine @ the Del’? Actually, Kallie & I hit up In ‘n Out Burger but I did swing by my local Del Taco once I got home and talked my way into procuring just a little present for Jeff. The following day he gamely posed with his new hat! (Yes, it’s the ball cap all Del Taco servers wear.) So Jeff, I know this NASCAR Scene thing isn’t working out so much anymore, but remember, you’re already outfitted for one possible alternative.

I don’t understand business. Don’t pretend to. But one thing I do know is that any job that involves humans is taken to an entirely different level when one goes beyond one’s stated duties to give just a little bit of themselves as well. That is the truly unique quality that Jeff Gluck offered NASCAR Scene, etc. while in their employ. I look forward to seeing whoever it is who’s going to benefit from that next!

Hire this man!!!!