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GHC student featured in NASCAR fan documentary

By Dustin Taylor
[email protected]
Graphics Editor

Renea Hale is interviewed after being named Fan of the Week at Talladega in October.

Some people watch sports for entertainment, some play them for recreation, but for Georgia Highlands student Renea Hale, NASCAR is more than just a pastime; it’s a way of life.

“It’s just one of those things,” said Hale. “The first time you go, you get hooked. Oh God! You can feel it when they go by.”

A mother of three and a native of Alabaster, Ala., Hale never imagined that a recognition as Fan of the Week would land her a spot in a FOX documentary.

But Hale is no mere fan; she and her family get in on the racing action together in area go-kart competitions as well. In fact, Hale attributes some of the newfound fame to the homage her family paid their favorite driver by painting one of their go-karts to match that of #19, Jeremy Mayfield.

In her capacity as crew chief, Hale does everything from changing tires to changing motors. With both her husband, Casey, and her son, Zac, racing for the same team, Hale gets to share the rush with her family.

When Hale was named Fan of the Week last October at Talladega, she and her family were ecstatic. Apart from meeting Mayfield, the Hales also drew attention from documentary filmmakers who wanted to show NASCAR from a fan’s perspective.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! Of course I was like, Oh YES, YES, YES,” said Hale.

“The first thing they were going to do was tell what kind of fans watch NASCAR,” explained Hale, “but when they went to the kart track and got to see what all went on, they decided to pretty much compare how they’re alike and different.”

A camera crew followed the Hales’ weekend routine from kart-shows to kart-tracks and even to their home for a tour and one-on-one interviews. From there, the crew headed to the Hales’ shop, which would be their last stop of the weekend. “They filmed us in our shop, showing all of our tools, and I had to explain everything on the kart and what I do to get the karts ready to race,” Hale said.

Hale found the whole process to be a great experience, and she hopes that the show will help draw more fans to the sport.

Hale also had a challenge for NASCAR naysayers: “I want everyone to see that anyone can love NASCAR. For all of you that have this image that NASCAR is bad, I say go to just one race...you will be hooked just as I was!”

The documentary has yet to be named but will air on FOX in June.