Watkins Glen Int'l President MICHAEL PRINTUP is set to host NASCAR's Xfinity and Monster Energy Cup Series races at his home track this weekend. The undertaking starts early Friday morning and runs all the way up to Sunday evening, but that doesn't daunt the eight-year WGI veteran and native New Yorker. Printup: "There’s only one race weekend, one NASCAR weekend for us. Sleep can come later, work can come first." Printup dished on his hosting process, favorite parts of the races and how he'll celebrate after Sunday's conclusion.
GET UP & GO: I get up around 4:00am Friday morning to really get things going. First thing I do then is check in with all the department heads that are up and active. You want to see if there’s any weather, which could be in play. We’ll make sure the track is ready to go, make sure we’re on schedule. I’ll check my personal calendar, cross check the meetings I have in the morning. We’ll review the itinerary, make sure we’re ready to click and roll. We’ll cover alternative plans and then really just take things as they come. We’ll check on the property, go through the campground, check in with medical, the hospitality suites, and food and beverage as well. During the races I’ll be checking in with our K&N folks, our sponsor Finger Lakes Wine Country, make sure everybody is happy and shake hands. I’ll take another round through the campground and through hospitality and just make sure everyone is good and happy. We also have some sponsor dinners Friday night as well, that will usually end around 10:00-11:00pm and then I’ll try to grab 3-4 hours of sleep.
NOT HIS FIRST RODEO: I like to be the 29th pair of eyes just checking everything out. It’s not a micro-manage deal, it’s more of a ‘I feel like that’s my job’ sort of thing. It’s up to me to be the ambassador for the weekend for the track. I always say I’ve got the easiest job for race weekend. I do media, interviews and check in with clients. But of course sometimes there are problems. You’re gonna run into those but I’m okay being the problem solver as well. The trophy presentation is something I always enjoy.
THE GOOD STUFF: Here this weekend we also entertain 40 kids from ages 8-18. We solicit the local school district and we look for kids who have had a challenge. We don’t define that word, that can be academically, medically, maybe it’s a family situation. We entertain their entire family and the kids get an upfront, all expenses paid first class experience of Watkins Glen Int’l. They get all kinds of gifts and we’ll have a private luncheon for them as well. It’s a lot of nervous energy overall this week, but it's fun at the same time. At the end of the weekend we’ll have 160,000 something people come through the doors. It’s a busy and when you’re hosting that many folks things could go wrong. That’s the nervous part. You try to minimize those concerns, but we’ve been lucky since I’ve been here.
CHEERS ALL AROUND: I have a special gift for the retiring DALE EARNHARDT JR. that I’ll give to him in private. I did the same with TONY STEWART last year. I’m hoping I can grab Dale, obviously I know his time will be very stressed this week. It’s gonna be sad saying goodbye to him but at the same time it’s not like he’s totally leaving us. I’m also a close buddy with BORIS SAID who I have to mention as well -- he's running his last race with us Sunday. We’ll have a special deal for him too. Sunday night you always like to raise a glass and I’ll surprise the team and take a picture with the winner and then I’ll do a champagne toast for our entire team.
LIFE ON THE WATER: We live right in the Finger Lakes region and my boat is about 200 yards from my office but I haven’t used it in six weeks. I do get to use it a lot in May and June with my wife and my boys and we love to spend time out on the lake even if we’re not catching anything.
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