Wayne Auton referred to as Brad Keselowski to the hauler at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 17, 2006. The night time earlier than, Keselowski “simply piledrove” Jack Sprague on the cooldown lap of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection Ford 200.
“Wayne calls me within the hauler and he says, ‘What occurred on the calm down final night time?’ ‘Oh, a bit disagreement,’” Keselowski stated. “I don’t bear in mind his precise phrases, however I don’t assume they had been one thing I’m alleged to say.”
Auton performed a tape of Keselowski plowing into Sprague, and the VCR ate the tape. Not being a tech-savvy man, he tried to cease it, however pressed fast-forward and tape shot out.
“He was simply so mad,” he stated. “Like, smoke popping out of his ears mad. He simply informed me, get the hell out of right here and don’t ever do this. Don’t do this.”
Keselowski exited the hauler attempting to not snort or snicker, however Auton made his level.
The 2024 NASCAR season marks Auton’s final as a collection director. A title he’s held since 2012, as XFINITY Collection director, and was the unique director of the Truck Collection. Very like Mike Helton, Auton is a “no-nonsense” official who’ll — to borrow a line from former Cup Collection race director, David Hoots — “Put a cease to all that jimmy-jackin.’”
After all, he didn’t all the time yell. After Noah Gragson and Harrison Burton fought within the storage at Kentucky Speedway in 2020, he referred to as each of them to the hauler.
“I used to be anticipating we had been gonna get yelled at and be in hassle,” Burton stated.
He stated, “Simply don’t do it once more, boys,” and left.
After all, he had a lighter aspect. He’s a “stand-up man” who, very similar to NASCAR author, Chris “Skippy” Knight, calls you each vacation and checks that you simply’re doing nicely. Plus, he’s a little bit of a snarker. One night time throughout Talladega weekend in 2018, Jim Utter, Knight and I ate dinner at a close-by Mellow Mushrooms. Skippy regarded to see if some other NASCAR individuals had been there. I pointed him in the direction of Auton in the principle eating room (additionally the MRN crew, however they don’t issue into this half).
Skippy tapped Auton’s shoulder, as we went to our desk. A couple of minutes later, he came visiting and talked to us. At one level, Utter, tongue-in-cheek, stated one thing to him. I don’t bear in mind precisely what he stated, nevertheless it was a few penalty Elliott Sadler obtained throughout the race*.
Auton laughed and gave Utter a near the waist center finger.
*After that, I requested Auton what Sadler did to obtain the penalty. He stated {that a} driver might use pit street to keep away from a wreck (like he did), however can’t additionally cease of their field for service (like he did).
Auton’s “agency, however is aware of when to dial again” method to officiating earned him the respect of the drivers within the XFINITY Collection storage.
“Me and Austin Cindric joke on a regular basis that Wayne is the ‘not in my collection man.’ He’s superior,” Burton stated. “All of us love Wayne, however for these few moments I used to be actually afraid of Wayne, that’s for certain.”
