Phil Jerominski
2020 and Covid19 sucks big time.
Phil Jerominski has gone to the starter's stand in the sky.
We can't even imagine the grief that Joan is going through.
Let me tell you my totally biased memory of Phil:
Phil was the greatest starter I ever met. He started thousands of races in his lifetime.
I have sat with Phil and discussed his craft.
Here is the thing. Phil didn't have any stupid ego where he played some kind of game with the competitors to prove he was important. His emphasis was on safety. He explained to me that the earlier he could throw the flag to an organized field the safer the field would be getting to turn one. Phil also understood the rules of the game. Many times early in a season Phil would have to teach the newbies and wannabes the rules of starting.
I stood behind Phil for many starts and watched him do his job. I was impressed that something I had thought was easy really did require a good base of knowledge and judgement and quick thinking.
I have watched Phil occasionally wave off a start. But always with good reason.
Phil also had great radio etiquette. He was clear and concise. always cool under fire. When you have a whole staff on a channel that is so important.
For every start there is a finish. And Phil waved the checker for those thousands of starts. He was a huge fan and appreciated the effort every racer made trying to make it to the finish. He was a walking history book of racing finishes.
Right now I'm sure he is talking with Dave Panas about starting the next race on that racetrack in the sky.
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