Fans fall in love with tracks
From weddings to final resting places, owners try to accommodate.
Remembering that bumper sticker her dad had — the one that said, “Dirt is for racing and asphalt is for getting there” — Jodi York knew the answer before she asked the question.
Her dad, Daniel “Coop Dog Coop” Cooper of Greenville, was in the care of Hospice fighting an infection with his kidneys shutting down. Blinking his eyes — one for yes, two for no — was his only way to communicate.
“I said, ‘Dad, do you want some Eldora dirt?’ ” York said of the last request she offered. “He blinked his eye (yes).” It was only proper that Cooper — who loved the racing at Eldora so much it cost him a marriage (though they still remained close) — slipped away May 2 holding some treasured Eldora dirt rushed to his bedside through a combined effort of Eldora and Hospice.
A bag of dirt from Turns 34, his favorite spot to watch a race, was placed in his casket along with other racing mementos, including his favorite Weasel Phlipot T-shirt.
“The races meant so much to Dad,” York said. “They would fire the engines and they would start around the track. Daddy would have a tear coming out of his eye. He would be so emotional for the first races when they were back in season. He was a die-hard racer.” his dad’s ashes around the track last summer.
“It’s an honor if that’s what someone’s last wishes are, wanting to be a part of the speedway like that. Personally, I’m more than OK with it,” three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and Eldora owner Tony Stewart said.
Timothy Daniel Reed of Hamilton offered another option to his wife, Michelle.
“I have actually told my wife if something ever happens, cremate me, put me in the fuel tank and have somebody drive me up and down the track,” said Reed, whose family has raced at Tri-State Dragway since 1984. “It wouldn’t work because you can’t put ashes in the fuel. But I would do that to always be around the racetrack.” the fan who yelled out, “Don’t do it!”
The high school sweethearts reconnected on Facebook, and Dan took her to her first race, the Kings Royal, in 2011. Yvonne fell in love with Eldora, too. him, he’d be so overcome with joy.
“My ultimate dream — and not because Tony is a big name — I would just like to shake that man’s hand. I would like nothing more and to let him know who Dan Coop Dog Coop’s daughter is. That’s part of my bucket list, just to meet that man.”