Harraka remembers friend, mentor for racing passion

Paulie Harraka, a member of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity, won his fifth Whelen All-American Series Late Model main event on July 12 in Roseville, Calif. He returned home to North Carolina and attempted to reach his friend, NASCAR technical director Steve Peterson, to give him the news, but he was unsuccessful. On Tuesday, he found that Peterson had passed away from natural causes.

Harraka

"No. It can't be. Are you sure? When, how, and ... why? Steve was such a humble, selfless guy. How could this happen?"

That was my reaction to a phone call Tuesday morning from Nationwide Series director Joe Balash, informing me that Steve Peterson had gone to his eternal rest. That also was the reaction of every single person I passed the news to, and it's exactly right.

Anyone who ever had the opportunity to meet Steve came away with that exact same impression. Those of us who were blessed enough to spend time around him often knew how deep those qualities ran in him.

I first met Steve during the summer of 2006 at a go-kart race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Steve and I spoke a great deal that weekend, developing a friendship that continued to grow during the past two years. Karting was one of Steve's passions; it is how he got hooked on racing and, despite his climb through the sport to NASCAR Technical Director, karting remained a love of his. Steve organized the Speedway Kart Club at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where anyone could come with a kart and drive on the Lowe's kart track. Further, Steve would always bring a few karts of his own, allowing just about anyone, kids and adults alike, to jump in and drive them. I've been there many times when Steve was so busy keeping the karts ready for others to drive that he never got time to drive his own kart!

His passion for safety extended from the weekend karter to me to Tony Stewart. As technical director at the NASCAR R&D Center, Steve worked tirelessly on safety initiatives in our sport. Not only was he instrumental in the implementation of SAFER Barriers and the HANS Device, he cared about the details. Whenever possible, Steve would inspect the cars that I was about to drive, providing guidance on seat belts, window nets, seats and much more.

Peterson

I can say, without any qualms, that Steve Peterson became really upset with me only once. Steve had provided a safety recommendation for a car I was about to drive. My reply -- "Thanks for your help, but I'm not sure if I'll have time to make that last change. I will make as many of the changes as I have time for" -- was not nearly good enough for Steve. In no uncertain words, Steve made it perfectly clear that he would not let me go to the racetrack with a car that he wasn't confident in. He did so not to force his opinion on me, but because he cared about me, just as he cared about anyone else who sat in the seat of a racecar.

Steve also loved to teach people. Steve spent time on the assembly, design, engineering, marketing and officiating sides of our sport, giving him a plethora of knowledge of literally "All Things NASCAR." He spent many hours with me, explaining everything from spring selection to sponsorship proposals. Many times I've called him from the racetrack, frantically trying to decide on a chassis change. Steve would always stop me in my tracks and walk me through what my options were, how the changes would affect the car and, from his experience, whether or not I would like them. Steve had a unique way of dissecting a situation, bringing it back to basics and rebuilding from there.

Everyone's relationship with Steve was unique. To me, Steve was a chassis consultant and advisor. To every NASCAR competitor, Steve was an advocate for safety. But most importantly to everyone who knew him, Steve Peterson was a caring friend.

Steve will be dearly and sorely missed. Fortunately, we can find comfort in knowing that Steve is in heaven, looking down on us all, continuing to point us in the right direction.

Also:
• NASCAR technical director Peterson, 58, dies at home