Dan Lowry 400 named for Crestview grad

By Greg Gulas

The Youngstown State University graduate entered a NASCAR contest and won the top prize.

COLUMBIANA – When Dan Lowry was a student at Youngstown State University, he always took off in the middle of the day to hang out in Kilcawley Center’s student hub, Peaberry’s Caf .

He played pool with his friends while clearing his mind in order to prepare for a demanding academic schedule as an electrical engineering major.

That four-hour respite away from the classroom was just what the doctor ordered. It helped him to grow socially, remain refreshed academically and afforded him the opportunity to keep in touch with another of his passions: auto racing, which always seemed to be showing on televisions surrounding the playing tables.

It is also where he met his future wife, the former Amy Manhollan, who he wed in October 2007.

“That break for me was just what the doctor ordered,” Lowry said. “The many programs that the Student Activities Office made available to all of us, their Homecoming eating contests and the billiards exhibitions that they staged is what helped me get by when outside the classroom setting.”

A 1996 graduate of Crestview High School, Lowry earned his degree from YSU in 2001 and his master’s in 2004.

Playing pool may have been his release, but being a NASCAR fan has always been his passion. Since the age of 7, racing has consumed Lowry’s interests.

“It’s kind of funny but I can vividly remember the Daytona 500 that year. Bill Elliott won the race in a wild finish and I was just hooked from then on,” Lowry said.

Over the years, Lowry has studied NASCAR’s races and the many drivers who have come and gone, expanding his knowledge about their Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series.

When he learned this past may that Crown Royal was once again sponsoring the “Your Name Here” contest of the Richmond 400, he couldn’t wait to get his information to the committee.

It’s their “Be a Champion, Drink Responsibly Campaign” where they reward a fan with an experience of a lifetime by naming the race in a fan’s honor.

“Last year was the first year that any sporting event was ever named after a fan” Lowry said. “The Richmond 400 is one of the crown jewels of the NASCAR season and one of just a handful of night races in their 36-race season.”

As Lowry watched last year’s race, he couldn’t wait to get to his computer in order to do some research about the 2008 contest.

One requirement, in addition to filling out various disclaimer forms, was to submit an essay in 50 words or less telling the committee about a Crown Royal-Crown Worthy moment.

“I did it all on impulse,” Lowry said. “Having never gotten higher than a C in any English class I really never thought that I stood a chance of winning. I submitted my essay this past June and quite frankly, forgot about it until they called my house this past February; almost eight months later.”

Lowry’s submission was plain and simple: “While working in Venezuela, I went to a restaurant to have a drink. While looking amongst the unknown labels, there it was that royal purple pouch we all love. For that moment, I didn’t feel so far away from home. Thank you.

“The call came from a company that was independent of Crown Royal. I was playing pool in the Amateur Poolplayers Association at South Bridge Billiards in Struthers and when I got home, which was rather late, the message said for me to please get back to them as soon as possible.

“I thought it was friends playing a joke on me so I called back at 2:30 a.m., figuring if it was a friend then at least I would be getting them out of bed,” Lowry said.

“I was shocked to find that the number that was left was, in fact, very real. After talking with a representative they sent me an overnight packet, complete with forms that needed to be filled out so I could give them permission to use my name, submit to a background check, etc. All of the fine print which needed to be taken care of before you could move on.”

At that point, Lowry was one of eight finalists chosen out of more than 10,000 submissions.

Three weeks later he received yet another call, telling him that he was still one of the finalists and that he would be heading to Las Vegas with his wife for the unveiling of the announcement.

“I got yet another call on Feb. 26, just as I was about to leave,” Lowry said. “I happened to take a vacation day from work because of the heavy snowfall and they wanted to know if everything was all set and still all right with the trip.

“That’s when they tell me that they are taking me up in a helicopter, would be flying me out over a desert mosaic and then would unveil the official logo. That is when I realize that I am the winner and I must tell you, I was really excited.

“To see [Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400] was very humbling to say the least,” he noted.

Invited to the unveiling was driver Jamie McMurray, who is sponsored by Crown Royal along with a host of dignitaries, both from Crown Royal and the Treasure Island Hotel.

“To show you how big the unveiling was, Crown Royal is spending two million dollars just to put my name on this race. The master blender of Crown Royal was flown in from Quebec, the President and CFO of Treasure Island was there as well as other high-ranking officials, including McMurray.

“Jamie [McMurray] was very nice to us. After talking to him you just felt like you knew him for quite some time. The whole deal was absolutely first-class,” he said.

Since the unveiling Lowry has been very busy.

In addition to his job at Bechtel Plant Machinery, where he is a project engineer for their Naval & Nuclear Propulsion Program, his free time each week has been tied up doing both radio and television interviews as Crown Royal continues to promote the race.

He’ll be the official starter who yells, “Gentlemen, start your engines,” will be an integral part of the pre-race driver’s meeting, will stand on-stage to meet and greet all drivers during the introductions, is set to ride in the pace car. He is expected to do a 60-second interview with NASCAR Magazine while going 100 mph.

He’ll also get to hand the trophy to the winning driver in Victory Lane and has been told that he will be doing much more when he arrives at the site.

“I have to be at the track at 5 a.m. on Friday morning to appear on several different morning shows,” he said, including the ESPN television program First Take and an interview on SIRIUS Radio.

“On Saturday, I need to be at the track at 4 p.m. so that I can be interviewed by Ed Coombs of Speedway Media. It will be a busy time, but a fun time as well so I am more than ready,” he added.

In addition to his wife, Lowry’s mom and dad also will accompany him to the race.

“I’d love to see either Jamie McMurray or Dave Blaney win the race. Either one, with the other finishing second is the best case scenario that I could ever wish for,” Lowry said.

Television coverage on FOX begins Saturday at 7 p.m. with the race scheduled to start at 7:45.