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Steve Byrnes: An Inspiration to all 

The NASCAR community has always been regarded as one of the more tightly knit communities in all of professional sports. So when broadcaster, pit road reporter, and commentator Steve  Byrnes was again diagnosed with head and neck cancer in September of 2014 the NASCAR community felt its heart sink.

Deciding to write a piece on Byrnes this week comes natural in the wake of his 56^th birthday on Tuesday, April 14th. Then with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, this Sunday being renamed to the Food City 500 ‘In Support Of Steve Byrnes And Stand Up To Cancer,’ I felt that this is an outstanding time to shed some light on the inspiration Steve Byrnes gives his fans and what they can do in return.

Byrne’s sports background begins at a very young age as a high school state championship winning quarterback in Maryland. He was actually a college football player at James Madison University before transferring to the University of Maryland and graduating in 1981. He got his start by doing a weekend sports show covering many of the professional sports in the state of Maryland. In 1985, Byrnes went on to host a news magazine with NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett, which led him to becoming the legend he is today.

Since then, Byrnes has gone on to become recognized by the NASCAR community as a brilliant commentator and analyst. Some of the more notable networks he has worked with include Fox, CBS, and Spike.

Also interesting to note is that Byrnes has covered NFL games in the past and in 2006 was the play-by-play announcer in a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers. Certainly a man of many hats, Steve Byrnes is someone whose tremendous talent, has soared him to tremendous heights. He is able to put on a spectacular performance in whatever he is covering.

Although I do not personally know Steve Byrnes, I have grown up watching him cover races my entire life and have always been a fan of his work. Byrnes is someone who always carries, what colleague Marty Smith calls, a smart-aleck grin on his face. Byrnes is not afraid to ask drivers questions, that other reporters would not. His brilliance is truly shown in how he is able to interact with certain drivers, making them feel at ease. He understands certain personality types and his able to get the best response out of each driver.

As a young aspiring sports writer , Byrnes is an inspiration to myself not only in the professionalism he has exhibited throughout his career, but with the courage he has to fight like hell and to not let cancer keep him from doing what he loves.

He is a tremendous husband and father, which is so clearly seen through his twitter account @SteveByrnes12, showing him hanging out regularly with whom he calls his ‘main man’ in his son, Bryson.

My challenge to his fans is to send your best wishes, not only on his birthday, but throughout this most challenging time, to let him know that you are there for him every day.

As such a tight NASCAR community, we owe it to him for the excellent coverage he has provided us in his life’s work. He is such an inspiration to myself personally and to the millions of individuals included in the NASCAR community . A community that feels the need for him to overcome his situation. A  community that will do whatever it takes to support him through this difficult time. And a community who will always be there for him.

So with that, I say,

“keep fighting Steve Byrnes, the NASCAR community is right here beside you.”