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Michael Greco Going Off the Track
Dear Mr. Mayfield,
You are not my favorite NASCAR driver. Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Bobby
Allison top my list. But I like you. I first read about you in an August 2009, water-stained issue
of Racer at the Prescott County Public Library last summer when Mom dropped me off for the
afternoon and became obsessed with your story. NASCAR has always been my favorite sport
but there is something about you that I find even more compelling. I have decided that you are
my new role model. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. used to be my go-to when teachers and other adults
asked me that question, but I am nothing like him. You cannot have a role model who is out of
your league. That is setting yourself up for failure. But do not expect me to call you Jeremy. I
am not going to be disrespectful in our correspondence, even though we are on the same level.
So, seeing as you are my new role model, I have taken it upon myself to re-launch your
petition to be reinstated as a NASCAR driver. Although they found methamphetamine in your
system twice in 2009 and although you failed another random drug test in 2010, you still deserve
to race—it is what you were born to do, just like me. I am also going to pass my driver’s test
next month. So you will need to help me get into NASCAR driving school and then become the
best NASCAR driver of my generation.
But I am jumping ahead. I do this when I get excited. My name is Michael Greco. I am
sixteen-years-old and a sophomore in high school. I have ADHD (please do not call it ADD.
Not that you would since you have it, too. I have just gotten into the habit of telling everyone I
meet so they know what it is actually called because I really cannot stand it when people call it
ADD), Autistism, mild anxiety, and sometimes anger problems. For the past six years I have
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taken/been on Adderall, Ritalin, Zoloft, Tofranil, Metadate CD, Prozac, Tenex, Xanax, Abilify,
SSRIs, Revia, and Zyprexa. The entire pharmacy, A-Z.
And everyone at school knows about my prescriptions. Some guys in my class even
facebook chat me, asking if I want to sell. Ping. Their chat boxes appear in the lower right hand
corner of my MacBook while I look at different drivers’ fan pages. I type nothing and close their
chats. Several second pass and the blue and white box pops up again, usually while I am
counting the toothpicks in my toothpick collection on my desk. A new message, usually just one
word, appears. Fag. Or pussy. Or douche. One time I told Mom about their messages and her
face got red and splotchy and she tried to give me a hug, even though I do not like being touched.
I stopped telling her so she will not cry anymore.
My therapist, Dr. Max, tells me to not overshare with new people—You’ll scare them
away. He is wrong. Telling everything builds trust. If you have to hide parts of you in order to
make friends you should not want to be friends with them anyway. If two people are meant to
get along they will, even if one tells the other that she has a sixth toe on her right foot, sneaks
bites of his terrier’s Little Cesar’s dog food every night at 6:00 PM, or is a 34-year-old Wiccan
sleeping with a 61-year-old, who used to be his fourth grade teacher. I am not/do not do
anything of these things, just to clarify. But some of the people I have met on fan forums do
these things. Mom and Dad do not like it when I go onto the forums so I pretend I do not.
That is all for now. I can smell that Mom just brought home Pizza Hut so I need to have
dinner. I can eat a large stuffed crust pepperoni pizza by myself. If I ever get to meet you in
person I will order us two pizzas so you are left with a few slices. One last thing, though: if you
do not intend on being a good role model, please do not respond to this letter.
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Sincerely, Michael
Dear Mr. Mayfield,
Thank you very much for the signed photograph of you celebrating with your pit crew
after the win in Richmond in 2004. I pinned it onto the cork board hanging above my desk so I
can see it every day and whenever I write to you. Racing analysts called you the “wild card” and
still say surprises like Richmond are what NASCAR needs to boost its viewer base. I do not like
large groups of loud people at the track so I am fine keeping things as is. It was impressive that
you were able to lead with the most laps, especially since you knew that Evernham Motosports
would release you if you did not make it to victory lane. I do not do well under pressure. My
hands get so wet that when I wipe them on my shirt or pants it looks like I spilled a glass of
water on myself. I cannot even take a quiz without vomiting or having to go lie down in the
nurse’s office.
I am glad you are officially my mentor now. I have been putting together several plans to
force Brian France and the rest of the Sprint Cup Series to allow you to race again. Parentteacher conferences are happening in two weeks at school so I am going to ask the librarian if
5% of all Book Fair sales can be donated to the Get Jeremy Mayfield Back on the Track fund.
Everyone else at school calls her a witch, but I like Ms. Miller. She lets me sit in the library
during lunch and read articles from NASCAR and Racer’s websites as long as I do not drop any
bread crumbs onto the key board. These funds, combined with my $58.95 of savings, will help
us start hiring workers for the campaign. Right now I am thinking of placing petition people
outside of CVS, Walgreens, and the groceries. Petitions are very effective. I stop every time
there is a petition and sign it. Unless it is raining or the petition is for PETA. Signing a PETA
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petition would be a lie since I eat too much fast food and fast food restaurants do not treat their
livestock well. The PETA flier pictures of chickens missing eyeballs and cows with oozing sores
make eating McDonald’s less appetizing.
Also, thank you for not asking me to send you any of my prescriptions. That was brave
of you since you may or may not still be using illegal substances.
Sincerely, Michael
Dear Mr. Mayfield,
Good news. The first thing I did when I got to school today was run to Ms. Miller in the
library and told her my plan. She said I can maybe have a donation table by the checkout instead
of receiving a set percentage of all sales.
Sincerely, Michael
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“Hi, you’ve reached the voicemail of Judith Miller, head librarian at Milton High School. I am
unable to answer the phone right now so please leave your name, number, and a brief message
after the tone and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you and have a nice day.”
Beeeeeeeep!
“Hi, Ms. Miller, this is Krista Greco, Michael Greco’s mother, returning your call. We talked at
conferences in last fall but I just wanted to thank you again for being so kind to Michael and
letting him hang out in the library during lunch. You know how kids can be. I totally
understand why you’d be hesitant about him having a fundraiser during the Book Fair in the
likely case that he doesn’t raise any money. I’ll swing by school that morning and drop off
$75.00 that you can sneak into his donation box when he’s not looking. Hopefully this will
prevent any unnecessary outbursts! Thanks so much again for being so understanding—you’re a
saint!”
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Dear Mr. Mayfield,
The Book Fair was a success. The Get Jeremy Mayfield Back on the Track fund raised
$75.00. Some generous parents left this surprise donation at the table while I was in the
bathroom. It is good to know that I am not the only person in the world who appreciates your
talent behind the wheel.
You asked why I like NASCAR so much in your last letter, so I will tell you. One
afternoon when I was six-years-old Mom turned on the TV for me while she took a nap. Very
few channels did not have the parental lock on them and Speed was one of those. Normally I do
not like loud noises. At the school Pep Fests I sit as close to the exit door as possible with Bose
Noise Cancelling headphones over my ears while I hug my knees and wait until the buses arrive
so I can go home. But the sound of the NASCAR stock cars calmed me down ten years ago and
it still does. I turn everything else off when I hear it. Mom only lets me watch races in my room
or the basement—All that noise is giving me a headache! When I become a NASCAR driver
when I am grown up I will not even wear ear plugs when I am in the car. I do not care if the
sound will make me deaf.
Every year Dad takes me to the Daytona 500. This is the only race I am able to see in
person since Mom does not like NASCAR and Nana and Papa are too old to take me. Dad buys
three tickets for the two of us on the bleachers so I am able to lie flat on my back during the race.
The metal bleachers shake and creak as the cars zip past. It almost feels like they are going to
collapse. My body stays pressed to the metal as close as possible. Usually the sun is out and it is
hot so I get very sunburnt. Dad always gets up and walks around to stretch his legs or buy a hot
dog or a Coke. I stay totally still. The past two years I have even placed a tri-fold sign on my
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stomach while I am lying on the bleachers asking people to not throw popcorn at me or shout
rude things at me.
Right now I am taking Driver’s Education for my 5th period class. My teacher, Mr.
Sadek, does not think I will get my license—Just drop the class, kid. No idiot like you is ever
gonna get to drive a car. Even though people with ADHD are much more likely to get into
accidents than people without ADHD, I know I will not. So, I look Mr. Sadek directly in the
eyes and tell him he will be the first person I thank when I become an official NASCAR driver.
Which will happen. I have Ds or C-s in all of my classes except Driver’s Education (which I
have a B- in currently) so no college will want me to attend. I am very gifted at driving go-karts,
just like you were before you started. I beat everyone I race at the track that is located 27.8 miles
away from my house. Sometimes Papa takes me there on the weekends and lets me race all
afternoon while he scratches his head and works on the New York Times Sunday crossword
puzzle on the rickety picnic tables next to the track. I think I can be the You of my racing
generation. The underdog that comes out of nowhere and wins it all. Except I will not ruin it by
taking illegal drugs. But that is okay because if quitting the drugs means that you can race again
I know you can do it. If I can pass my driver’s test next week, you can do it.
Sincerely, Michael
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Welcome to the Florida DMV Driver’s Education Online Teacher Portal! Please submit reports
on your current Driver’s Education Students within one week of the last day of class.
Name of Student: Michael Greco
Your Name (Driver’s Education Teacher): James Sadek
Did student pass Driver’s Education Class: Yes
Additional Comments on Student’s Performance: This kid should not be allowed to drive.
Complete nutso. Had a few behind the wheel practice sessions with him. All I can say is thank
God for the emergency brake on the passenger side of the practice car. Don’t get me wrong, the
kid is a good driver. Has huge anger problems, though. Anytime another car would merge into
the lane in front of him, he just had to change lanes and speed past as fast as possible. Tends to
excessively rev car engine and glare at neighboring cars when stopped at traffic lights. Will be a
victim and instigator of road rage, the rate he’s going. Do not give this kid a license. If you do,
at least tell me first so I can turn in my license and buy a jet pack.
Thank you for submitting your online student evaluations! The Florida DMV will follow-up with
you with any additional questions.
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Dear Mr. Mayfield,
I realize that this is my second letter to you in a week. Hopefully you are not on vacation
and can respond to me as soon as you are able because I need you to remind me that I will pass
my driver’s test. Each night when Dad comes home from work we practice in the school parking
lot. I am a very good driver. My blue Mustang, that my parents already purchased for me to
celebrate my soon-to-be-driver’s license, never knocks over the scuffed cones when I do my 90
degree back-ins or parallel park. My only problem is that my stomach starts to hurt while we
practice and I feel the chicken nuggets and French fries I ate for dinner lump up with a sour taste
in the back of my throat and sometimes I even have to stop the car and throw up. Dad tries to be
patient with me but sometimes he is not—You’ll never pass if you keep getting so worked up!
Relax, relax, relax! Easier said than done. If my tester person at the DMV is a grouch I do not
know how I will not vomit on his or her face.
The Get Jeremy Mayfield Back on the Track campaign is going well. So far I have not
been able to hire any workers. I have collected signatures from 47 people in school and 4 from
people leaving CVS. I guess I should have asked the manager if it was okay that I was collecting
signatures outside his store. Somebody must have reported me to him because within 22.73
minutes of me standing outside in my hunter green parka he pushed open the front door, stuck
his head out and told me that bums are not welcome outside the Milton CVS. I tried to explain
what good work I was doing for the Get Jeremy Mayfield Back on the Track fund but he did not
listen—I am a busy man and do not have time to listen to you babble some nonsense about one
of your hobo friends. We just got a huge shipment of short sale sodas in that need to be
merchandised so just I don’t have the time for this. Leave or I’ll call the cops!
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I will try the other CVS on the opposite side of town after my test. I will also send you
the funds raised from the Book Fair. You will have better use of them than me. Or should I just
mail them to Brian France along with the signatures? Dad says people always respond well to
tips.
Sincerely, Michael
Dear Mr. Mayfield,
My test is tomorrow morning. I feel sick. Please send role model well-wishes my way.
Sincerely, Michael
Dear Mr. Mayfield,
I did not pass. I did not pass my driver’s test.
When Mom and I pulled up to the DMV the large brunette woman with cat eye,
rhinestoned glasses sitting inside the testing drive through window looked at my name on my
learner’s permit, entered some information into her Dell computer, and told us to come inside.
Mom asked why but the woman said her manager would need to tell us.
Fucking Mr. Sadek (you know I normally do not use swear words, but this time it is very
necessary) and the fucking administration and fucking Milton High School sent them some
report or something that said I am unfit to drive. The bald manager at the DMV with purple
suspenders shook his head over and over when Mom asked them to reconsider—Absolutely not.
It is state policy that we don’t allow people like your son to even take the driver’s test. He’s
flagged in the system as not being allowed to get a license. He would be a danger to the public.
It’s a miracle that he snuck through the system and got his permit. We could be shut down, or
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worse, sued, if anybody finds out this boy even practiced driving. We’re doing you a favor. Both
you and your son.
My body got hot. Very hot. My hands started to shake and slowly started hitting my
forehead. The last time I was that angry was in eighth grade when I told Jimmy Thompson I was
going to cut him to bits with my scissors for hitting me in the head in dodge ball. But I was
definitely angrier at the DMV. No, no, no, no, no, no, no—I repeated over and over and over
until the bald man reached for his phone and threatened to call security. I am going to be the
underdog NASCAR driver of my generation just like Jeremy Mayfield! I need to pass this fucking
test!
Mom tried to get me to do my deep breathing exercises just like Dr. Max has me practice
in his office. I shoved her arm away, walked over to the bald man’s desk, ripped the phone out
of his hand while he was paging the security officer and hit him over the head as hard as I could.
I was arrested for the first time.
I have never seen Mom cry so hard—Please, please don’t take him! He has special
needs! Let me call his doctor, his therapist, his case worker! Please, just listen to me! He didn’t
mean to do it!
She and Dad came to the police station as soon as they could and bailed me out. Nobody
said anything in the car on the ride home. Mom said I am not going to school tomorrow. She
said a lawyer is going to come to the house to talk to me tomorrow because I will have to go to
court in a few weeks. I do not care. I only care about being able to drive.
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How did I not pass? How will I drive for NASCAR without my driver’s license? How
will Brian France explain to the press that he rejected the most gifted driver of this generation
because of some stupid state law?
Sincerely, Michael
Dear Mr. Mayfield,
I am in a better mindset than I was when I wrote my last letter to you so I disagree with
you that I will never be able to race without a license. I have created a plan that will catch the
attention of Brian France and the rest of the Sprint Cup Series and they will have no choice but
to make an exception to my situation. I included a note explaining this in the package I just sent
to Brian France with your petition signatures and money raised enclosed. When the media
outlets cover my incredible feat please feel free to offer your praise.
I will not disappoint you, Mr. Mayfield. Just like you have not disappointed me. Both of
us will be driving onto victory lane and climbing the podium together soon.
Sincerely, Michael
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Dear Mr. France,
My name is Michael Greco. I am a sixteen-year-old sophomore at Milton High School in
Milton, Florida. I am not only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ youngest fan, but also Jeremy
Mayfield’s number one fan and pen pal and your next star driver. In this letter I will first address
my future with NASCAR, then Mr. Mayfield’s. The Florida DMV does not recognize my
NASCAR destiny so we will need to work around the fact that I currently do not have a driver’s
license and I am not sure when I will have one.
I am an exceptional driver so I will prove my driving skills to you and the rest of the
Sprint Cup Board of Directors. Please look for a video recording of me that I will send to you in
the mail within the next week. I will be driving my car as fast as possible down the hallways of
my high school and around the parking lot (like half of the schools in the state, we have open air
hallways. No people or school grounds will be harmed in the making of my video, do not
worry). The interesting thing about the hallways is that they are only 1.5 times the width of my
Mustang. Only a skilled driver, such as me, would be able to accomplish this.
Now, on to Mr. Mayfield. Enclosed in this envelope you will find a list of 47 signatures
supporting Mr. Mayfield’s reinstatement into NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as well as $133.95 to
help cover any administrative costs your office will face when entering Mr. Mayfield back into
NASCAR. As the President of the Get Jeremy Mayfield Back on the Track fund I trust that you
will know what to do with these materials and act promptly.
Sincerely,
Michael Greco
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Drag Racing Mustang Crashes Into Milton Chemistry Class, 16 Killed; Car Explosion at Milton
High School; 16 Dead, 4 Injured in Milton Explosion; Milton High School Closed Following
Deadly Car Crash; Deceased Driver of Car Believed to be Milton Student; State Governor
Speaks Out Hours After Milton Explosion; Mustang Topped 147 MPH Prior to Crashing Into
Area High School; Investigators to Announce Whether Car Failure Responsible for Deadly
School Explosion; Michael Greco Identified as Driver in Milton Crash; Brake Failure Not
Responsible for Milton Crash; Three Tanks of Gasoline in Trunk Likely Caused Explosion;
Police Rule Milton Crash as ‘Intentional Act’; Milton Driver’s Education Teacher Comments on
School Disaster; Injured Student Dies in Hospital, Other Injured Students in Critical Condition;
Greco Was a ‘Loner,’ Classmates Say; Shaken Students Return to Class One Week Later;
Michael Greco Confirmed to Have ADHD and Autism; Comfort Dogs Sent to Milton as
Grieving Students Cope with Loss; Last Injured Student in Milton Explosion Released from
Hospital Today; Milton High Faces $1.4 Million Repair Costs in Wake of Explosion;
Unidentified Camcorder Found In Milton Parking Lot, Footage to be Reviewed; DMV Confirms
Greco Prohibited From Taking Driving Test; Michael Greco Another Example of Dangers of
ADHD Behind the Wheel; Intentional Car Crashes to Replace Gun Massacres? Experts Weigh
In; Michael Greco Failing Driving Test Possibly Fueled Crash; Milton High School Turns Focus
to Anti-Bullying Initiatives; Greco’s Father Said He Forgot to Remove Gas Tanks From Trunk;
Portrait of a Killer: NASCAR-Obsessed Outcast; NASCAR Owner Received Letter From Greco
Warning of Event; Greco Intended on Impressing NASCAR Officials With High Speed Driving;
Governor Appoints Task Force to Address Threat of Cars as Weapons; Milton Parents Applaud
State’s Efforts to Prevent Similar Attacks in Future; New Evidence in Greco Case: Suspended
NASCAR Driver Jeremy Mayfield Involved, NASCAR Owner Brian France Speaks Out
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Dear Jeremy,
On behalf of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series family, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you
back to the track, lifting your three year racing ban. Not only have you fulfilled NASCAR’s
sobriety requirements but your cooperation in the investigation of the Milton High School
tragedy and your willingness to testify in court about your written relationship with the
perpetrator speaks volumes of your character. Your NASCAR Sprint Cup family continues to
pray for all involved in this incident, including you and your wife, Shana.
Given the expiration of your racing ban you are allowed to begin competing whenever you and
your team deem fit. Please be aware that random drug tests will be administered so long as you
continue to represent the 65-year-old esteemed NASCAR brand.
Congratulations and I look forward to seeing you at Daytona!
Best,
Brian France
Brian France
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chairman and CEO