Overheard

Nascar driver Tony Stewart finished first in the Bass Pro Shops 500 on Oct. 29 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Stewart, who is part of the Bass Pro racing team, earned $373,286 of the $6.03 million purse. Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second and third, respectively. Jeff Gordon finished sixth. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker-sponsored driver Martin Truex Jr. finished 37th. The Bass Pro 500 is the Nascar Nextel Cup Series Race No. 33.

Big 10

Paul Wannenmacher’s and Tom Mast’s Big Sports magazine turned 10 with its September-October issue, the annual fall football preview. The magazine – free from the start – focuses on local athletics and is distributed at 90 locations, including McDonald’s and Family Pharmacy outlets. Famous faces to grace the cover include Stan Musial, Ryan Howard, Carol Burnett, Ned Reynolds and Bill Rowe. Jackie Stiles and Payne Stewart are the only athletes to appear on the cover twice. Wannenmacher is publisher, and Mast is editor.

Boss or Leader?

Is there a difference between a boss and a leader? Respondents to a recent survey of local businesspeople ages 19 to 80 think so. “(They) all agreed that nobody wants a boss, but everybody wants a leader,” said Betty Lorton, business development specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. Lorton conducted the informal survey during her Motivating Employees to Do More with Less seminar. Some comments taken from the survey: “Good leaders walk their talk.” “Good leaders are involved instead of delegating.” “Good leaders are a coach not a king.” Other traits of a good leader: honest, reliable, trustworthy, self-confident, competent, inspiring and communicative. Findings also revealed that people don’t see many true leaders in their workplaces. The good news is that leadership can be learned, respondents said. Lorton holds three free business seminars on marketing and business plans each month at the Library Station. She can be reached at (417) 862-9284, ext. 11.

Wine Lovers Head to Lake

Tan-Tar-A Resort on Lake of the Ozarks has secured the 2007 Midwest Grape & Wine Conference on Feb. 3–5. Wine professionals, wine grape growers and wine lovers will gather to learn about viticulture and marketing and to participate in a wine business trade show. Session topics include vineyard economics, grapevine nutrition and creating winery destinations. A banquet featuring chefs Dwight Hawkins and Paul Bashinski and Missouri’s finest wines will conclude the conference. The Missouri Vintner’s Association and the Missouri Grape Growers Association are co-hosts. For more information, contact Rozana Benz at (573) 486-5596 or email rbenz@ktis.net or visit www.missouriwine.org.