The Big Race

You can see that I am not a die-hard Nascar fan, since it's taken me three whole days to post anything about the race. There are things I enjoy about the races, and a few things I don't. Bruce has done his best to indoctrinate me, but ever since Clay has expressed a more genuine interest, I've been let off the hook.

I generally don't go to the races when Bruce gets tickets through work if those tickets are for seating in the stands. He takes another race enthusiast along for that ride.

I go when he gets suite tickets. I'm spoiled that way, I know. I am a wienie who is not willing to brave the cold, the rain, the snow, or the heat and humidity, depending on the season in which a particular race occurs. (If I were okay with that, I'd follow in my mother-in-law's shoes and be a mail carrier and make some money in spite of the weather. Not going to happen for a race though.)

Here are a few things I like about the races.

First and foremost will always be that, a little over five years ago, during the weekend of the fall race, my OB/GYN decided inducing our twins would be good. The interstate exit for the race track is between our house and the hospital in which our little twinkies were born. I was 37 1/2 weeks along, and had been having irregular contractions for a couple of weeks. To say that I was huge is a vast understatement. We watched the race in the comforts of the hospital that year.

Back to this year. Here's the play-by-play from a wishy-washy fan.

The crowds are unbelievable during race weekend. But we have a great route planned, so we've never spent more than 30 minutes getting to or from the track. Of course, that's not including walking time from our free parking spaces in the boonies to the track. (It was good exercise!)

My highlight pre-race was "winning" a couple of Sharpie pens. Is it even possible to run a household smoothly without at least three good Sharpies in varying sizes? Different colors than black are just a bonus. I got a pink one and Bruce got a purple one, but we all know they're both mine.

Below is where we played the lame game that was actually simply an attempt at making the masses do something in order to give them something for free in the hopes that they will appreciate the value of the item given.



These buses and helicopters were for the drivers and their team members. So that they could make a clean getaway at the end of the race. I've never noticed that area before at other races, so I thought it was interesting. Sorry if you don't.



I love this picture that Bruce took. (Actually, he took all of these.) I get very sentimental and patriotic at the races. Well, pretty much any time our flag is unfurled. I don't know if it's from my dad's service in the Air Force or what, but I am a proud American. (I love my German heritage almost as much!)



Here are all the teams, lined up during the National Anthem.



Ahh, the jets. They're just awesome! (Again, maybe because of all the years I lived on Air Force bases? Maybe.)



My driver, #48, Jimmie Johnson. And I don't like him just because he's eye candy. That's an extra. I like him because he shows self control in interviews, even after wrecks and other mild catastrophes. I don't care for hot-head drivers.

I'm a mom who's trying to teach her kids self control, a trait that is difficult for me. But shove a camera in my face for the nation to see my reaction and I'm confident that I'll be as sweet as pie. If grown men can't simmer down for a 30-second televised interview, I just have no respect for them. And I can't root for someone if I have no respect for them, no matter how entertaining their antics appear to others.

Mark Martin used to be my favorite driver, but he doesn't race every time now. He's a class act!



Bruce took this one for Clay, who really likes #9, Kasey Kahne. If only he didn't drive for Budweiser. Oh well, I stuck by Mark Martin when he drove for Viagra. (On that note, for a very funny story about that particular product, go to my friend Cassie's page and see yesterday's post. I guarantee you a laugh!)

I really enjoy watching the pit crews. They are super fast! You just can't help but be impressed. I bet their wives love the jobs their pit crew husbands have when it's pouring rain and they get a flat. So handy to have a pro along.



One other noteworthy thing to mention from the race is that Bruce got a beer shower from the tanked guy behind us when the girl he was flirting with cracked some joke. It was funny to me, but not to Bruce. I didn't laugh where he could see. I laughed on the inside. Because I love him. And he's bigger than me. And gives way uglier looks when he's mad.

It was funny though. Not the beer-mixed-with-spit spewing on my spouse. No, that's not funny. That's just yucky. But it's one of those things that you usually only see on TV. And the expression on Bruce's face when he turned around to face the guy... Nothing but funny there!

Oh, I have to tell this, too. We got the suite tickets for free, and they served free food and drinks up there. I told Bruce he got away with a very cheap date with the wife.

We had completely forgotten any cash, or we would have probably parked closer and paid for it. But instead we parked oh-so-far-away.

And when we got back to the truck after the race, there was a little pink ticket in a baggie under the wiper. For $15. For parking against the flow of traffic.

But we still avoided traffic and drove home in 30 minutes. You just have to see the positive side.