Nothing Says Christmas Like the Big Guy in Red, NASCAR's Tony Stewart

Countless times during the season NASCAR begs the question, "How bad have you got it?"

As loyal fans we understand exactly what that means. We spend 36 weeks out of the year with our favorite drivers, tracks, sponsors, and announcers.
During the off-season we find it hard to function without our beloved sport and look for the NASCAR in everyday life, grabbing at any straw to help tide us over until February.
In my own twisted mind, I can warp something as simple as color into a NASCAR analogy.
Take for instance, Tony Stewart. In years past, his familiar orange firesuit reminded me of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."
When he donned his yellow Subway sponsored digs, in my eyes he became an enormous, squishy, sugary-sweet, marshmallow "Peep."
Dressed in Burger King blue, Stewart morphed into Violet Beuregarde, the character from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, who ignores Wonka's protest not to chew a three-course dinner gum that he has created, stating that it was "not ready for human consumption."
The blueberry pie stage proves defective, causing poor Violet to swell into a giant blueberry, unable to move thanks in part to her giant girth.
None of the hues were ever quite right in my girlish, fashionista mind, but thanks to Stewart's "new" sponsor Office Depot, the red fire suit has proven that Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the year.
Add to that his "bowlful of jelly" belly and Yes, Virginia girl, there is a Santa Claus.
I'll be the first to admit that its a crazy concept, but that is just how bad I've got it!
So thanks Tony Stewart for diverting my holiday visions of sugar-plums into more rewarding images that dance in my head.
Oh, one more thing. If you are planning on shimmying down my chimney this year, in my very best Eartha Kitt, I give you a few of my Christmas wishes.
Stewie baby, slip a sway bar under the tree,
For me.
Been an awful good girl,
Stewie baby, so hurry down the race track tonight.

Stewie baby, a Chevrolet Impala too,
Red hue.
I'll wait up for you dear,
Stewie baby, so hurry down the speedway tonight.
Think of all the fun you’ve missed,
Because you are the fella that I haven't kissed,
Happy hour could be just as good,
If you'll check off my Christmas list.
Stewie baby, we wanna see a little Swagger.
Not her.
Time to ditch all the blonds.
Stewie baby, so hurry through the road course tonight.

Stewie honey, there's one thing I really do need,
Some speed
Across the finish line first,
Stewie honey, so hurry down the short track tonight.

Stewie cutie, and fill my stocking with a bump draft
And pass
Johnson to victory lane,
Stewie cutie, and don’t avoid the media tonight.

Come and be my lucky dog
I will feed you donuts and never make you jog,
I really do believe in you,
Let's see if you believe in me,

Stewie baby, forgot to mention one little thought,
Your pit stop.
Let’s make it under 15.00.
Stewie baby, just don’t speed down the pit road tonight,
Hurry down my chimney tonight,
Hurry, tonight.
Many thanks to the late, great Eartha Kitt and her redition of the Christmas classic, Santa Baby for the inspiration.

The Talladega Take-Off: Why Ryan Newman's Crash Is Good for NASCAR

Ryan Newman sat down with NASCAR’s vice president for competition Robin Pemberton and Sprint Cup director John Darby earlier this week to discuss his wild Talladega ride.

Newman’s docket was filled with just two items. The dynamics behind the crash that sent his car airborne and the length of time that it took rescue personnel to extricate him from the carnage.
Although NASCAR officials would not disclose the details of the meeting, other than to say it was positive, Newman remains an outspoken advocate for safety and the critical need to stop the cars from taking flight during accidents.
"From an aerodynamic standpoint, ultimately, our biggest thing is to keep the race cars on the ground," Newman said Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.
"Crashes have always been a part of racing. There are fans that like that. Sometimes that adds to extra excitement, don't get me wrong. When we can bounce off each other, get the car fixed, go back out and try to win a race, I understand that part of it.
"Keeping the race cars on the ground is how we keep the drivers, and especially the fans, safe. We have crashes all year at every track, but only at Talladega do the cars leave the ground.''
Newman, the only full-time Sprint Cup driver to possess a four-year college degree, could just be the voice that NASCAR needs to listen to.
With a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, Newman not only harbors a need for speed, but he also understands the mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, and energy behind it.
Hey NASCAR, sounds like Newman might actually know what he is talking about here; let’s use that knowledge!
During Wednesday’s meeting, NASCAR officials affirmed they have already begun testing some things to help keep the cars from getting airborne, but is it enough to satisfy Newman and put the other driver’s minds at ease?
"From an engineering standpoint, whatever we can do speed-wise and aerodynamically to keep the cars on the ground is what we need to focus on," said Newman.
"There has been testing done. I learned some of that stuff on Wednesday morning talking to Mr. Darby and Mr. Pemberton, that they have tested.
"But I don't know that they have tested everything, I don't know if you can test everything. But obviously more testing needs to be done in order to make it safer for everybody."
"The faster you go, the more likely you are to take lift. An airplane takes off at 160 miles an hour. We're going 40 miles an hour above that at times. There's plenty of potential for a car to take lift, whether it's going forwards, backwards, or sideways.''
The wreck at Talladega was not Newman’s first, but it was in his words, it was “the worst hit I’ve ever had.”
For years, Newman has been a strong advocate for safety modifications by NASCAR.
After a crash during practice at Watkins Glen in 2003, where he sat in his vehicle for nearly two minutes before rescue crews even arrived, a furious Newman pushed for NASCAR to provide the traveling safety/rescue teams that other major series have been employing for years.
He stated, "I don't know why we don't have a traveling safety crew." "Maybe it's a financial issue, which should never be an excuse when it comes to safety, but my point is, it's all about communication. If we could have a safety team in place every week, it would make a difference."
"If we could communicate with those people week in and week out, they'd know where everybody's cut-off switch was. Some of these people don't know things that they ought to. Some of them are volunteers. Some of them get paid. For some of them, it may be the first time they've ever seen a race car.
"It might be their free pass to the race track to be part of the safety crew. You never know. If we can create a little relationship with the team, I think it would be great for the sport and the drivers."
Perhaps a permanent safety crew, one who trains strictly on the issues faced on a race track with stock cars and their driver’s needs would have made the lengthy extrication process smoother for everyone involved, including the fans.
We all watched anxiously as it took rescue workers nearly 15 minutes to get Newman out of the car.
Radio communication was lost after the car came to rest on its roof, crippling the antennae. It wasn’t until the car was gingerly turned right-side up that Newman could radio his crew that he was all right.
The roof and roll cage were so badly crushed, that in order to get Newman out safely, the roof of the car had to be cut off and removed.
"I want to make a point that I wasn't dissatisfied with the way I was taken out of the car," Newman said. "I just feel there were things that potentially could be done to make it easier for the next guy. That's my responsibility, because the next guy might be me again. You never know."
"I know (the rescue process has) been an evolution, but the evolution is behind. I'm not mad at them, but I want it to be known from a driver's standpoint what can be done to make it better.”
While we will never see the end of crashes on the track, Newman hopes the knowledge shared between he and NASCAR will help implement safer equipment and expedite the process of extricating drivers safely and efficiently post-crash.
A mind such as Newman's is a terrible thing to waste!

The Bluest Eyes In Texas (Motor Speedway) Are Haunting Me Tonight

The bluest eyes in Texas are haunting me tonight, for that matter so are the browns, greens, grays, and hazels.

Let me preface this by saying this one is all about me folks.
I planned on being trackside today, reporting from my home state.
It was all arranged perfectly, or so I thought. The plan was put into motion three months ago. Tickets were purchased, accommodations were made and a family reunion of sorts was set.
Although I live in Washington DC, I hail from Texas and it will always, ALWAYS be home. My extended family is scattered about the Lone Star state, so there are endless reasons to visit, but this one was going to be special.
When I told my family of my plans, it sounded like the a perfect excuse to rally the troops. My father made arrangements to fly in from North Carolina and my mother traveled from Virginia to be there.
I’d planned on shacking up with my aunt and uncle, spend a few days with relatives near and far then head off to Texas Motor Speedway with my cousins.
It was a trip that I’d been looking forward to for months.
So then why am I shivering on the “coldest night of the season” in the Nation’s capital when I should be basking in the Texas sun?
Unlike mainstream media, those of us who write as part of NASCAR’s Citizen Journalist Media Corp are unique in the fact that many of us have not quit our day jobs yet.
My alter-ego deals day in and day out with the sick and injured in a busy ER. Right now H1N1 Swine flu is our business and business is good, too good in fact…and that’s bad!
Selfishly, very bad for me.
Thanks to the pandemic, a policy was recently enforced within our hospital. We as staff members are on a permanent “on-call” status throughout the winter months.
No matter where we are in the world, if we get the call to come in, we have 48 hours to make it back to work.
Not only has H1N1 affected my working environment, but my personal livelihood is now suffering and that ain’t cool!
This weekend when I should be hearing the roar of the engines, I will be listening to the drone of cardiac monitors and screaming children. In lieu of the scanner, I will be wearing a surgical mask, and instead of making my way through a crowded media center, I will be dodging germs in a congested waiting room.
Sigh…there’s always next year right? You betcha!
The Swine flu should be a distant memory by Apr. 18, 2010; life as I want it to be will be and I’ll be headed “home” in the springtime without the threat of illness in the air.
So to Tony, Dale, Jimmie, Jeff, Juan, and all the rest, while I know it will be hard, have a great race this weekend without me.
God be with our Nation, the brave Military, their family and friends who were affected by the tragedy at Ft. Hood this week.
God Bless Texas.

Be You Fan or Foe: Are You Riding With Dale Earnhardt Jr. In Talladega?

For the second year in a row, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and sponsor Amp Energy have offered fans a chance to ride with their favorite driver during Talladega's Amp Energy 500.

Last year more than 70,000 names made it onto Earnhardt Jr.’s car and this year has promised to be a repeat performance as more than 105,000 fans signed up to “Get on the 88.”
Approximately 73,000 names adorn the car this year, with the remaining overflow of names to appear on a banner in the No. 88’s pit box.
The multi-step process of designing and wrapping the No. 88 Chevrolet is a painstaking labor of love.
Last year the process took over 200 hours for the Hendrick crew to pull together. HMS Graphic Director, Jim Gravlin spent 80 hours alone just designing the stencil by hand before creating the program on his computer.
With all of the kinks worked out, this year’s sequel proved to be a more streamlined outfit.
HMS graphic artist and car designer Matt Dorton worked with Amp Energy and Jim Gravlin, along with Red Eye Designs to create a two of a kind masterpiece.
Earnhardt Jr.’s back-up car will also sport the specialized wrap.
Dorton designed the basic computerized paint scheme for the Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet in about two hours. A Word document, provided by Amp Energy of all 73,000 names was copied and transposed into an Adobe Illustrator computer program. Gravlin and Red Eyes Designs then spent an additional eight-to-10 hours fitting the names onto the decal template.
From there, Hendrick employees from the Nos. 5 and 88 teams placed the decals on the cars. Each name appears in 13 point, thinly stroked, Franklin Gothic condensed font, a typeface which the designer uses to easily curtail the names into tight spaces, while at the same time retaining legible integrity.
Knowing that it would be hard to improve on last year’s design, Amp chose to modify the colors from the former white background to black. Regardless of the coloring, it is a slick looking car and an awesome way to show appreciation to Earnhardt Jr.’s die-hard fans of all ages.
Fans like Colin Way, a seventh grader from Susquehanna Valley, whose name appears on the front of the car or Doloras Watts, who in her “late-fifties” thinks of “Dale as a son” and sees the opportunity to have her name on Junior's car as “real treat."
As a loyal card carrying member of Junior Nation, I am proud to say that I’ll be riding with Dale Jr. for the second time this Sunday.
Despite his poor performance this year, the fans came out in droves to show their support, proving that Earnhardt Jr.'s appeal is still strong.
But everything is not always what it seems.
On this Halloween weekend, the idiom "one bad apple spoils the barrel" came to mind as I typed my e-mail address into www.ampenergy.com to see where I'd be riding.
As the computer program's bulls-eye honed in on my name, something else caught my eye.
Just three lines above my name, sandwiched between David Hadrich Jr and Tracy Hadrich was the bad apple.
"JUNIOR SUX"

Two simple words that infuriated me on many levels.
Remember, there were over 100,000 people vying for 70,000 opportunities to get their name on the car. 30,000 did not make it.
Thanks to the joker who submitted this "name," there was one less spot available for a well deserving fan.
Upon further research on other fan based sites, I found evidence of ill intent from other Earnhardt Jr. detractors.
One such hater boasted about how he had gotten "Dale Jr Sucks" through the screening process and onto the car, displaying his own e-mail address to enter onto the Amp site as evidence of proof.
While it does not surprise me that this kind of thing can and does happen, it made me curious as to what kind of procedure was used to screen potential entries in the first place.
Last year Gravlin created the stencil by hand, any questionable names could have easily been weeded out; but this year Amp provided the Word document to Hendrick, potentially leaving it up to a computer program to decide what made the cut.
I do know that the names were added to the Word document in the order that they were received, probably through some virtual siphoning process that extracted the names from the entries sent into a tidy format that goes far beyond my own computer comprehension.
I am willing to bet that certain "bad" word were red-flagged in an editing process that would prevent any foul phrases from making it onto the car, but it seems that Junior's clever foes loop-holed their way around that to take a pot shot at NASCAR's favorite driver.
I scanned various sections of the car to see if I could pick up any other misconduct, but with thousands of tiny names filling the screen, it is damn near impossible to do without severe eye strain, but I'd be willing to bet that there are a few more blemishes embedded into an otherwise incredible paint scheme.
Are riding with Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Head over to www.ampenergy.com to find out!
bleacher report/nascar - kara martin

Griese Tacos and NASCAR Tweets: Say Hello to Juan Pablo Montoya's Little Friend

Hola Amigos. It is me again, Chachi.

It has been a long time since my last article; that gringa of mine never leaves the computer unattended long enough for me to jump on and say what I need to say.

I showed her; I threw her a bone and locked her outside in the backyard for a change. Hey, a Chihuahuas got to do what a Chihuahuas got to do for the love of Juan Pablo Montoya…and tacos!

I may be Montoya’s littlest fan, but my bark and ankle bites are huge. There is nothing I would not do to show my adoration for my favorite NASCAR driver.

Imagine my outrage when I heard college football announcer Bob Griese culturally insult my main hombre during ESPN's broadcast of last Saturday's Minnesota vs. Ohio State game.

When analyst Chirs Spielman asked during a NASCAR promo for an upcoming race in Martinsville "where Montoya was" (in the Chase points standings), Griese chuckled before blurting out "He's out having a taco."

Talk about your color commentary !

Out having a taco?! Way to judge a book by its Hispanic cover Griese!

Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish, I should know since I myself hail from Mexico. Get your facts straight; Montoya is from Bogota, Colombia.

I would have had more respect for your insensitive remarks if you’d at least come close.

Maybe next time you are asked where Montoya is, say “out having a full-bodied cup of Colombian Roast with Juan Valdez and his coffee bean hauling mule Conchita.”

Insulting? Yes, but at least it is culturally correct.

We all know that you gave two half-hearted on-air apologies for the remark, but I'm glad to hear that ESPN took it a step further by suspending you for one game and docking you a week’s pay.

Montoya originally declined to comment about Griese's suspension and brushed off the remark, but today got the last laugh when he posted to his Twitter account :

“Guess what I’m having for lunch…TACOS!!!!!...and I’m serious about it!!!!”

I’ve got to say that one made me choke with delight on my own frijoles.

Te amo hombre!

Montoya tweeted again about his dinner plans proving that a Latino’s menu is not all tacos, all the time.

“just landed in talladega getting ready to have some dinner and no im not having tacos for dinner!!!!!!”

So Griese, if you’ve got anything else to say about this matter be prepared to say hello to Montoya's little friend…ME!

Viva Juan Pablo and tacos lovers everywhere!

Montoya currently sits fifth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings, 200 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.

Follow Montoya on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jpmontoya

Follow Chachi on Twitter at http://twitter.com/daChachi

Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the dog's owner.

Photo credit: Colin S. Johnson

bleacher report/nascar - kara martin

Burger King Reveals The Truth About Tony Stewart

On Wednesday, Oct. 20 Burger King and motorsports TV broadcaster Matt Yocum teamed up to put Tony Stewart to the test.

A polygraph test that is.

Burger King celebrated it’s multi-year sponsorship agreement with Stewart-Haas Racing and driver Stewart by putting him on the hot seat and grilling him with fan inspired questions.

During the live broadcast we not only learned that Stewart really does love the Whopper, which he prefers “without pickles and onions,” but he revealed a few humorous and at times downright embarrassing truths about himself.

Stewart sat strapped into a chair within the confines of a strategically lit interrogation room setting. Suspenseful theme music, a la Who Wants to be a Millionaire, added dramatic flair to the event.

Much like a typical polygraph test, Stewart was asked a series of simple pre-interview questions by certified polygraph examiner John Grogan. This allowed Grogan to collect some preliminary information and would serve as “control questions” in which to gauge Stewart’s truthful responses.

Question: Is your name Tony Stewart?

Answer: Yes

Q: Were you born on May 20?

A: Yes

Grogan indicated that Stewart was being truthful with a big thumbs-up.

Next, the “stim” test was conducted. Stewart was asked to lie so that the examiner could detect deceitful answers during the actual test.

Q: Are you wearing ladies underpants right now?

A: Yes

After a climatic pause, Grogan indicated that Stewart was (thankfully) lying with a thumbs-down.

Once the test began, Stewart was measured for any psychological changes during the questioning, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and electro-dermal activity (sweatiness). Fluctuations in the test indicated when Stewart was being deceptive in his answers.

Over the course of about an hour Stewart answered approximately 35 questions from the absurd to uncomfortably personal.

Some of Tony’s truthful responses included:

Q: Have you ever crank-called another driver?

A: Yes

Q: Have you ever done a donut on private property?

A: Yes

Q: Have you ever cried after losing a race?

A: Yes

Q: Have you ever been rejected by a woman?

A: Yes

Q: Do you know who won the first Daytona 500?

A: No

To Stewart’s credit, he recalled that Lee Petty took the checked flag after his original answer.

At times, Stewart tried to sneak in a few untruths, but Grogan picked up on them right away stating to the audience, "He's a better driver than he is a liar."

Q: Do you ever notice hot women in the stands during a race?

A: No

Stewart admitted, “All right, maybe I do. Maybe during a caution.”

Q: Have you ever cried after a movie of the week?

A: No

Stewart swore that he had no recollection of doing so.

Q: Have you ever gone commando under your fire suit?

A: No

After coming clean, Stewart claimed that he had no clean laundry that day.

Q: When you were a little boy, did you have a special blanket or toy?

A: No

While he was adamant about not having a blanket or toy, Stewart recalled having a pillow that he traveled with as a child.

Q: Do you go out on a lot of dates?

A: No

Stewart professed that "it didn't seem like a lot." Perhaps what society deems “a lot” is not the same as Stewart’s personal interpretation.

Q: Can you walk past a mirror without checking yourself out?

A: Yes

Yocum razzed Stewart about his attempt at lying about his vanity. Stewart ultimately admitted to checking out his hair before driver introductions.

While the test was intended for entertainment purposes only, it was an actual polygraph conducted by a professional examiner. When facilitated correctly and read by a certified polygraph examiner a polygraph can be 80-95 percent accurate.

For Stewart's fans, the truth is now out there.

If you were unable to catch Stewart live in the hot seat or just want to see it again, the pre-recorded replay is still available for your viewing pleasure at truthabouttony.com .

bleacher report/nascar - kara martin

From Tailgate To Trackside: NASCAR Is Comin' Home To Charlotte

After a brief hiatus, I am pleased to announce the return of "From Tailgate to Trackside!"

With just six to go before we crown a new champion, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series comes home this weekend to North Carolina’s Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

The running of the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America means we’re halfway there and for some Chase drivers, they are indeed living on a prayer. So take my hand and we’ll make it I swear as we go from tailgate to trackside in NASCAR’s hometown of Charlotte.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway was designed and built in 1959 by O. Bruton Smith and one of NASCAR’s first drivers, Curtis Turner. The 1.5-mile super speedway hosted its first race, the World 600 on Jun. 19, 1960 where Joe Lee Johnson took the checkered flag for only the second and final time in his short racing career.

The following year the track fell into Chapter 11. After much needed reorganization it emerged a success. Smith chose to pursue other business ventures and left the speedway behind in 1962, only to regain control of its day-today operations in 1975 and hired H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler as the speedway’s general manager.

The pair, committed to the ultimate in customer satisfaction worked tirelessly to build a state of the art venue. In 1984, LMS became the first sporting facility in America to offer condos that overlook the speedway.

In the early 90's, Smith and Wheeler added a $1.7 million permanent reflective lighting system, making LMS the first modern superspeedway to host night racing. "The revolutionary lighting process uses mirrors to simulate daylight without glare, shadows, or obtrusive light poles.”

Class Dismissed, Mama We're Comin' Home!

LMS offers a wide array of camping to fit every budget. The infield accommodates down and dirty, bring your own tent style camping all the way up to the modern hookups and conveniences for motor homes of every size.

Have no fear, tents are separate from the motor homes for your safety because of the carbon monoxide they produce.

Standard camping is also located around the outside perimeter of the track as well as near by with shuttle service available.

As an added bonus, the Thomas Johnson Campground Pavilion will be featuring the Redneck Olympics this weekend, so come prepared to catch a greased pig. Which leads us into our next segment.

What the Fans Be Grillin?

We are in North Carolina y’all so naturally the first thing that comes to mind is barbecue. It would be considered a sin not to indulge in one of Carolina’s most recognized and sought after delicacies while attending a race.

Serve it up with some coleslaw, a side of baked beans, sweet potatoes, hushpuppies, grits (yes, I said grits!), swallow it down with some local moonshine and you've got yourself a real southern feast.

North Carolina is also the home of Pepsi and Krispy Kreme donuts, so eat up; I can't think of a better combination than that!

*For the record I do not condone the ingestion of most home made 'shine; please drink responsibly and at your own risk!

"Badly-produced moonshine can be contaminated with toxin, mainly from materials used in construction of the still. Stills employing used automotive radiators as a condenser are particularly dangerous; in some cases, glycol products from antifreeze lead at the connections to the plumbing. Both glycol and lead are poisonous and potentially deadly."

Making the Most of Your Race Day Experience

With Charlotte being NASCAR’s very own ground zero, you can bet the weekend on and around the track will be chock full of things to do! There are many scheduled autograph sessions, fan fests, cornhole tournaments, and every thing else in between to make your race weekend a great success.

With the unseasonably cool weather this weekend, fans will need to find creative ways to keep warm. Head inside for a race shop tour , get active on the track for the NASCAR Foundation's Track Walk , take in a few hot laps around the track with the NASCAR Racing Experience , or just get lit at the Coors Light Tailgate Zone .

Whatever you chose, it is sure to be an exciting weekend. Check out the Fan Guide to Fun and other events at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com .

For more news and notes, be sure to check out Bleacher Report's own David Yeazell as he reports trackside from LMS this weekend.

Mark Martin: Why NASCAR's Unlikely Sex Symbol Is Nothing Short Of Red Hot

Standing a mere 5’6" tall, weighing in at 125 pounds and plagued with the stigma of being sponsored in the past by “Viagra,” the venerable Mark Martin is an unlikely sex symbol in the sporting world.

But what is sexy exactly and what defines it?

We humans are hard-wired to instinctively know what appeals to our own sense of attraction and sadly for many of us, beauty is but skin deep.

Sitting pretty in the No. 1 position in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, Martin has introduced us to a new level of appeal, by showing that growing older only proves just how much one has truly lived.

With age comes wisdom, knowledge and strength. Being beautiful doesn’t come from a cosmetic counter or a costly nip/tuck. The perfect elixir comes from the mind and foresight shines through mature eyes that have not only seen the past but can envision the future.

Allure begins in the brain and radiates outward. Sexiness is all about the manner in which someone carries one’s self. Its confidence, self-esteem and substance all rolled into one highly maintained machine.

For nearly 30 years, Martin has subscribed to a vigorous workout routine, which keeps him in better shape than many of his younger counterparts. Add to that his positive attitude and overall charm and that makes him one very hot commodity.

Facial wrinkles begin to blur the lines between old age and distinction. Graying hair becomes a symbol of a prosperous life lived long and well and remembering that “age ain’t nothing but a number,” inspires endless possibilities. Dreams become reality and reality surpasses even our wildest of dreams.

Suddenly we are drawn to a man who society tells us we traditionally weren’t meant to be attracted to.

Martin’s accomplishments this year have kick-started our hearts and left us weak in the knees.

At the age of 50, he is the oldest driver to ever qualify for the Chase and now with a 35 point advantage over his teammate Jimmie Johnson, it gives us yet another reason to share the love.

Owner Rick Hendrick, enamoured by this year's performance, has already signed his seasoned prodigy to a contract extension which will keep him in the the No. 5 Chevrolet full time through the end of 2011.

Beauty, they say is in the eye of the beholder and from where I stand, Mark Martin, you look simply marvelous!

Here’s looking at you kid!

Photo Credit: Kara Martin

From Tailgate To Trackside: NASCAR Lives It Up in Loudon

Let the Chase begin!

This week we return to Loudon, NH for the Sylvania 300, where the Chase for the Championship kicks off in full force. All eyes will no doubt be on the top 12 drivers as they battle for their place in NASCAR history.

The Sylvania 300 is one of the season’s hottest tickets around. At press time the track reported only a limited amount of single seats, standing-room and infield “trackside-view” tickets available for purchase, so expect a full house!

The New Hampshire Motor Speedway, often described as “Martinsville on steroids,” is a 1.058 mile oval speedway considered by many drivers to be one of the toughest to tackle on the circuit.

The track opened its doors on Jun. 5, 1990 and hosted its first NASCAR event the following month, the Budweiser 300 in the Nationwide Series. The Sprint Cup Series followed three years later, with Rusty Wallace taking the checkered flag in the Slick 50 300.

Loudon was the first superspeedway to be constructed in the United States since the late sixties, filling a void for NASCAR’s northeastern fans by offering a chance to catch live Sprint Cup racing twice a year.

In 2004, the speedway played host to the first race in the inaugural Chase for the Sprint Cup, a tradition that continues some five years later.

The Sprint Cup draws over 100,000 racing fanatics to NHMS on race day. By catering to fans from New England, New York and Canada, Loudon challenges stock car racing’s southern fried fan base, proving that this is not your father’s NASCAR.

History lesson over…class dismissed, let’s get a little lively!

The speedway offers on-site camping on a first come, first serve basis on the backstretch of the track.

“RV and camper parking is limited to ticket holders only. All drivers and their guests must have race day tickets in their possession before driving onto NHMS property. Anyone without race day tickets will not be allowed onto the property.”

"RVs and campers must be self-contained with bathroom and water facilities on board. The speedway does not have hookups or dumping facilities. Tents are not allowed. Keep in mind that the dumping of gray water and waste on speedway property is prohibited. Violation of this rule WILL RESULT in arrest, fines, and forfeiture of ticket renewal privileges."

I’m not going to pretend to know what gray water is, but I already know that I don’t like it!

Private camping is also available on the outskirts of the track with free shuttle service to and from the raceway.

What the fans be grillin?

New England is known for its exceptional seafood delicacies, so do it up right! Grilled Tequila Lobster tails, jumbo stuffed clams and deviled crab cakes served up with a side of Boston baked beans and Hasty pudding.

If you are anything like me and seafood is not your thing, how about a foot-long “grinder” filled with Italian meats, cheese, peppers, pickles, tomatoes and oil. Wash it all down with a good locally brewed lager or ale.

Making the most of your race day experience.

Loudon is known for its “Fans First” hospitality.

For the first time ever, NHMS fans will have the opportunity to be the ultimate insider at Sunday's SYLVANIA 300 with the new "Trackside Pass," offering fans “pre-race pit road access; the chance to attend the Town Meeting with speedway officials Bruton Smith, Jerry Gappens, and leaders in the world of motorsports and admission to the "Trackside Tent" and the turn one and two areas of the infield to watch the race.”

"Trackside Pass" guests are allowed to bring coolers (up to 14-inches), lawn chairs, and blankets into the infield. Passes are available for a limited time at $150 per person.

Do it up in style in the Magic Mile Club, not to be confused with the scurrilous “Mile High Club!” The Magic Mile Club offers fans the opportunity to experience a VIP Hospitality experience during NASCAR event weekends. For a $150 dollar membership fee, guests will enjoy access to a private fenced-in tent, food and beverage service, and entertainment.

On race day, other amenities include a catered Continental breakfast, catered luncheon, beverage service, a limited edition souvenir race program and a walking tour of pit road.

Check out these events and more at www.NHMS.com

Virginia is for Lovers, NASCAR and the Drivers We Adore

I was born and bred in Texas, it will always, always be my home. There is a unique hubris that comes from being from the great Lone Star state that one is hard pressed to find anywhere else, but on Saturday night Denny Hamlin made me proud to be a born again Virginian.

I fancy myself a misplaced Texan who has made Virginia my home away from home over the last couple of decades.

I fought the Civil War as a proud Rebel during a weekend at Civil War Adventure Camp in Petersburg, skydived the blue skies above Orange, gazed at the city night lights from a 15 story high-rise in Arlington, set up camp in a rickety old RV outside of Richmond International Raceway and practically lived on the beaches of Croatan and Sandbridge during my formitive years.

Virginia is for lovers, adventurists, beach bums, city slickers, NASCAR, and the drivers that we adore.

Denny Hamlin

Hamlin began his NASCAR career in 2004 by competing in five Camping World Truck Series races with EJP Racing. In 2005 he entered the Nationwide Series, replacing Mike Bliss in the No. 20 Rockwell Automotive Chevrolet. He made his Sprint Cup debut that same year in Kansas behind the wheel of the No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet.

In 2006 he joined the Sprint Cup series full time and played double duty by also racing full time in the Nationwide Series.

He proved to be a worthy competitor by capturing his first wins in both series that year, taking home the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award at the end of the season and finishing third in the final Cup standings, making Hamlin the first rookie of the year ever to make it into the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

He continued to persevere in 2007-2008 by clinching spots in both year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, twelfth and eighth respectively, but 2009 has been Hamlin’s year to shine.

During the final restart at Pocono on Aug. 3, Hamlin brazenly proclaimed “I’m going to win this race.” He steered his car from sixth to first and took the checkered flag in an emotional victory that he dedicated to his grandmother, Thelma Clark, who had passed away just days earlier.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, Hamlin dominated in Richmond and burst into Victory Lane a hometown hero. When asked about his win, Hamlin, who hails from Chesterfield VA, a suburb of Richmond, replied, “This is my house. It has been for the last two years, we just haven’t got the win to show it.

"Finally today our FedEx Toyota showed that we’re a championship contender. As I told these guys, they better watch out for us and now we’re for real.”

“Like a Daytona 500 win for anyone else. I mentioned before that I wanted to win this race before I won a 500, but now, of course, I know how special that race is to everyone.

"But this one in particular, to me, was especially after all the heartbreak, it makes it more gratifying to win now. It's by far the biggest win of my career and hopefully goes a long way for this race team over the next ten weeks.”

Richmond International Raceway is certainly not the house that Denny built, but on Saturday night he moved in and sublet it like no one’s business. Not only did he take home a first place finish, he secured his fourth consecutive place in the Chase.

Hamlin has done us Virginian’s proud, but he isn’t the only one. There are many notable drivers who hail from the Commonwealth.

Ricky Rudd

Chesapeake’s Rudd, known as the “Ironman,” for the most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing, was named the 2006 “Virginian of the Year” and in 2007 was inducted into the “Virginia Hall of Fame.”

He ran his first Sprint Cup Series race in 1975’s Carolina 500 in Rockingham, NC. He took home the (then) Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award in 1977, chalked up 23 Sprint Cup wins and ran a total of 902 races over his 32 year career.

Ironman not only applies to Rudd’s exceptional work ethic, the definition itself has proven him to be one bad mother.

In 1984, Rudd was involved in a grizzly crash during the Budweiser Shootout (formally the Busch Clash) in Daytona and suffered a severe concussion. His eyes were swollen so badly from the accident that he taped his eyelids open in order to run the Daytona 500. After Rudd’s incident, NASCAR instituted the policy of medically examining all drivers involved in an accident to ensure their safety and their ability to drive in the following week’s race.

In 1998, despite a day of high temperatures and a faulty in-car cooling system, Rudd took the checkered flag in Martinsville. He suffered blisters and burns over most of his body and conducted his Victory Lane interview lying on the ground breathing through an oxygen mask.

Ricky Rudd was named one of NASCAR’s 50 best drivers that same year.

As a newly licensed driver, I would often drive Virginia’s Route 58 from Virginia Beach to Charlotte NC. It was a stretch of two lane highway between Suffolk and Emporia that was dubbed “the Suicide Strip” due to the high number of fatal accidents that occurred along the roadway.

To deter speed demons and reckless drivers a huge billboard of the Grim Reaper holding a giant sickle was erected on both ends of the devil’s highway that stated “You are now entering the Suicide Strip!” I inhaled deeply every time that I passed that sign and didn’t exhale properly until I got to the promised land that was Emporia.

The tiny town of Emporia was not only my salvation, but home to the Sadler brothers.

Hermie and Elliott Sadler

Hermie Sadler began his NASCAR career in 1993’s Nationwide Series driving the No. 25 Shell Oil/Virginia Is For Lovers Oldsmobile scoring a win at Orange County, finishing tenth in the points standings and was named Rookie of the Year.

1994 gained Sadler another win and fifth place in the points standings. In 1995 he teamed up with his father to run the No. 1 DeWalt Tools Chevrolet, yielding six top-ten finishes and finishing thirteenth in points. The following years brought moderate results before being pushed out of his ride at the end of the 1998 season.

Sadler tried his hand in the Sprint Cup Series but struggled and was plagued with several DNQ’s. In 2001 Sadler and his wife Angela formed their own team running cars purchased from Larry Hendricks.

With only minimal success as an owner he sold his Nationwide team and a majority of his Cup team. He returned to competition briefly in 2007 at Martinsville in the Truck Series behind the wheel of Andy Hillenburg’s Chevrolet Silverado.

Sadler is currently a successful race analyst and interviewer for Speed TV and an autism advocate who is heavily involved in the Autism Speaks charity, as his daughter Hailie was diagnosed with the disorder in 2001.

While Hermie’s racing career cooled off younger brother Elliott’s heated up.

After a knee injury ended his basketball career during his college years at James Madison University, the younger Sadler returned to his racing roots, making his Nationwide debut in 1995 by running in two races in his native state, South Boston and Richmond.

Sadler continued in the Nationwide Series until 1998 collecting five wins, 36 top-tens and five pole positions. He entered the Sprint Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing in 1999 driving the No. 21 Citgo Ford and finished the year 24th in points, runner-up to Tony Stewart for Rookie of the Year honors.

2000 proved to be dismal, as Sadler dropped to 29th in points, failed to qualify at Talledega and scored only one top-ten finish, but he never skipped a beat. With Motorcraft signing on as Elliott’s new sponsor in 2001, he celebrated his first career win at Bristol.

Sadler left the Wood Brothers in 2003 for Robert Yates Racing to drive the No. 38 M&M’s Ford. That year would bring him two pole positions at Darlington and Talladega, along with one wild ride.

After near contact with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and a touch of Kurt Busch’s right front fender, Sadler’s car became airborne in Talladega, flipping twice before landing on its roof, then skidded towards the banking before flipping five more times. Miraculously he emerged from the car uninjured.

2004 proved to be Sadler’s best year to date, winning races at Texas Motor Speedway and at California Speedway. He ended the year by making the Chase and finishing ninth in the points standings.

Sadler left Yates Racing in mid-2006 for greener pastures at Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Despite reports that A.J. Allmendinger would be replacing Sadler in the No. 19 Best Buy Dodge in 2009 and a threatened lawsuit for breach of contract by Sadler, the driver and race team remained partners, thanks in part to a merger by GEM and Petty Enterprises.

On a personal level, Sadler's life is flourishing. Last week before heading to Richmond for the race, he and wife Amanda announced that they are expecting their first child in March.

Ward and Jeff Burton

Centrally located on Virginia’s southern border; the historic town of South Boston is where the Brothers Burton call home.

Ward, with his sugary slow, southern drawl is often asked why his accent differs so from his brother’s. With a shrug of his shoulders he makes no excuses for his Virginian heritage as he has answered time and time again, “It’s just the way I talk.”

Younger brother Jeff jokes, “Well, all I can figure is I was born in the northernmost point of the house and Ward was born in the southernmost part.”

In 1990 Ward began his NASCAR career in the Nationwide Series. He would go on to compete in four full-time seasons, where he captured four wins, 50 top-tens and seven pole positions.

He moved into the Sprint Cup Series in 1994 driving 26 races behind the wheel of the No. 31 Hardees Chevrolet. In mid 1995 Burton landed a ride in the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing MBNA Pontiac after being released by Alan Dillard Jr. and won his first Cup race at Rockingham’s AC-Delco 400.

Burton gained respectable success over the years with Bill Davis, with a handful of wins, several top-ten finishes and a solid place in both 1999 and 2000’s Chase for the Sprint Cup.

His biggest win came in 2002 as he took his Caterpillar Dodge to Victory Lane at the Daytona 500. Later that same year he won the New England 300 at Loudon, NH but slipped to 25th in the points standings.

In 2003, with just four top-10 finishes, Burton left Bill Davis Racing with five races left in the season to drive the No.0 NetZero Chevrolet for Haas CNC Racing. He drove his final race in 2007 at Martinsville’s Subway 500.

On Nov. 1, 2005 Burton was appointed to the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries by Virgina Govener Mark Warner and assumed the seat on the board for Virginia's fifth Congressional District in Halifax County, VA.

Burton, an avid sportsman and conservationist, is also the founder and president of The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, and he has been a spokesperson for Virginia's 34 state parks since 2003.

Ward’s younger brother Jeff entered the Nationwide Series full time in 1989 driving the Burton Autosports Pontiac, but his first career win would not come until 1990 behind the wheel of the No. 12 Armour Lower Salt Bacon Buick.

The budding Burton played Nationwide musical seats, jumping from ride to ride for the next three years before entering the Sprint Cup Series full time in 1994 driving the No. 8 Raybestos Ford.

Burton was one of a record ten rookies that year who were eligible for the coveted Rookie of the Year award. He took the trophy at the end of the season, beating future Cup stars, Jeremy Mayfield, Joe Nemecheck, John Andretti and his brother Ward.

The relationship between Burton and Roush Racing began in 1996 driving the No. 99 Exide Batteries Ford. It was a partnership that found Jeff at the peak of his success between the years of 1997-2000, as he never finished lower than fifth in the points standings.

Burton severed his eight and a half union with Roush in mid-2004 after signing a three year contract with Richard Childress Racing driving the No. 30 AOL Chevrolet for the remainder of the season before replacing Robby Gordon the following year in the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet.

He remains with RCR to this day behind the wheel of the No. 31 Chevrolet with his brother’s former backer Caterpillar on board as the primary sponsor and frequently double dips in the Nationwide Series piloting the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet.

Other noteworthy NASCAR drivers from Virginia include,

Stacy Compton, Hurt, VA.

Rick Mast, Rockbridge County, VA.

Eric McClure, Chilhowie, VA.

Danny O’Quinn, Jr., Coeburn, VA.

Jason White, Richmond, VA.

Jon Wood, Stuart, VA.

There Goes My (NASCAR) Hero, He's Ordinary

I have just returned from a weekend of fine dining with Kasey Kahne, rubbing elbows with Tony Stewart and getting up close and personal with Jeff Gordon.

Sounds pretty glamorous right?

It was an extraordinary circumstance that was nothing short ordinary.

I stood next to Kahne in the buffet line at 12:30 in the morning fighting for the last bits of stale Chex Mix, literally bumped into Stewart on pit road as he made a mad dash for his car prior to the race and was one of many "photographers" with a camera shoved in Gordon’s face during an on track interview.

When it comes to covering a NASCAR race there is really very little glitz and glamour at all. The drivers are there to do their job and as a member of the media, we are there to do the same.

Long hours are spent in the sun and rain waiting for something big to happen. Multiple trips in and out of the media center to check out the latest stats or listen into what the drivers have to say about the upcoming race and what their Chase expectations are. Fighting for an Internet hookup in the photo trailer and repetitive meetings to remind us of why we are there in the first place.

For an amateur writer there is little glory. No reserved spot in the media center, no paycheck at the end of the day, no swanky hotel accommodations, and no daily per diem.

It’s loud. It’s dirty. It’s exhausting….it's awesome.

Nice work if you can get it.

Take everything that you imagine it would be and dump it right in the trash. Within moments of entering the infield the shimmer wears off pretty quickly. Unless you are in a driver’s suit or photographer’s vest it is hard to differentiate between who’s who.

The only thing that separates the media from the fan is a simple turn of the plastic credential holder around the neck from “hot pass” to “press member.”

We are nothing short of ordinary, which is appropriate since our heroes…well they are ordinary too.

Beyond the fanfare and the TV coverage they are just like you and me. It’s hard to fathom that from afar, but after the initial shock of seeing Carl Edwards hobble by on crutches wears off, it all becomes very clear.

The definition of hero includes “a person recognized for his brave deeds and distinguished courage.”

On the weekend of the eighth anniversary of 9/11, we were reminded of what true heroes are made of. Ordinary men and women who risked their very lives, not for a medal or a trophy at the end of the finish line, but simply because they were just doing their jobs. For me there is no higher honor than to risk life to save another’s.

Heroes come to us in all forms.

While it takes a certain amount of courage and bravery to get behind the wheel of a 3400 pound stock car and drive at speeds upwards of 200 MPH, does that a hero make?

NASCAR drivers could easily fall into the second part of a hero’s definition,” a man admired for his notable qualities.”

It takes skill and determination to be one of the Chase’s finest. All 12 drivers earned their way in by driving hard and thinking smart. That is pretty notable.

Heroes are seen as men standing tall with colorful capes flapping in the wind, it’s the “Superman” persona. But without Clark Kent, an ordinary man with extraordinary powers, there would be no Superman.

Drivers are often seen in the same heroic light. They don flashy suits, start their engines and fly at record breaking speeds. But what happens behind the scenes when the crowd has gone and the lights have dimmed?

Even on a night that propelled these 12 Chase drivers into the limelight, ordinary aspects of their lives went on.

Kurt Busch casually stood on the Chase stage before the post-race celebrations began eating a homemade sandwich and drinking an ice cold can of Miller Lite.

Carl Edwards took a load off of his broken foot by perching himself onto a small step stool.

First time Chase contender Brian Vickers drank an obligatory Red Bull while getting some advice from Chase veteran Tony Stewart.

Mark Martin relaxed on a common chair in the media center foyer watching the world pass him by for a change.

Kasey Kahne waited in a buffet line for a midnight snack with us commoners.

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson shared everyday stories about what they were going to do with their time before next weekend’s race.

Ryan Newman gave props to his boss and the organization that he is proud to be a part of.

Denny Hamlin gushed about his “Virginia pride,” while Juan Pablo Montoya shared his excitement, “for the Hispanic media and fans,” with NASCAR spokesman Kerry Thorpe.

Greg Biffle took a deep breath, exhaled, and just relaxed.

Even the larger than life Speed TV broadcasters sat back to enjoy a bit of the simple life after a long day.

Jimmy Spencer appreciated a good cigar in between commercials while Kenny Wallace was quick with a smile or a wink for anyone in his sights followed by that characteristic laugh that we’ve come to know so well.

Every one of them were exactly as I’d hoped and nothing as I had imagined.

"There goes my hero, He's ordinary."

-"My Hero" Foo Fighters

Photo Credit: Kara Martin

From Tailgate To Trackside: NASCAR Gets Rowdy In Richmond

The Chevy Rock and Roll 400 is a race that we anxiously await each year. It's the race that makes or breaks a season for a handful of drivers. With the top four drivers already locked in, Saturday night proves to be a mathematician's dream as, eleven drivers compete for the remaining eight coveted Chase positions.

Many articles will be published breaking down the odds and speculating on how the chips will fall…this one ain’t one of them!

This week I invite you to get rowdy in Richmond with me as I report up close and personal from tailgate to trackside.

Richmond is my “go to,” my first love and the one that I will return to each and every year.

Welcome to my house!

Richmond International Raceway, then known as Strawberry Hill Speedway began as a half-mile dirt track in 1946. NASCAR’s partnership with the track began on April 19, 1953 as Grand National Series driver, Lee Petty took the checkered flag.

Over the years, the track has undergone three name changes, four configuration changes and one surface change, from dirt to asphalt. Lights were added to the track in 1991 making RIR the only tack on the circuit to hold all of it’s major events “under the lights.”

Today the .75 mile, D-shaped oval is one of the series most beloved tracks. It’s “racing perfection” as driver’s take the field one last time before to 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup begins.

The September race in Richmond is one of the most exciting and anticipated races of the year.

Class dismissed, let’s get rowdy in Richmond!

Unlike other tracks with sprawling acres of beautiful countryside, Richmond International Raceway is located deep in the heart of downtown. While there are private campgrounds surrounding the outskirts of the track, backyard camping is where it’s at!

Twice yearly the friendly folks of Richmond open their arms and lawns to NASCAR fans. For a moderate fee you can park by the day or even camp by the week as many of the homes have been modified to include RV electrical and water hookups.

To spend a couple nights parked in someone else’s yard is lodging at its finest! Remember camping out in your own living room as a kid with your best friends under “forts” of blankets and furniture? It’s just like that, antics and all!

What the fans be grillin?

The night race allows for plenty of daylight tailgating, fans love to get to the track fast then take it slow!

A good southern breakfast on the grill is always a great start to any day. There’s nothing better than a perfect combination of bacon, eggs, grits, biscuits and sausage gravy combined a strong cup of fireside coffee to get you in the mood for a day of tailgating goodness.

It is not uncommon to pop open a beer at 9:00 in the morning as barbecue smokers everywhere begin firing up. The weekend chef has all day to perfect a delicious meal of baby-back ribs, seasoned pork shoulder, smoked brisket and roasted chicken. Definitely worth the wait!

At Richmond anything goes, including the drink of choice. Beers from the cheapest “Natty Light” are nestled in ice right next to the Sam Adams. Shots from whatever bottle is passed your way by a friend or total stranger must always be well received. We Southerners are known for our hospitality, so it would be rude to turn down an invitation from even the reddest of necks!

You’ve got a full day in store, make the most of it!

Kick it up at Scotts Party Zone with Kenny Wallace, Joey Logano, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Keller, and Sam Hornish on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, join Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, and Michael Waltrip at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Green Fan Zone for a question and answer session before the race.

If chillin’ out in style is more your thing, make your reservations at the Torque Club. The air-conditioned lounge combines premiere suite amenities with the best outdoor seating.

For a $35 dollar donation, get your stroll on with Richard Petty, Bobby Labonte, Reed Sorenson, and A.J. Allmendinger by participating in the NASCAR Foundation’s Track Walk.

What would the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 be with a band? Catch the All-American Rejects on the frontstrech of the raceway as they kick-off the pre-race celebrations.

As we remember the tragedy of eight years ago, RIR will honor will honor the lives lost by flying the American flag that flew over Ground Zero, originally affixed to the “Last Column” of the World Trade Center.

The flag was raised at 2 pm on Thursday by Nationwide driver Benny Gordon, who’s car will feature a 9/11 memorial paint scheme, retired New York fireman Lt. Mickey Kross, and RIR president Doug Fritz, along with representatives from the Henrico County, Va., police and fire departments.

“Lt. Kross escaped from the North Tower of the World Trade Center as it collapsed. He spent many months helping with recovery efforts at Ground Zero and is currently working with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

As part of the patriotic festivities, Lt. Kross, as a representative of the National September 11 Memorial, will lead the grandstands in the Pledge of Allegiance during Friday's pre-race festivities prior to the Virginia 529 College Savings 250.

Joe Daniels, the president of the September 11 Memorial, also will be a guest of Gordon's team at Friday night's Nationwide Series race. The flag will fly until Saturday after the Sprint Cup race.

The September 11 Memorial & Museum has launched a 'Text-to-Donate' program based around the Richmond race. Cellular users can text 'WTC' to 25383 to arrange a $5 donation to support the project.”

Please stop and take a moment to remember our fallen heroes.

Never Forget.

Check out these events and more at www.RIR.com.

I’ll be checking in all weekend, so keep your eyes peeled for updates from the track as we rock on at Richmond!

Richmond Rewind: Trashy Tales of Memories and Misadventure

Remember as a kid, sitting around the campfire telling ghost stories? For emphasis you’d pull out the flashlight and aim it toward your face to create shadows to make yourself look extra creepy and create a spooky atmosphere for your fellow campers.

Scary stuff as a kid; but downright terrifying for a modern day adult!

Allow me to explain. While camping with some friends during this Spring's Richmond race getaway, nature called in the middle of the night. I shuffled out of the RV in my pajamas into the darkness with my trusty iPhone in hand; the vFlashlight application leading my way.

I approached the line of Porta-John’s that were stacked side by side for what seemed like half a mile. I chose one in the middle of the pack, figured it would be the least offensive, sucked in one last breath of freshness and entered.

So there I was, balancing myself in the “hover-nate” stance over that hole of unmentionables, still clutching the glowing iPhone tightly when it happened.

The door of the Porta-John flew open and suddenly my illuminated “spooky” face was looking into the eyes of a monster. I froze like a deer caught in the headlights, eyes opened wide and my mouth agape, forming the perfect “O” as I tried to make sense of what was happening.

As I heard the monster yell out, “Jesus Christ, you scared the hell out of me!” I realized that I had not locked the door and the monster was nothing more than a mere race fan.

Had I not already been over the bowl, I might have peed my pants out of sheer fright. Luckily I was in the right place at the wrong time.

In pure redneck fashion I hollered out a slew of fleeting obscenities as my new found acquaintance stood there staring at me.

An eternity passed as he stood there, clutching his chest and catching his breath when finally he said, “Damn girl, you really scared me!”

“SHUT THE DOOR!”

I could hear him muttering to himself as he took his place in the john adjacent to mine. “Should have locked that door, never would have happened if you had just locked the door.”

"Yeah, yeah…it was all my fault, get over it already," I bellowed as I pounded the wall that separated us.

I’m no stranger to NASCAR Porta-John mishaps.

Last year during the Fall race in Richmond I stepped into one that was not balanced properly and nearly rocked it forward on top of me. The crowd erupted in laughter as I held on, preparing to go down with the ship.

I don’t know if it was Dale Sr. himself looking down from above, but some higher power granted me a stay of execution. At the very last minute that Ol’ Johnny lurched back to the position from whence it came and I was spared the literal meaning of shit hitting the fan!

Porta-Johns are just one facet that make a NASCAR race so damn special.

People who need people.

A successful race weekend is one that brings together old friends and allows you to make some new ones. NASCAR fans are some of the best people I’ve ever known.

Sure there will be times that you'll get tired of looking at shirtless fat bodies and mullets, but don’t forget they need love too and help to make the weekend an awesome one.

That being said, there are exceptions to the rule.

There are those few rotten apples that give NASCAR fans a bad name. The ones who get entirely too intoxicated and try to feel you up or offer Mardi Gras “beads for boobs.”

I don’t think that NASCAR brings out the idiot in them, I’m convinced that they are dolts pretty much every day of their lives.

At a race years ago, my sister and I were sitting in front of one of the jolliest, shirtless bellies that I’d ever been witness to. It was blazing hot that day, so he was drinking heavily and sweating profusely.

The race stayed green for most of the day so there was no real need to stand up. The caution flag finally waved and everyone was on their feet. In his drunken upright haze, our fat friend fell forward onto my sister.

I watched in virtual slow motion as his gelatinous belly literally engulfed her entire head. I did what anyone else would do in this situation, I laughed my ass off!

Awesome Accomodations.

I've stayed in a variety of hotels over the years, but I must say the RV is the way to go.

The good thing about staying in an RV is that you can come and go as you please without agenda. No need to wear a watch, when the crowd starts rolling toward the track, you know it’s show time. That is when you grab your soft-sided coolers, scanners and clear backpacks and head into the Grandstands.

The downside to staying in an RV falls on the shoulders of those you are camping with. I recommend ear plugs to drown out the snores and flatulence that come from within those four walls and a sling shot for the sounds that come from right outside your rig.

This Spring we were parked next to "The Cackler,” a woman with hands down the worst laugh ever.

I am convinced that night owl stood right next to my open window telling herself jokes until the sun came up. I gave her the hairy eyeball numerous times, didn’t help that it was pitch dark outside and she couldn’t see me. I think that she was married to the Porta-John peeping Tom.

Richmond International Raceway is so dear to my heart. I've spent nearly a decade of racedays there with good friends and family, each year brings a new experience.

I wrote my first Bleacher Report article right after last season's Richmond race. I've come full circle as I gear up for the upcoming weekend and once again look forward to what adventure I will find myself in the middle of.

Join me as I hit the road to Richmond on Friday for an event filled weekend as I report from tailgate to trackside.

Confessions Of a Moonlighter: What Lies Beneath a Sportswriter's Surface

Work as a moonlighting "sportswriter" here at Bleacher Report has been good to me. I have enjoyed just about every minute of it.

New doors have been opened and it has given me an outlet to challenge my creative side by writing about something that I love, something that is so far removed from my everyday existence.

Sure there are the occasional hecklers and trolls who will try to bring me down, but believe me when I say there ain’t nothing you can do or say that will ever bring me down.

I’ve seen the very worst of it in my “other” profession, words on a computer screen don’t even come close to touching that level of indecency.

I put my heart into my writing, but my soul belongs to emergency medicine. Rarely do these intertwine. As a rule, I can shift effortlessly between the two.

This week was the exception to that rule.

While my heart begged to write something clever and eloquent, my soul required some unexpected one-on-one time. I was reminded of just how fragile the human spirit truly is.

Resilience is a virtue. A gift tied up with a brightly colored bow that I unwrap every day.

I compare life to shelves and shelves of glass jars. Big, small, decorative and plain. Some are incredibly ornate, those are the ones that hold the good things like happiness, dreams and hopes. They are the ones that we display proudly and try to keep dust free every day.

Some are dark and dreary, they are the ones that we push to the back hoping to infinitely store them away, happy to never see them again. They are filled with concoctions of fear and sickness and life’s unspoken unpleasantries.

They are tiny vials of potent poison, all it takes is a single drop from one of them and the rest of the jars come crashing down into a million tiny little pieces.

Life. It is what it is, filled with delicious highs and bitter lows. The joyous delights and the ugliness that lies beneath. It is a sickeningly sweet oxymoron.

We are subjected to all that’s ugly to remind us of what the true meaning of compassion is all about.

I am subjected to these things at work. Terrible things, horrible things. At times it's like starring directly into the sun. You want to bask in the glory of it despite knowing that it could damage you in the process.

I knew what I was getting into when I accepted the position.

Life.

Caring.

Nurturing.

Helping.

Healing.

Joy.

Sorrow.

Pain.

Death.

Disease.

Trauma.

It is exactly what I signed up for and I would not have it any other way.

Every morning I come home and slough off the exterior hardships from the night before. I’m bright and shiny and from the outside look as good as new. It’s the interior that never fully comes clean.

Weeks go by where there is nothing but goodness. I leave the hospital proud that I’ve made some kind of difference and tuck it neatly away in one of those beautiful jars.

But on occasion, drops from that ugly little vial filled with vulgarity and cruelty get mixed up in the potion of good, leaving me tattered and torn.

Everything falters from it, for I am not the kind of person who has become jaded and hardened just so I can tolerate life’s imperfections.

I am affected by it. No matter how gut wrenching it may be, I want to always feel it. It grounds me and serves as a reminder as to why I do what I do.

At work it brings out the best in me but in life the very worst. At times it renders me powerless. I have to step back remember to breath and decompress from it all.

I never welcome a “Bye-Week” when it comes to NASCAR, but for me it could not have come at a better time. As this week comes to a close I look forward to starting anew in the morning. All of the wounds will have healed as time has thankfully allowed.

I will be bright and shiny and from the outside look as good as new.

From Tailgate To Trackside: NASCAR Buckles Up, It's Bristol Baby!

"Don't give us none of your aggravation,

We had it with your discipline.

Saturday night's alright for fighting,

Get a little action in."

-Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) Elton John

Oh yes, Saturday night’s alright for fighting and no better arena for the Sharpie 500, than Bristol Motor Speedway.

Driver patience is often as short as the track itself as the mighty 43 swap paint for 500 white-knuckled laps. Cramped quarters combined with the sheer horsepower of the cars has been likened to "flying fighter jets in a gymnasium."

Bristol knows how to brawl!

The idea for “world’s fastest half-mile” came to be in 1960 after track builders Larry Carrier and Carl Moore attended a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Hoping to create a smaller version of CMS with a more intimate setting, the pair, along with R.G Pope sketched out plans for the Northeastern Tennessee track on the back of envelopes and brown paper bags.

Ground was broken on 100 acres of dairy farm in early 1960 and took approximately one year to complete.

Bristol International Speedway was a perfect half-mile, measuring 60 feet wide on the straightaways, 75 feet wide in the turns and the turns were banked at 22 degrees.

NASCAR held its first race at BMS on July 27, 1961 to a sold-out crowd of 18,000. Jack Smith won the inaugural “Volunteer 500” despite not being in the driver’s seat to take the checkered flag. Smith drove the first 290 laps while his relief driver, Johnny Allen took over to complete the remaining 210 laps. The two drivers shared the $3225 purse.

BMS has gone through many changes, identities and owners over the years. In 1969, it was reshaped and re-measured. The turns were banked at 36 degrees and it became a 0.533-mile oval.

In 1976 after the season ended, the track was sold to Lanny Hester and Gary Baker. The track was renamed Bristol International Raceway in 1978 and in August of that same year, the first night race was held. The hot August night race in Bristol quickly became one of the most anticipated and popular races on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series calendar.

Warner Hodgdon purchased BMS in 1983 and named former track builder Larry Carrier as its general manager. In 1985, Hodgdon filed for bankruptcy allowing Carrier to formally take possession of the speedway and cover all outstanding debts.

In the face of its popularity, Bristol was far from perfect. For years, teams were unable to park their transporters inside the infield. Nor did the track have any significant garage area. Team transporters were parked in a lot outside of the track.

During racing periods, crews and participants were landlocked by the track, and thus, unable to return to the transporters for spare parts, repairs, or rest.

"In the early 1990s, the infield was reconfigured, and completely paved. Teams began parking the transporters in an orchestrated, extremely tight arrangement that takes several hours, and highly skilled drivers, to accomplish. Teams are now able to work out of their transporters in the same fashion as other facilities."

In 1992, the track was overhauled once again, abandoning its asphalt surface for the now famous concrete veneer.

Carrier sold the track to Speedway Motorsports, Inc in 1996 for $26 million dollars. Later that year, the name was changed once again to Bristol Motor Speedway and seating capacity grew to 86,000.

Today, BMS can hold more than 160,000 rabid race fans.

School's out and it's time to begin the beguine in Bristol!

While BMS owns several campgrounds surrounding the track, it does not offer the same kind of infield camping luxury that many of the other tracks do. As far as tailgating goes, you got to get a little creative!

The BMS properties generally sell out quickly, so if you are thinking about a Bristol getaway in 2010, get your reservations in now!

These campgrounds offer reserved spaces for the entire NASCAR race season starting at $860 with electric, sewer and water hookups. Spaces without hook-ups start at $99 per race event.

Prices include unlimited use of the shower facility, dump stations and water. BMS shuttles will offer transportation to the shower house as well as the grandstands on event days.

There are several privately owned campgrounds near the speedway that cater to race fans that are worth looking into as well and of course race day parking is available on a first come, first serve basis.

Parking on BMS grounds is by permit only. BMS also operates two free parking areas on St. Rt. 394. "Speedway Parking" and "Multi-Purpose" parking areas offer free shuttle service to and from the track.

Allow plenty of travel time as the tiny town of Bristol will play host to over 650,000 vehicles during a typical race weekend.

What the fans be grillin?

Looking for authentic tasty Tennessee treats to tantalize your tailgating taste buds?

You can’t go wrong with grilling some barbequed ribs or fresh catfish, but if you want to do it up right southern style pack your Fry Daddy!

In spite of its negative health benefits, submerging food in hot oil is so wrong that it’s right! EVERYTHING tastes better fried!

Virtually anything can be deep fried, from the usual suspects (french fries, onion rings, corn dogs) to the deliciously unexpected (Twinkies, pickles, cheesecake).

Heck, someone even found a way to deep fry a Coca-Cola!

So fry it up baby! Breakfast, lunch and dinner never tasted so good! Justify a weekend of unhealthy living knowing that you will walk it off in the mountains of Bristol as you make your way along the steep inclines to the track.

Tennessee is home to the famous Jack Daniel’s distillery, so whiskey-a-go-go it up in style with some race day cocktails. Recipes can found at www.jackdaniels.com.

Jack Daniel’s also offers a variety of paradise in a bottle with its Country Cocktails selections. You can’t go wrong with a Downhome Punch or a Black Jack Cola, just load up the cooler and you are good to go!

Jack Daniel’s, sponsor of Casey Mear’s No. 07 Chevrolet, promotes responsible drinking, so be sure to “Obey the caution flag and pace yourself!”

Looking to make your Bristol experience more eventful?

Check out Food City’s Family Race Night on Thursday, Aug. 20 for appearances from your favorite drivers and sponsors.

Get the VIP treatment all weekend long in the Amp Energy Club at BMS. Club members will be treated to great food, drinks, fun and exclusive benefits. For just $180 you’ll celebrate the race day atmosphere with a pre-race track tour and driver appearances.

Membership Includes:

• Entrance into Bristol Motor Speedway's exclusive Hospitality Village
  
• Great meals with non-alcohol beverages (Cash bar available)
  
• Exclusive "member's-only" gift pack with souvenir program
  
• Track tour (Sprint Cup day only)
  
• NASCAR driver appearances
  
• Entertainment, door prizes & music
  

• Access to NASCAR driver Q & A session:
  

• Friday, August 21 -Bobby Allison (4:00 p.m)
  
• Saturday, August 22 - Rusty Wallace (3:00 p.m), Matt Kenseth - (3:30 p.m.). Kasey Kahne - (4:10 p.m), Dale Earnhardt Jr. - (4:30 p.m.), Junior Johnson - (5:00 p.m.)
  

Information about these events, camping, parking and more can be found at www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.

So races fans, let’s buckle up, it's Bristol baby and Saturday night’s the night we like, Saturday night’s alright! See you next weekend when we get Amp-ed up in Atlanta!

From Tailgate To Trackside: NASCAR Gets Manky In Michigan

Looking to rock n’ roll all night and party every day? Then Michigan International Speedway is the place for you!

Located just 67 miles southwest of Detroit Rock City, it’s time to get a little Irish in the hills of Brooklyn.

Michigan, “the birthplace of the automobile” celebrates its 41st year of great racing by hosting this week’s Carfax 400.

MIS opened its grandstands, overlooking the two mile D-shaped oval to 12,000 eager race fans in 1968. As racing in all forms grew, so did the speedway.

Today the track holds 132,000 seats and plays host to the state’s largest, single-day paid admission sporting event.

In 1973, when the nation’s oil crisis and climbing gas prices threatened racing as a whole, Roger Penske purchased the track from the steps of the Lenawee county courthouse for a estimated two million dollars.

Penske envisioned turning the speedway into one of America’s premier motorsport arenas by adding more than 100,000 seats, three garages, 26 pit terrace suites, a sign shop, concessions, an infield hospital entertainment facilities and countless new buildings and warehouses.

In 1999, Penske’s reign came to an end as Penske Motorsports Inc. merged with NASCAR founder, Bill France’s International Speedway Corporation.

MIS is still considered one of the Nation’s premeire tracks to this very day.

Class dismissed, it’s time to get a little manky in Michigan!

MIS offers some of the best camping money can buy. For the swankiest of fans, you can reserve a spot in the private Pit Road Motorcoach RV Campground for a mere $2100 per couple and an additional $250 per additional person.

This exclusive area is home to only the finest of Class A motorhomes.

The grounds feature:

• Water and 50-amp electrical hook-up
• Portable restrooms
• Access to dump station and fresh water
• Private camping area
• Special enter/exit privileges

"Regular Joe" infield overnight camping is extremely limited and is on a first come first serve basis and costs between $150 and $200 per vehicle.

A weekend pass will set you back $100 and $40 for general admission Sunday afternoon walk-ups.

Set up camp as early as 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon and stay through until noon on Monday morning.

Infield amenities include showers, restrooms, dump stations, fresh water and Buddy’s Convenience Store.

Strapped for cash or don’t fancy yourself a full weekend warrior? That’s okay. MIS welcomes all forms of free tailgating from the exterior lots that surround the track.

What the fans be grillin?

Despite its name, “The Coney Dog” is a quintessential Detroit delicacy. Recreate the historic hot dog at the track by smothering it with beanless chili, raw onions and yellow mustard.

If pizza is more your thing, then pick up a few pies on your way to the track. Served up square, and paired nicely with an antipasto salad, Detroit’s version on the deep dish boasts a crispy crunchy crust piled high with your favorite toppings.

We are headed to the Irish hills, so what could be better than at good Guiness Stout to compliment your meal? Pack a few bottles of Bailey’s Irish Cream and Jameson’s Irish whiskey and you’ll be getting a little Irish in no time.

Since fans will leave the driving to the professionals on race day, kick up your tailgating experience by replacing your favorite light beer with “Irish Car Bombs” in an Erin Go Bragh round of beer pong.

Pour a ½ pint of chilled Guiness into a cup, fill a shot glass with ½ ounce of whiskey and ½ ounce of irish cream. Drop the shot glass into the Guiness and start chugging!

Pace yourself or you’ll be as useful as a cigarette lighter on a motorbike in no time!

Looking to rev up you race day experience?

Tour the pits to see how racing looks from the inside out. The pit area will be available when admission to the track opens and will close one and one half hours before the start of the race, so get there early to enjoy all of the festivities. Pre-race pit passes can be purchased for $50 at any MIS ticket office.

Wanna see paradise by the dashboard lights? Join fellow fans at the Trackside Club. Located in the Terrace Suites directly above Pit Lane, you’ll be able to see and feel the action on the track, then sit back and enjoy resort-quality food service.

The Trackside Club also provides a rooftop deck that puts you atop of all the action. Purchase an August weekend package for $500.

Each package includes:

• Trackside Club Admission
• Pre-Race Pit Pass
  
• Continental Breakfast and Catered Lunch
  
• Commemorative Event Gift
• Unlimited Beverages
• Souvenir Event Program (Sunday only)
  
• Roof-Top Viewing Deck
  
• Paddock Parking Pass
• Pre-Race Driver Introduction
  

Access MIS offers a new hospitality option for fans and company gatherings at Acceleration, “an inclusive resort at the track.”

Entertain and relax throughout the day and remain one hour after the conclusion of the race.

Each package includes:

• Hospitality credentials
• Pre-race pit access
  
• Buffet style breakfast and lunch
  
• Unlimited Beverages Coke Products
  
• Six (6) drink tickets per guest Budwieser products and wine
• Post-race snack (Sunday only)
  
• Entertainment
  
• Closed circuit color television
  
• Company name displayed on reserved table
  
• Souvenir programs
• Event gifts
  
• Special Guest Speakers (June Speakers: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kasey Kahne, Robby Gordon)
  
• Complimentary scanner rental
• Lot 11 parking pass
  

Check out these packages and more at www.mispeedway.com.

Let the Michigan melee begin and buckle up as we head into Bristol next weekend.

kara martin - bleacher report

NASCAR's Female Fans: We're Just Like You Only Prettier!

Late last week, I got an e-mail from NASCAR.com entitled “Fast and Fabulous: NASCAR lifestyle, insight and recipes for the female fan.”

C'mon, really?

It was filled with links to great recipe ideas and a full page spread about “NASCAR’s most eligible bachelor” Tony Stewart.

I am betting with 100 percent certainty that the male fans of NASCAR were not privy to this type of absurdity.

The more I thought about it, the more laughable it seemed. Just who does NASCAR think they are, trying to buy me with their pink baby-doll driver tees and glittery tank tops?

Sure there will always be women at the track donning ill fitting t-shirts with iron-on messages like “Mrs. Lil E” or “Driver Butts Drive Me Nuts,” but for the majority of female fans, we’re just like the rest of you, only prettier!

Statistics show that NASCAR’s female fanbase is nearing 50 percent, but the sport itself is still perceived by many as a “boys club.”

Being a knowledgeable female fan at the track is much like being a lone mare in the middle of a stud farm.

Men have it pretty darn easy when it comes to attending a race—throw on some shoes, pants, and an optional shirt and you’re good to go. The fairer sex has to worry about all of the sugar and spice and everything nice that goes along with being a woman.

There are countless websites out there that cater to the female fan, providing tips for your day at the track. They answer the burning questions, like what the best waterproof mascara is to wear to the track to prevent your “eyes” from melting down your face in the summer sun, or just how many tampons to bring to the track.

Hey guys, have you ever thought about packing some antibacterial wipes to clean the toilet seats with before sitting down on it or adding your “in case of emergency” number into your cell phone just in case you meet with certain danger.

Seriously, how many of you have carried a small bottle of hairspray on your person so that you can “fluff up your hair” when the hat comes off or some antiperspirant so that you can “freshen up” during caution flags?

This is what women are fed all the time, “a girl has always gotta look good!” Give me jeans, a t-shirt, flip flops, and a baseball cap any day. It’s a stock car race for God sake, not a freaking fashion show!

There will always be that girl who makes the rest of us look bad, you know the one. She’s had way too much to drink and during a caution will stand up and flash the entire race day community.

The instant gratification is astounding as people will take notice. There will be a lot of cat calling and a handful of “hell yeahs,” but ultimately in the end it is her drunk ass who gets escorted out in a shiny pair of designer handcuffs.

Way to represent ladies!

Yes at times being a girl at the race is like being that sweet little black feline who is stalked by smelly ol’ Pepe Le Pew.

"Ze arms of Pepe are upon you, I am ze captain, and you are ze first mate. Promotions will follow quickly!"

One year during the spring race in Richmond I was caught in a crowd with two of the drunkest souls I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing company with. They both had foot long hot dogs and as they bumped up next to a lucky lady they would ask the question that we all long to hear. “Wanna see my wee-nah?”

While I found it oddly amusing, all fun and games came to a screeching halt when one of them disrespected me by reaching out and grabbing a handful of my left breast!

He was like the redneck version of “Arthur.” Instead of introducing himself in proper British fashion he slurred, “I’m from Salisbury Merle-and,” as if it were a proper handshake.

I leaned into him and whispered something that is not fit to print, but lets just say it was a fair warning about what was going to happen if he didn’t remove that hand post haste!

“Hey mah bad, mah bad, it’s all good,” he replied as he raised both hands up into my line of vision, right before he high fived his buddy for making the play!

Got to give him props for trying, he made it to first base without even buying me the obligatory cocktail.

Fast forward years later to this year’s spring race in Richmond and I am still getting no respect! I mentioned to a fellow writer and seasoned media center veteran that I had obtained press credentials, his response…

"Just what NASCAR needs...another media babe in the garage area, you rock it, baby! (hehehehe...could rock me :-p ). Yeah...you groupie you!”

Are you freaking kidding me!?

While it could not be farther from the truth, it is still the perception of some NASCAR Neanderthals.

While NASCAR Dads delight in the fact that they can share the racing experience with their brand loyal spouses through sponsors like Little Debbie and Betty Crocker, there are many female fans who consider themselves true gearheads.

They are the ones who will challenge even the most seasoned good ol' boys to a hardcore lesson in NASCAR trivia. She'll spout out team stats and qualifying lap times without blinking a made up eye.

Sure some might be dazzled by the feminine exterior, but get to know the inside before assuming that we female fans are only at the track to get hit on or lost in the baby blue eyes of Kasey Kahne.

Forty million female NASCAR fans can't be wrong!

kara martin - bleacher report