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.