Racing at the Paperclip

Martinsville Speedway is known as the Paperclip since it is a flat half mile track that from above looks like a paperclip. In Martinsville, beating and banging will earn you a checkered flag. With the new car design, it has replaced Bristol as the track where if you don't finish with torn up sheet metal and donuts on the side of your car, you didn't try. Since qualifying and most of practice was rained out, it is hard to judge who looks good here today and who's pretending. Points leader, Jeff Gordon, will start on the pole and, by virtue of leading the points, got to choose his pit stall first. The pits here in Martinsville are as tight as any on the circuit, therefore, there is only one good pitbox...pitbox number one. You can shoot straight out without having to turn to miss the guy in front of you. There will be many mishaps and fender benders in the pits today, so Jeff may have a huge advantage with the rainout of qualifying. I think the short track specialists will rise and shine today, so my predictions are:
3). Denny Hamlin
2). Jimmie Johnson
1). Jeff Gordon

Yesterday, Andy and Alex competed in the AAU National Wrestling Tournament in Kingsport, TN. Andy had an uphill battle all day and finished 8th in the nation. Alex marched through his competition and won the national tournament!!!! I am so proud of both of them. It may be a bit premature, but I smell scholarships!!!!

Have a great raceday!

FREEBIRD!!!

You know, sometimes the travel gets long, boring, annoying and lonely...but somedays it is pretty cool...like today.
I got to the airport this morning to fly to North Carolina, then drive up to Martinsville, VA. I, as usual, flew Southwest. As I got in line, I saw a long blonde haired guy walk past. I got a quick glimpse, but thought "Wasn't that Johnny Van Zant from the band Lynyrd Skynyrd?" Now for all you "I only listen to old time Gospel music" types out there, Lynyrd Skynyrd is a rock band formed in the '70's. Though there are new band members mixed in now, Skynyrd is still playing today. They created the rock and roll anthems "Freebird", "Sweet Home Alabama" and scores of others. Anyway, they are one of my favorite bands of all time.
I got into what I thought would be the shortest security line and I was about 10 people behind him. I wasn't in full stalking mode yet...it was 6:10am and I was still foggy. I saw a few people stop him and talk to him. Once I got through security, I headed to my gate. I saw him getting a Starbucks and when he came out, I said hi and he stopped asked me my name and we talked for about 5 minutes. I was telling him about this season of NASCAR since he is a big fan and he told me about Skynyrd working on a new album called "God and Guns". We talked about how nearly 100% of NASCAR fans are Skynyrd fans and how he thought the band should try to do more with NASCAR. It was fun. I said bye and went to my gate. Our flight was slightly delayed due to fog, so I turned around to find a seat and saw Johnny sitting all by himself across the hall. I went over and we started up a conversation again. He told me the band was getting ready to tour Europe for about a month. He said one of the funniest things about Europe was a trip to Helsinki when the fans were singing along to "Sweet Home Alabama" with a Russian accent. We talked about being on the road, family, kids...it was a blast. I doubt Johnny Van Zant in blogging about meeting a guy in the Nashville airport today who works in NASCAR, but for me, it was a great time and a cool connection!

Rebel Award

I'm gonna take a break from writing about NASCAR and where we are going this week...well, we're going to Martinsville, the Paperclip, but I'll get into that later this week.
I wanted to tell you about the 2008-09 Franklin High Wrestling banquet last night. Sandy is the president of the booster club and gives about 20 hours a week keeping the club going. The banquet was fun...lots of awards given out and people recognized for their contributions. One of the awards that was given out was The Rebel Award. Now our school mascot is a rebel...an old southern countrified rebel...I didn't pick it. I believe it is just part of Franklin's history.
The coaches confer on this award and give it to the wrestler who best exemplifies determination, dedication and desire...oh, and doesn't complain. They gave the award to Zach!
I was so happy! That is the one award that shows character beyond victories, statistics or popularity. When the coach started to explain the award, all the wrestlers started pointing to Zach...it was great! He busts his butt every day at practice and his passion for the sport he loves continues to grow. He makes me proud! Next year...state champion!

It's Bristol, Baby!

It's Raceday in Bristol! I've said it many times before, but, again, this is my favorite track! I am excited about today's race. I really don't have any predictions today...you can't really predict who will win at this track. I really hope that mark Martin can take his pole start clear to the checkered flag. We'll see!
I did get a chance yesterday to drive 2 1/2 hours to see the boys wrestle in their AAU state wrestling championships. I missed a few of the twins first matches, but got there in time to see Andy and Alex both take 3rd place in state!!! Then the high school division started and Zach marched through the competition straight to the championship match against the boy that beat him pretty badly 2 weeks ago at regionals. The match was incredible...Zach was down 6-4 with 21 seconds left, then scored a reversal. With 13 seconds left he tried to turn his opponent to get some back points, but wasn't able to get him turned. Overtime! Both guys shot and were in what looked like a stalemate, but Zach was slightly out of position and lost the takedown and the championship match 8-6. He was pretty distraught because he was pretty sure he would win the match, but he showed a lot of character and I am proud. They all did so great. Andy and Alex were asked to be alternates on Team Tennessee, the traveling middle school team that has the national match in Iowa at the end of April. I was so happy to get to see them all wrestle!
Here's who I think will be top 3 today:
3). Jeff Gordon
2). Kurt Busch
1). Mark Martin

Thunder Valley

Back on the road again! We've arrived in Bristol, TN for this weekends NASCAR festivities. This is one of my favorite tracks on the circuit, but there's not a whole lot to do around here. This time we are staying in these new condos that were built right across the street from the track. It is a really nice place, but we are all have roommates this week. We do have our own bedrooms and bathrooms, so it is fine. Oh, and free wireless!
It was weird not working a race last weekend. I know we've only been at it again for a month, but I was already getting into a groove.
Mark Martin won the pole for the Cup race today, then he was our guest on Trackside. He is a funny guy who is still loaded with talent. I really hope he can take the win this weekend!
I'll update in a couple of days with some insights and behind the scenes info about this weekend's 500 mile race! Stay tuned!

Raceday in Atlanta

Good Morning, race fans!
It is a mere 3 hours away from the green flag here in Atlanta. No real notable things happening here at the track, except that the grand old man of NASCAR, Mark Martin, took the pole on Friday night. It was his first pole in 7 years. He is so happy to have switched to the Hendrick team this season, but the results aren't quite as high as he'd want. I expect to see him finish a lot higher today than he has so far this season. Kyle Busch won the truck race last evening, even though his truck lost 2nd and 3rd gear right before the last restart. He is amazing and I am starting to give in and like him.
Coming off last week's win, there is no reason to believe that Kyle couldn't win it again.
Predictions for today's race:
3). Juan Pablo Montoya
2). Kyle Busch
1). Carl Edwards

Over the weekend all three of my sons qualified for the AAU State Finals in wrestling. Zach got 2nd place Friday night. Andy got 2nd and Alex got 3rd on Saturday. They will all wrestle for state titles in two weeks! I am so proud of them!

Have a great raceday!

The South's gonna race again...

We've made it back to East Coast time with this week's race in Atlanta, Ga. The Atlanta Motor Speedway, located in Hampton, Georgia, is one of the fastest tracks on the circuit. There is room to pass and the guys can leave the pedal down nearly all the way around. This weekend only the Trucks and Sprint Cup teams are racing. The Nationwide guys get the weekend off.
I am expecting some great racing, especially in the truck race on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking of weekends off, next weekend will be racing free. All three series will be taking a well deserved weekend off.
This weekend my mom and big sister are heading to Utah to visit my niece, with a bonus trip to Las Vegas. I am sure they will take the time out of their busy schedule of gambling, watching Chippendales, and general hijinks to watch both races this weekend. Yeah, right.

Keno, Blackjack and Craps...oh, my...

Sorry the post is late today...sleeping off a huge hangover and gambling buzz...
Well, not really. I was in bed by 7:30pm last night and ended up sleeping 9 hours! Whoo-hoo!
Big race yesterday...lots of yellow flags and some big crashes in the Nationwide race. It was very
entertaining to watch!
Today's race could be historic. If Matt Kenseth can pull off the trifecta and win the first three races
of the season, it will be a first! I'd like to see it happen!
This track is one of the cookie cutter 1.5 mile tracks, but lots of guys have trouble in the corners,
and there seems to be a lot of crashes each race. Last year Jeff Gordon hit the inside retaining wall
in a crash that he said was the hardest crash he'd ever had. At that time there was no safer barrier
on that part of the inside wall. Due to that crash, the speedway did install the SAFER barrier, so hopefully
no one will hit that hard again.
Vegas is a fun city, and I hope Mom, Jackie and Jessie have a blast next week! (I would recommend
"Thunder from Down Under", but that might incriminate me...yuk!)
My predictions for today:
3). Greg Biffle
2). Jeff Gordon
1). Carl Edwards
Have a great Raceday!