carbonated joy

We are smack dab in the middle of race weekend in Charlotte.
It’s a pretty big deal…it’s even kinda sacred. Thanks to some very cool friends, we are going to the races. (Thank you Daniel and Aryn!! You guys are awesome!!)
We love the races!!
There is absolutely nothing like a live race.
It is a special flavor of fun…
The fans, the fumes, the funnel cakes!!
We arrived in record time. We parked about 12 miles from the track and we walked into the redneck promise land.
THESE are our people!
We were swept up in a big perfectly imperfect wave of beautiful humanity. There are so many interesting sights, sounds and smells.
There is always a crazy sense of community as people brag about their favorite driver and talk a little smack about other drivers.
I’m a Kyle Busch fan so I always attract a lot of unsolicited advice and hand gestures.
(People have thrown boiled peanuts at me and spilled beer on my daughter who I had excitedly bought a #18 shirt for and then I made her wear it to her race a few years back…she was very…um…thankful.)
It’s all good fun.
Even though you have “your driver”, you’ve got to realize that racing is a pure team sport. There are a crew and a crew chief and hardworking people back at the shop. There are people at the track making sure that the motor magic happens. It is an incredible example of teamwork.
We walked around outside and got free cups, stickers, and shirts. We had the opportunity to visit a time share for a “free” weekend. We could buy caps and koozies. It is always such a blast just to see the exhibits and vendors outside the track.
Then we went in, walked up the grandstand and found our seats.
There is truly not a bad seat at Charlotte Motor Speedway, I can safely say that because I have sat in a lot of them!
The drivers were introduced.
The National Anthem was beautiful and downright soul stirring.
And then the moment arrived…
The 4 most famous words in motorsports…
“DRIVERS
START
YOUR
ENGINES!!”
The cars started and you could feel the thunder!!
I have to confess that today, when I felt the rumbly in my tumbly caused by the stock cars as they ignited, I got a little misty eyed and it wasn’t just the gas fumes.
It was the awe inspiring convergence of cars, community, and corndogs.
It is a wonderful, Sunoco drenched thing.
Stock car racing is the true beautiful sport.
So many people just don’t get it!
NASCAR is a sport that is wide open.
Even, the metal seats at the speedway are wide-opener than the seats at most sporting events, as a chunky little brother I appreciate that!
There was a rain delay, but we didn’t let that rain on our parade. It was just an excuse to sit next to my best friend and eat beef jerky and chick-o-sticks. The big trucks that dried the track made a low, wheezing noise that at first sounded like bagpipes playing Amazing Grace, but after about 49 seconds, they sounded like an irritated, constipated goat.
After about an hour, the track was dry and we got to hear the cars start again…AHHHH!
They finished up.
There were a few wrecks, several cautions, and one dude in front of us seriously destroyed a massive turkey leg.
My driver didn’t win tonight…sometimes that happens.
Brad Keselowski won and did a very impressive burnout. We have some mutual friends who say that Brad is a really good guy, so I’m happy for him and his fans.
We walked out tonight of the speedway next to Michael Waltrip, who is about 3 feet taller than me. 3 and a half feet if you count his very cool hair. The man is evidently a multitasker because AS he was walking, he was eating pizza off of a briefcase. It was quite impressive.
We will be back tomorrow, ready to feel the thunder and enjoy everything that comes along with it.

BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY.