I got bored out of my mind yesterday morning. I took the wife to her chiropractor appointment and waited, and waited, and waited….
I then found my camera and popped in my obscure live Pink Floyd CD from 1972. Most of you will not enjoy this waste of time video but it does have a few interesting things around Columbia and a good song in the background.
Sorry, but for some reason it amuses me to watch this video.
It was another early morning last Sunday as we packed up our junk and headed to the race track. Luckily for us, the NASCAR Winston Nextel Cup Race started 2 hours earlier than the previous day’s race. We had to pretty much just chill out and relax as we waited for them green flag to drop.
Step-Dan, Pops, Little Harry and Uncle Grizz all look pretty bored excited as the tailgating has begun.
After several hours of waiting and walking around to be sure that we had all of the souvenirs we wanted/needed, we made our way up the ramps and stairs to the top of the track. Look at all of the people making the same trek.
Everyone was ready for the race to start, including the drivers.
Finally, we had the prayer and the singing of the national anthem and then this:
Not long afterwards, we got to hear the four most famous words in motorsports, “Gentlemen, start your engines!“:
The cars were then led out onto the track by the pace car. Everyone in the stands was getting hyped up.
And then…they dropped the flag and the thunder rolled across Alabama:
We had great views of the pits and all of the work the crews do all Sunday afternoon.
The race got pretty boring for awhile with no one passing and not being able to do anything really. We took a break from the sun and went underneath the stands. When we got back I was just in time to watch my driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who had been very strong, blow an engine.
The race went on and got better. Even though I didn’t have a dog in the hunt, the rest of the guys did and I rooted for Little Harry’s and Uncle Grizz’s racers.
Little Harry, although he doesn’t look like it, is having another grand ole time watching his favorite sport.
When the big wrecks happen, you can never be fast on enough on the camera…at least I can’t.
Once Pops’ driver got detroyed and it was nearing the end of the race, he went to the car so that we could have an advantage on the rest of the crowd. Step-Dan followed him shortly thereafter since his driver was out.
Grizz’s driver is Tony Stewart who had pretty much dominant since my driver blew up. He looked like the guy to beat. Everyone’s least favorite driver, Jeff Gordon was nowhere to be seen or heard from all day…until the very end. He started in the mid-30th position and at the end he showed why he is probably the greatest race car driver in the world today. He led half of a lap all the day but it was the most important half lap…the last lap.
We all cussed out loud and ran for the exit. Pops was ready and waiting and we missed most of the traffic. It took only 3 hours to get from the racetrack to my front door. Not too shabby.
We all had a great time and I cannot wait to do it again sometime. Thanks to Pops for the great time!
