Fan columnist: Living the NASCAR life one race at a time
It’s funny how NASCAR creeps into a fan’s life. I ran a 5K race early Sunday morning. One thousand racers were there, so the sense of racing in a pack the way drivers do at Talladega was prevalent. My number was 810. The race was only one lap. This particular track was a road course. It had both lefts and rights - it even ran through a school parking lot. The race name even had a sponsor, a hospital.
Right away some guy tried to run me to the apron in Turn 3, but I stayed my line. My groove is the inside; it’s the shortest way around. When it comes to these races, I’m like Robby Gordon in the sense that I infrequently pass anyone and am probably causing wrecks behind me. As I made a rare pass on a fellow runner, I could hear my spotter calmly saying, “Inside…..inside…..”
Just past the halfway point a few folks slowed to a walk due to expired engines.
Coming to the finish there was a sudden burst of energy that NASCAR drivers must feel as the last few laps of a race wind down. I finished on the lead lap, but my time was certainly no track record. I might not have had the right setup, perhaps a higher gear ratio would have helped. I wish I had drunk a tangerine NOS prior to the start; it may have helped.
Most 5K runs have a light breakfast at the end, usually fruit and quartered bagels. Thanks to the race sponsors, this event had a local pizza establishment and a local donut shop providing goodies for the racers. I felt like Tony Stewart as I gorged on pepperoni pizza and bear claws postrace. I didn’t run 500 miles today, but 3.1 miles is pretty far. I can have some junk food.
After watching Kansas you have to believe Carl Edwards wants this championship. His kamikaze move on Jimmie Johnson on the last lap was incredibly gutsy and shows that he is swinging for the fences.
Talladega is next. NASCAR fans love Talladega. When fans die they want their body cremated and their ashes sprinkled from top of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s hood as he circles the Talladega Superspeedway at 200 mph.
When my wife and I went to Talladega the spring of 2005, we camped in the infield. The infield is for adults. The debauchery that goes on in the infield is similar to Mardi Gras. Talladega was the biggest party I had been to since I used to go to Panama City, Fla., for spring break. People rent their RV spot then also rent a spot next to them to set up a dance club or karaoke. Every fun loving NASCAR fan should visit Talladega at least once.
Kyle Busch has won the last two restrictor-plate races, but it seems karma has caught up with him as of late. Other than the No. 18’s wins, I don’t see any patterns in the finishes of the last three restrictor-plate races. It’s anyone’s game.
