Yep, I usually post a song on Mondays. If you feel the need for one, how about this one?
So, since I’m a Tarheel born and bred NASCAR kinda girl who’s written two NASCAR novels, I’d really be falling down on the job if I didn’t mention that the season officially opened yesterday. I have to start by saying the 10th Anniversary tribute to Dale Earnhardt did me in. I was never an Earnhardt fan–mostly because my dad was and it was way more fun to compete against each other–but his death and the silent 3rd laps always make this good Southern girl cry. Love him or hate him, you had to respect him. The man was an institution all by himself.
I knew from last week’s Shootout (and please, please… can we go back to calling it the Clash? That’s just so much cooler…) that this was going to be the best 500 in years. Boy, I’m so glad I was right.
And this may be a bad thing for me to say, but you can’t beat an early Kyle Busch spin out… Or Johnson going laps down. Okay. I have to go repent of that now.
It was great to see a rookie in Victory Lane. Trevor Bayne just turned 20 Saturday, has only started one other time in Sprint Cup… and he takes home the 500? Awesome. He tickled me the way he kept saying, “Are you kidding me?!” I love that enthusiasm. I hope he keeps that for the rest of his career. And he brought the Wood Brothers back into Victory Lane. What a popular win. It’s always great when other teams pour out to congratulate the winner the way they did yesterday. That’s what makes NASCAR awesome.
The best part for me though was when the kid climbed out of the car and IMMEDIATELY gave all of the glory to God. Rock. On. Trevor. Bayne. Before he ever thanked his crew and his sponsors, he thanked God and talked about how they’d prayed “a lot.” That makes me want to run right out and buy a Trevor Bayne t-shirt. That’s another thing I hope he never lets go of, knowing who put him where he is.
All in all, a rockin’ good 500 this year. Can’t wait for next week…
-JB
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