SANTA CLAUS - NASCAR STYLE!

Well, the holiday craziness has officially begun!  It seems you can't flip on the tv or pick up a newspaper without being assaulted by advertisements for the very best holiday gift bargains ever.  I don't know about you, but those ads are of no help to me.  They pretty much just add to the stress I put on myself to find the absolute most perfect gift for the people on my list.

If you have begun stressing out over what to get for your favorite Nascar fan, I am here to help!

• The most obvious (and therefore, in my opinion, the least exciting and most predictable) is something with their favorite driver on it.  There seems to be no limit to the 'stuff' you can find featuring your driver.  Everything from clothing to home & office supplies (think mouse pads and bottle openers) can be found online.  Just do a Google search with the driver's name to find their official fan page, or go to Nascar.com.  If you want it, you'll find it.  Trust me!
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• Tickets to a race - Now you're talkin'!  The decision on which race will be limited only by your budget.  If you are not looking to spend alot of money, I would suggest  choosing the track closest to home.  Call the ticket office and tell them what you want to spend and I'll bet they have something for you.  I would also recommend that you buy two tickets so that they can invite someone (maybe you!) to go along.  If you really want to score major points and do it up right, choose a destination track farther from home and give them a whole weekend package, including hotel.  If you have never gone along to a race despite your Big Fan asking you to over and over (and over!) make part of the gift your promise to go along.  Now that's a gift!
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• Driving Experience - Some of the tracks offer an opportunity for the public to jump in a race care and drive a few laps on the track.  This is not inexpensive, but oh my goodness is it ever fun!  It will take a little research on your part, but it is well worth the effort.  Some tracks also will let you drive your own car on the track, but this is not nearly as cool as they limit your top speed to less than what alot of people drive on the interstate.  (But I don't advise doing that in Virginia - see Martinsville post) ;-)  You should also know that the times these offers are available are blacked out around race time, so you can't do both on the same trip unless you are staying for an extended period.
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• SIRIUS/XM Radio - If you don't already have this, I would suggest putting this high on your list!  There is a station devoted entirely to Nascar so you can have 24/7 Nascar (if you really want that!).  And even it you already have a subscription for a radio in your car, I'd recommend buying the boom box and portable radio module.  We use this all the time when we are camping.  It is fun to sit around the campfire and listen to the Nascar guys talk racing, and if we don't have the tv station that is broadcasting the race, we can still not miss a minute of race day excitement.  You can find all of this online or at your favorite electronics store (think Best Buy).

Well, there you have it!  I hope you found these suggestions helpful.  The best part of these is that you don't have to leave the comfort of home to do your shopping!  Now get busy!!

THE BIG DAY ....

Well, the Big Day is almost here!!  We have waited an entire year for it.  We have been talking about it for months.  And 'it' is almost here!!

Those of you who are deep in preparation for it may be thinking that I am talking about Thanksgiving.  But NO WAY!!  I am talking about something much more exciting ...

THE SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP RACE!!

Ever since Nascar announced the new format for this year's championship, fans everywhere have been talking about it and expressing their opinions about the change.  But there is no denying that this has been one of the most exciting years of racing.  Ever.

And after Sunday's race, Nascar will have a first-time Champion.  There are alot of fans who were really beginning to get disillusioned with the sport because the same guys kept winning the championships.  But this year - not so!  This year was so exciting and with four fresh faces in the finals, the championship race promises to be an event to remember!

I just heard that there are about 1,000 tickets still available at Miami-Homestead for the Big Day. They also have some campsites available.  I am SOOOOO tempted to be spontaneous and just pack up and go, but since we just winterized the RV on Tuesday and since there is that nasty little matter of jobs .....

We will be watching all the coverage from the comfort of home.  We'll watch everything pre-race, and truth be told, we will probably have the Nascar station playing on the Sirius/XM too! Even during the race we will mute the television and listen to the MRN broadcast.  Those guys are great and there are far less commercials.  I told you, we are really big fans!

And unlike the Super Bowl parties we usually attend, we will be watching this one alone.  No kids. No friends. Nobody.  We're not trying to be anti-social or offend anyone. It's just that, well, we don't want to miss a second of the excitement and they might want to talk and be all sociable ;-)

I'm already planning our menu.  I haven't decided exactly what it will be, but I know this much -- it will be a make-ahead something.  Maybe wings, grilled then kept warm in the sauce in the crockpot. Or maybe pulled pork sandwiches. What I do know is I'm not cooking OR serving after the race starts.  It will be every Nascar fan for themself at this Happy Wife's house!

What are your Championship Race Day plans?  Whatever they are, I hope you have a great time!  And don't call me - I won't be answering the phone that day either!!