"GRAB A COKE AND A SMILE!"

Nascar Wife's age is probably showing with the title of this one, but I remember when that was the slogan for Coke.  I also remember "I'd like to teach the world to sing ..."  And the truth is, every now and then I just gotta have a Coke!  I try not to indulge too often, but there are just certain times that only a Coke will do.

Have you ever noticed that alot of Nascar drivers like Coke too?  Well, at least they appear to.  I always wondered why these professional athletes were always chugging away on a Coke, a beverage that really has no redeeming nutritional qualities.  It just didn't make sense that after a grueling race where dehydration is a concern a Coke is the first thing they reach for.

Well .... look a little closer and you will notice two things -- the bottle is always full, and they take one big swig and put the cap back on.

So, what's the deal with that?

There are six drivers that are part of the Coca-Cola Racing Family - Biffle, Hamlin, Logano, Newman, Stewart and Patrick.

Every time one of these drivers takes a chug on a Coke while they are on camera, they earn points. It's called the Coca-Cola Chug for Charity.  Coca-Cola keeps track of those points and periodically tallies the points and writes a check to the charity chosen by the driver with the most points.  In 2010 Ryan Newman won over $60,000 for the Ryan Newman Foundation!!

What a brilliant marketing strategy and a great, easy way for drivers to add to their favorite charity's bottom line!  It's a WIN-WIN all the way around!

"INDEPENDENCE" DAY?

July 4th, 1863 - The Battle of Gettysburg was raging just a few miles from where I live.  Thousands upon thousands of brave men were being led into battle behind a soldier bearing the flag they were willing to die to defend. Many faced certain death.  At the end of that battle, the farm fields were polluted with the lifeless bodies of soldiers from the North and from the South, many of them clutching in their hands their beloved flag.

July 4th, 2015 - Nascar has decided that because of some mentally deranged wack-a-doodle who chose to murder innocent people while wearing a shirt that had a Confederate flag patch on it, you can no longer fly that flag at any of their tracks.  It might offend someone.  Goodness gracious, we wouldn't want that now, would we?!?!

HOW IN THE WORLD DID WE GET HERE?

At the risk of 'offending someone' politically, I know EXACTLY how we got here! ....

MICHELLE OBAMA: "Barack knows that we are going to have to make sacrifices; we are going to have to change our conversation; we're going to have to change our traditions, our history; we're going to have to move into a different place as a nation."

Congratulations Mr. Obama.  You have succeeded in rewriting our history.  And we have rolled over and played dead while you did so.  We have allowed you to get away with it.  Or have we?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

To me, that is the greater question.  We know what Nascar wants to do about it.  Nascar wants you to turn in your Confederate flag and exchange it for Old Glory.  Brilliant!!  Maybe if we eliminate any physical trace of what actually happened 150 years ago, we can all pretend it never happened and we can all just get along.  Yeah, keep drinkin' the Kool Aid, Nascar!!

Have you heard about this latest installment of Politically Correct Insanity?!

Bubba Watson to replace Confederate flag on General Lee with U.S. flag

In 2012, Watson had planned to drive the General Lee during the ceremonial parade lap for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway as part of his duties as honorary race official. However, NASCAR changed its mind, citing the flag on the roof, and decided "it was not in the best interest of our sport."

**NOTE THE DATE - 2012!!!

Yup, Bubba Watson is now going to paint over the Confederate flag on the General Lee, a car from a 70's televison show. Good God!  Now we even have to rewrite television history so that we don't offend anyone!! The ridiculousness of this leaves me almost speechless!!

So, as the mother of children whose great-great-great grandfathers fought and DIED defending the Union, let me say this.  I AM OFFENDED!!

I am offended that my freedom of speech, along with so many other freedoms, is being taken away.

I am offended that our President feels it is his duty to rewrite my history.

And I am offended that Nascar is helping him do exactly that.

IS IT POSSIBLE?

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then so, it follows, is ugly.  Is it possible for us to consider this flag as a thing of beauty?  I believe it is.

Suppose instead of thinking of it as a racist symbol, a sign of oppression, and a reminder of an especially ugly and tragic time in our nation's history we change our perspective.

Suppose we consider it as a sign of triumph!  A reminder of a time when good men saw an injustice and were willing to die to give their fellow man a better life!  Suppose we teach our children, especially those who still consider themselves bound by the chains of slavery that their ancestors endured, that hundreds of thousands of people died horrible, nightmarish deaths all because they didn't want them to be bound by those same chains!  Men and Women, North and South, Union and Confederate.  All fought to make this a better country.  

THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, IS HOW YOU REWRITE HISTORY!!! 

So, where do we go from here?  I humbly suggest that you continue to fly the flag that you have always flown.  For this Yankee, it is not the flag of the Confederacy.  But if that is your choice, then by all means fly it.  If it offends someone I hope they will say something to you so that you can tell them how important that flag is to all of us.  NO ONE SHOULD BE OFFENDED BY OUR HISTORY.  It is who we are.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AMERICA!!

SO MUCH MORE THAN A RACE!

We are back from a truly amazing weekend at the Monster Mile in Dover, Delaware, and I couldn't wait to share some of the things I learned and some of the pictures I took!

One of the fun things we experienced was spending some time in the pit area during all three days of the weekend.  And the thing that struck me most was just HOW MUCH is going on there and HOW MANY people are working behind the scene to produce the racing event.

Of course, there are the drivers

Ryan Newman poses with a fan

and the owners

Jack Rousch, "The Cat in the Hat"

and the crew members.

But there are also alot of other people milling around there too!  There are lots and lots of media people

TV

Radio

and, of course, Claire B. Lang!!

There are security guards who make sure no one goes where they are not allowed to go

And the fire personnel

This man told me he would be sitting there all day until the race was over.

I stopped complaining about being hot after that!

Dover International Speedway always reserves a special place of honor for our military, maybe because the Dover Air Force base is only a few miles down the road.  We actually observed one pit crew member seeking out every member of the military, shaking their hand and thanking them for their service.  And no cameras were recording it, it was simply an expression of gratitude from a citizen.  Awesome!

Then there is the business end of Nascar.  Every driver has a posse of public relations people who go everywhere they go, tweeting and instagramming their every move!

Don't forget to save room for the helicopters and the Air Titans!

And spotters

And whoever the guy is who has to make sure the tires get where they need to be!

So glad this is not MY job!!

Save room for sponsors and other VIPs, fan with pit passes, and OH YEAH race vehicles!

It is an amazing scene, behind the scenes.  All of this so that folks like us can get our race fix every week!!

YOU, TOO, CAN HAVE A NASCAR WIFE ......

Ok, ladies.  You can keep reading if you'd like, but this one is for the man in your life.  Don't worry, I've got your back ;-)

The idea for this blog came about a year ago when we were camping.  We walked past a really nice fifth wheel where a young family was camping.  They had a Jimmie Johnson #48 pennant hanging on the side which, to Hubby, meant "Please stop and talk to me about Nascar."

This nice young dad said that he would love to camp at a track and go to a race but his wife wants no part of it.  I told him about how much fun we have in Dover and he said, "I wish you would talk to my wife!"  As we walked away Hubby said, "You really should write a blog ..."  And the rest, as they say, is history!

Can you relate to this young dad?  Do you, too, wish your wife would be interested in going to the races with you?  If so, let me share a couple of conversion tactics pointers with you.

The first thing I would tell you is a bit radical for most men and at the risk of having you stop reading here, I'm going to say it anyway.  And that is .... LISTEN to what she says when you ask her to go to a race.  I'm sure -- in fact I know -- she doesn't simply say 'no thanks'.  I KNOW she always follows it with a reason WHY she doesn't want to go.  Key words to listen for are "boring" "too hot" "porty potties" - you get the idea!

Your job now is to anticipate and eliminate all her objections.  This may sound like a daunting task, but keep this thought in mind - someday your kids will be out of your house (I promise!) and you and your wife are going to need to have things that you like to do together.  Believe me, I know what I am talking about!  So consider this first race experience an investment in your happy future.  You won't always need to do this, but it is necessary now to win her over to your side!

Okay ... here goes:

1.  Choose a race in an area you know she would like and then plan some non-race things to do. Number One on my list is Watkins Glen, but we have had a great time exploring everywhere we go for a race.  Your conversation could go something like this, "Honey, how about we go to (Watkins Glen) for a few days.  We can check out (the wineries and hike the falls) and take in the race on Sunday."

2.  Before you present the idea to her, check out what special seating/packages the track has to offer.  I'm not an expert on all the tracks, but all of the tracks that we have been to have some nice, affordable options for tickets.  My big objection has always been that I don't want to sit on metal benches in the blazing hot summer sun for hours on end and I absolutely WON'T do Porta-Potties!!! So at Bristol we got tickets in the Budweiser Suite which gave us access to a nice place where we could go for food and a beer without standing in long concession lines.  Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress made an appearance which was really cool.  It was also air-conditioned which, in Tennessee in August, is a really big deal.  And we had nice sort-of private restrooms but also seats for the race outside in the grandstands.  At Watkins Glen, we had tickets in The Bog which allowed us to walk all around the infield and watch the race from all different vantage points.  Both of these options eliminated my objections so I really had no reason NOT to go!

The people who work in the ticket offices are always very helpful when you call.  Tell them what you are trying to do and ask them what special offers they have for you.  Walking pit road before a race is lots of fun too.  It adds a whole new dimension to racing for people who think it's only a bunch of cars driving in circles.  Seeing what the pit crews have to do before a race is really interesting, even if you aren't mechanically minded.

Now your conversation continues with, "I know you don't like to sit in the sun for that long, so I checked out some special things we can do at the track.  We can get tickets with access to an air-conditioned suite so that you can get up and go there whenever you want to!"

You're liking how this is going now, aren't you?!

3.  Tell her how HAPPY it makes you are that she would even consider going with you and then tell her that if she absolutely hates it you will never ask her to go with you again.  But, if you follow these few simple steps I don't think there will be much chance of that!  And then tell her she can wear this shirt to the race!!

It's not rocket science, but I guarantee that if you follow these few easy suggestions, you will soon have a NASCAR WIFE & HAPPY LIFE!!

THE WAY TO A NASCAR FAN'S HEART!

You've heard that old saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach?!  Well, apparently the same can be said for a Nascar Fan!

If you have had the privilege of going to a race, you know that it is so much more than just a race. Not that the race is not the main attraction, but let's face it.  People spend an entire weekend at the track - some even go for a whole week.  Camping, partying - it's all part of the fun we call Nascar! And food plays a major role at every track.

There are websites and facebook pages devoted entirely to eats.  One of my favorites is Steve Post's (of MRN Radio fame) "Food Around The Track" (www.foodaroundthetrack.com).  Every week Steve shares the best places to eat in the host town as well as fan photos of what everyone is having to eat on race day.  Nascar Wife's clams steamed over the campfire were featured two weeks ago!

 

Be sure to check out Steve's page, especially if you are planning to go to a new track.  He does a great deal of research (a/k/a EATING - haha!) and it's a great resource if you are looking to get the full experience of the town you are visiting.

Some tracks have a signature food.  Like the Martinsville hot dog we heard so much about this spring.  Did you know that they are known for their fried baloney sandwich too?

Sorry this is a picture of only HALF of a fried baloney sandwich, but Hubby devoured this puppy in about four bites!  He's already talking about getting one in the fall!  It's basically a slice of grilled baloney (here in Amish country we call it plain or minced baloney) with some grilled onions between two pieces of white bread and then grilled like a grilled cheese.  Add a little mustard and there ya go!

And this week there has been a lot of hype surrounding the new signature food at Talledega - "The Big One" - a ridiculously large meatball stuffed with cheese, topped with bbq sauce and some pasta and I don't really know what else!

I'm anxious to hear what everyone has to say about it, so if you go and try one, please post a comment and let us know what you think!!

When we go to Dover we always look forward to Grotto's pizza and some craft beer, both of which are sold at the concessions set up outside the track so you don't even need to have a race ticket to enjoy!  I will post again after we get there and let you know what other yummy things we try there!

How about you?  Do you have a favorite food that you can only get at your favorite track?

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET?!?!

With all the talk this past weekend at Bristol about the Air Titans and track drying, I decided that it is time I share a little secret with you! And not just any secret, but an inside scoop that is only worth sharing with my closest Nascar Wife sisters.   But first, a little background ...

My Hubby is a really fun guy, and travelling with him is always a great adventure.  He is very outgoing and he loves to talk to people.  A lot.  I do my fair share of standing around waiting for him while he talks to complete strangers.  But, here's the thing -- he always finds the most interesting people to talk to and we usually come away with the best information!  One of the reasons for that is that he asks good questions of people that no one else is talking to!  We have learned so much about Nascar from guys like the man in the Nascar souvenir trailer and Nascar officials.  And all of these people are just the nicest people you can ever hope to meet!  And they love to talk about their jobs and the sport and anything else you want to talk about.

A few weeks ago in Martinsville we had one such encounter.  On our way in to the track we walked past the area where the Air Titans are staged.  Last year we stopped and talked to one of the Titan drivers by the name of Earl.  This was the first time these dryers were used at any track so 'we' had lots of questions and Earl had all the answers.  So this year Hubby decided to see if he could find Earl and say Hello, you know, since we are now friends ;-)

Well, we didn't find Earl but we found the guy who drives the car carrier truck that hauls the Air Titans to the tracks.  I'm sorry we didn't get his name, but what a nice man.  Turns out he drives the truck that they use to clean the track before any of the cars ever takes a lap.

I guess I never really thought about it before, but these tracks need to be free of debris, oil, and any other kind of 'gunk' before the racecars go out.  So on Thursdays usually this guy takes this truck out and cleans the track ....

And now here is the SECRET part --  He spreads TIDE powdered laundry detergent on the grease to get it off the track!  I know, right?!?!  He told me that in Daytona they used two-and-a-half MILES of Tide to clean the track!!

So I figure, if it's good enough for Daytona it's probably good enough for all of us to use on those pesky grease spots we can never seem to get out of our favorite shirt!

You're welcome!

DO YOU "WAZE"?

If you have read my posts about Martinsville, you know that last fall we got a speeding ticket while heading to the race on Sunday morning.  Not one of our favorite memories of our trip for sure.

Okay, so we weren't quite THIS bad, but we definitely felt like we were targeted because we were out of state and they knew we weren't going to return to Virginia the week before Christmas to fight it.

So this time around our kids told us about this new app for our smartphones - WAZE (pronounced Wah-zuh).  It is a free app and I can't begin to count the number of times it saved our hides on our fourteen-hour round trip!

Waze uses your phone's gps and shows you where you are on the road.  It's kind of cool and spooky at the same time.  But the great thing about it is that you can see if there are any other Waze users on the road ahead of you.  Whenever a user sees a police car or a traffic jam or even a vehicle on the side of the road the PASSENGER - NOT THE DRIVER - can enter that information on their smartphone and it immediately pops up on your phone.  There is even a little voice that comes on and says things like "Caution, police reported in one mile."  It also indicates whether they are hidden or visible.

We appreciated it as much for the "vehicle on the shoulder" information as the speed trap information.  When you are towing an RV on an interstate highway and know that there is perhaps a disabled tractor-trailer coming up you can safely change lanes well in advance.  We had to do that several times. 

The information concerning construction and traffic jams was also very helpful.  It also does other things like mark the Dunkin Donuts and Outback Steakhouses on your route, although we didn't need to use that feature.  There are lots of other features that we have not fully investigated yet but you can bet we will!

One little piece of advice for you though.  Be sure to take your car charger along with you as it really uses up your battery - even if it is fully charged.  I did not notice a big hit to our data usage, but we have so much data that we never use that I wasn't really concerned.  You might just want to check with your carrier if you use alot of data on a regular basis just so you don't fall over when you get your next cellphone bill.

Safe and ticket-free travels everyone!!