Save The Best For Last

Many people have already penned this 2000 season as
forgettable, miserable and tragic. Losing three drivers in our top three series’
will always be near and dear to our hearts, but my personal memories will be far
from those sad places.

I was a casual fan for the last four years and decided it was
time for me to crack the code on this sport! Everything I know I have learned
this season, on my own, while trying to write about it as well!!

In July I attended my first live event. It was a Busch race
at Nazareth Speedway. Then in September I saw my first Winston at Dover Downs.
So many memories are contained in those two weekends, but none as precious as
this next adventure!!

The NAPA 500… final race of the 2000 Winston Cup Series.
What could be better that sitting on the edge of my seat at home in front of my
48 inch screen, UNINTERRUPTED, with an ice cold Coors Light?? Well, being there…DUH!

I had been anticipating this trip for over a month. Having
the opportunity to meet my new on-line racing friends in person for the first
time and spending the weekend surrounded with everything that is NASCAR!!

The whole shebang was in order and I was ready to go…or so
I thought. A very special person granted a very special wish…a weekend pit
pass!! Okay, now I was overflowing with joy and the butterflies in my stomach
were in a frenzy.

My flight left Philadelphia International on a chilly
Thursday morning. The turbulence of that ride should have been a clue to the
weather that was waiting for all of the race fans in Georgia. Still, I kept hope
alive for sunny skies.

I landed in a very rain soaked Hartsfield Atlanta
International and after walking a country mile to baggage claim there they were,
the two people I had only known through my computer but had come to call my
friends. Things were looking brighter already.

When we awoke Friday morning it was still overcast but no
precipitation. We were now off to the track to pick up my pit pass and I was all
too ready to let the speedway have its way with me.

Well, this was the moment I did not think would come for
another season or two, I was walking down the steps and through the tunnel to
enter the infield/pit areas. ! This was about as good as it gets! (Now some of
you may not think this is such a big deal, but to me it was almost orgasmic!)

I began my stroll down to pit road, checking my camera for
the millionth time, for what I have no idea, and trying to remember who drives
what car (things I know but for some reason could not remember). Just then Ken
Schrader speeds by on a practice lap and suddenly I am at ease.

It was very interesting to see how many teams took a lap or
two and then brought the car in for tweaking then sent it back out and repeated
the sequence a few more times. At the same time, other teams just stayed on the
track and tried different grooves. Because it was so cold, they were having
trouble with the tires and handling. From time to time drivers would pull in for
an air pressure check or to have something under the hood adjusted.

I also had the opportunity to meet other race enthusiasts and
found them timing the cars and listening to the scanners to stay updated with
their teams. It seemed that everyone had an agenda. How may autographs they
could get or if certain drivers would be out to answer the burning questions
they needed to ask.

In between practice and qualifying, I took a few moments and
sat on the pit wall hugging my knees. I finally smelled that sweet track
fragrance…high octane and rubber. . I had been so busy trying to take in
everything around me that I forgot to "stop and smell the roses".
(They really should bottle and sell that!!) Who would think that could just warm
a little ole Yankee girl’s heart?? Being this close to the action put a
heartbeat in the sport. I wanted to remember every minute of this day.

Well, it was now time for qualifying. The garage and pit
areas were bustling with crews getting the cars set up and out on the track.
That was when the real fun started. All of the hotrod heartbreakers were walking
out to their cars. I almost fainted!! There was not one that didn’t get mobbed
by the fans. Yet, through all of that madness they were happy to sign anything
and chat for a minute.

It was mass chaos on pit road. Media, track officials, crews
all trying to get things in order and get the inside track before qualifying
started. My camera was working overtime capturing Dale Jr., Matt Kenseth,
Sterling Marlin and others just chilling as they waited to hop in the cars and
acting as if the madness around them did not exist.

It was bitter cold and I was finally starting to feel it! I
watched the first round and chickened out and went back to the hotel filled with
all of the emotions and memories of my afternoon.

Even though it rained the majority of the weekend (and I did
not have the chance to see the rain delayed Monday race) all was not lost. I did
meet some pretty fabulous people; some were the "stars" of the show,
crew members, media people, other fans and best of all Tammy and Sharon (my
on-line friends).

It did not matter who they were or what they did, one common
thread ran through them all. That thread was LOVE. Love of the sport, the
athletes, other enthusiasts…love of everything.

I will always keep this great 2000 season close to my heart.
I know the day will come when I do reach the "oh this was the most
miserable season ever" stage (yes, I’m sure I will because Philadelphia
fans just are not real fans until we get there) all of these memories can give
me a slap back into reality.

Thanks to everyone who helped make my inaugural season as
fabulous as it was and I am already anticipating my sophomore season!!!