"Dancing with a chainsaw."

One day you are a spectator with big dreams. 

Another ...you are in the driver's seat and part of the entertainment.

You can't believe it. Your own car and your first race.

Then you understand what Cale Yarborough meant when he said, "Driving a race car is like dancing with a chainsaw."

But you did it! All of it!

The plan was to enter the race, drive two laps for experience and drop out. Make a debut for real next season. 

The reality was that when the checkered flag dropped, you were still running. You ran the whole thing!  

One race and you came in 9th in the season for your class and won $90! 

So much for waiting until next year to debut! 

I wouldn't have missed that night for the world!  

"Behold, children are a gift from the Lord."

(Psalm 127:3)

Boogety, Yall!

 When he was very young, he showed us what he wanted to be...

"When I grow up, I want to be a race car driver."

And then about 10 years later:

First practice...Wake County Speedway

"Behold, children are a gift from the Lord."

(Psalm 127:3)

The Perfect Sunner Friday Night

 Summer Friday Night at the Wake County Speedway. A special kind of fun.

According to Henry Ford,
"Auto racing began 5 minutes after the second car was built." 

Probably true. That was a long time ago. And Wake County Speedway, America's Favorite Bullring, has been around a long time---1962. Ir's now NASCAR sanctioned, and this year it celebrated its 60th birthday.

And so here we are on a summer Friday night--

With these people--  

And no place else you'd rather be as day lowly slides into evening... 

"Start your engines!"

                              

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 
(Jeremiah 29:11 )

Jr. Race Fever

Race Fever is catching. It can be contracted at most any age. [The Internet, in its wisdom, says not to use 'contract' for an ailment unless the ailment is serious.] Race fever is. Very. 

According to Junior Johnson, (and he should know), the best way to make a small fortune in racing is to start with a big one. 

But once you catch it, you might as well run with it...so to speak. 

[Noah carting at Rush Hour]

[#3]

Some people get over it and go on to have a normal life. 

[Noah practicing burn outs]

Some people never do!

                                                [Darlington 2021]

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord.
(Psalm 127:3)

Back at the Lady in Black

While the events below didn't occur on-site at G's house, G and all of hers were together--so that counts!

It had been a long, long time since we had visited The Lady in Black in person---the Darlington Raceway. 
What with Earnhardt's death, The Rock closing, and it just getting harder and harder to make it home from Charlotte after a race...we just didn't go anymore.

But then Noah caught the racing bug and we all decided it was time again.

Oh yes!  
G had forgotten how much fun it was and how loud it was and all the rest! Did G mention Dale, Jr. was there?

Darlington during throwback week was a good place to start back.

Throwback to old Petty car

Saturday's Xfinity race. Good place to park, good ride to the gate, super good seats where you could feel the debris flying off the track.

It was a Perfect Day with Great Company---so good to be together!

To paraphrase from a poem by G's daddy about lumberjacking ---

It gets in your heart
And it gets in your head.
And you can't quit racing
'Til you lay down dead!

Justin Allgaier--Race Winner

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. 

(Psalm 127:3)