Get Ready Race Fans, the Season is Almost Here!
By: Andy Kondratick
The crowds are gathering and the teams are ready for the action to start come this weekend. This is how every year starts off for a true NASCAR fan. You have been eagerly sitting through old re-runs of races on Speed channel since the season ended last year. Mind you that was only two months ago and there has been plenty of activity since then. You hope to catch any signs of the NASCAR season starting through your blinded haze of frost, football, beer, popcorn, and cabin fever. Then they announce testing has started at Daytona. Woo Hoo!
It seems like it has been a year since the last season ended. With the start of the Rolex 24 hour race at Daytona this weekend, race fans can be sure the start of the season is only one week away. This is a must see for all first time NASCAR fans.
To truly be a fan of auto racing you have to live up to the standards of my good friend Judd. This guy starts watching the race at the beginning and doesn’t take his eyes off the track till the race is over 24 hours later. I am not kidding. He will tell you that he sleeps for a few hours but I am not fooled.
When I drop by to see him the next day he is usually in a slumped over position on his couch in front of the television. The race is still on and I can tell by the smell of stale Camel smoke and pizza fumes that he has been awake all night. Further evidence that he hasn’t missed a lap is the never ending empty Bud can pyramid on his coffee table. He had delivery pizza boxes stacked up with crust and one half eaten piece still left in them. Now that my friends is a RACE FAN! Can you say that?
Like Judd, all of us are ready for the green flag to drop and to see the season get underway. We are the faithful NASCAR fans that follow the sport so intently that we are willing to miss any event in our lives that doesn’t have some form of NASCAR coverage included with it. There must be a radio with an MRN broadcast or even the smallest of TV’s. (Example: Mother-In-Laws Birthday party held at the church right after the service is over on Sunday.) Never happen. Sorry Mom. Got to get home for the green flag! Bye! Happy Birthday! Save me a piece of cake!
Yes. Yes. Yes. Get ready race fans the season is here! Can you live up to the Judd challenge? I want to hear from all of you who tried to stay awake for the entire Rolex 24 hour race. Let me know some of the funny things that you notice or do. Have a great time gang!
This has been one fan’s opinion. - Rogue Reporter Andy
E-mail me at roguereporter@comcast.net
January 30, 2003 -
Since about a month ago I have been trying my hardest to gain warmth from the fact that the engines will fire soon. It’s really cold here in Pennsylvania and we have been in a deep freeze since the beginning of January, so when they give the command to start those engines, I will be ready to warm my hands on the hood.