So I am entering the world of blogging this week, and have been feverishly working on my first theme. Mind you, I do want to make a good impression. After a couple hours of typing and re-typing, I had a full page written, and I was not happy with where this topic (picking your favorite driver) was going. So I hit the save button and decided I would come back to it today to try to polish it up. Yesterday was a good day to be a Carl fan. He took the #60 PlantersPeanut-FordFusion-ifyouhaven’tdrivena- Fordyoushouldtryit-SaveALot-Scott’s car to victory lane in Michigan, so I knew this win would help to inspire something creative in me.
Day two, and I have already opened my mouth to a friend, telling him that I have a good feeling about this weekend. Certainly this would be the kiss of death for my favorite driver. As race time approached, I sat down in front of my computer and logged into Nascar dot com, loaded up the RaceView and the Pit Command, grabbed a soda and sat down to enjoy the race. I could feel some trepidation as the green flag dropped, and Carl began a most incredible drive from 27th position toward the front of the field. And this, my friends, is what I would like to discuss with you. This is not a commercial, but a personal experience with technology. If you haven’t tried this RaceView thing, you must. I watched and listened as my driver drove the top, bottom and middle of Michigan’s wide sweeping track. I followed along, as if I were in a balloon that was tied to the back bumper. Nervously, I checked in front and back of the car – scouting the nearby competition. Passing one, two and even three cars at a time – calling out to Bob, telling how the car was working at any particular point in the race. Oh, my! Up to P20, P16, P13. Cautions! Awesome pit stops! I monitored the pit times, noting to myself how much the pit crew has improved over the course of the season. I ran a second scanner – listening in on a handful of other drivers to see what I can pick up on other potential strategies. Raceview is the next thing to being there in person. All that’s missing is the roar of the engines, smell of oil and tires, and the wind on my face as the cars roll past.
Let me take a moment to give a shout out to one incredible spotter, Jason Hedlleski. (My apologies for any misspelling here.) He gave Carl a heads up a full lap before the 22 got spun up into the barrier. There were four tail end of the lead lap cars, “racing their guts out” to quote Jason. He further added “be ready for anything there!” I could witness this accident from my little vantage point in back of Carl, hanging on for dear life as “we” took a sharp left turn to the infield pavement and back onto the track. As I heard “they’re wreckin’”, the yellow flag flashed on my computer, and I could look up to the TV to review the carnage.
The remainder of the race was just as heart-stopping and nail-biting as the first part. I suffered through the bad set of tires and the loose condition, Kyle Busch’s turn at leading, and that darned last caution and restart with three to go. Another win, another backflip and that winning, endearing smile spread across the face of a young man who celebrated his 29th birthday on Friday. I watched Carl joyously thrust his fists upward, then turn to his team to include them in the celebration.
This is what it means to be a fan. This is why I have come to be a Carl Edwards fan in particular. I knew he was the real deal when he won his first cup race. I have learned over the last couple years how this driver is a dedicated, focused and extremely disciplined athlete. He works out diligently. He appreciates his good fortune, and has eschewed the life in Charlotte to return to his roots in Columbia, MO. He gives of his time and fortune to charity. He gives his trophies to kids who will treasure the memories that hardware represents for the rest of their lives. He apologizes for his mistakes – and better yet, admits to them. What’s not to like? Oh, and by the way – he is a champion already, and maybe – just maybe he can rewrite the history books by becoming the first double champion in Nascar.
Happy Birthday, Carl. Many happy returns, especially to Victory Lane. What a flipping good time!



