CarRacingBlog.com

I think the thing I like best about traveling for races and other sporting events is what happens before and after the race. The travel, meeting people - other fans - and getting out to see local sights and sample local restaurants.

This time around we headed out to Fort Worth’s infamous Stockyards. We had dinner @ Billy Bob’s (awesome steaks!!!) and stuck around to hear Country singer Travis Tritt (yes, he’s still singing and touring! lol). It really was a blast. I have to say that the people in the Dallas/Ft Worth area are just great. Real friendly - we had an awesome time.

The track was great - it always is. The NASCAR propaganda and other things… well, you know how I feel about that. However, it was a great time and this time around I went with friends instead of family and that added a whole new tilt to the event. Not that my family isn’t awesome, but it was nice to go with friends from work and really just do whatever - not on some planned schedule like usually happens with spouses and kids along for the ride. I was designated driver so it was also fun to see my friends get drunk and stupid after the race. Now THAT’S entertainment!

Will be posting photos on CarRacing.com later today so be sure to check it out. Didn’t get too much because of the cloudy/overcast day and the day-into-night race schedule that NASCAR sure seems to love, but the pics I got were pretty awesome.

So we’re getting ready to head out tomorrow morning - Texas Motor Speedway for our last NASCAR race of the year, well MY last NASCAR race possibly ever. The rest of the family already has plans on going to Daytona which I said I’d never miss, but after the 2009 racing season I’m not so sure. I may give Daytona one last look, but if things don’t change in this series EARLY on in the 2010 season I think I won’t be the only one planning my exit.

The drivers seem to be just as frustrated with the current series plan as the fans do - well, except for Jimmie Johnson who never seems to truly have a bad day, a bad race or any problems. A friend of mine has this theory about Johnson that if ever had to face adversity such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had to this season, or seen his winning streak dwindle as Kyle Busch has this season - or even had to face the challenges of starting up a new team and getting the negative press that Tony Stewart has this year - that he would crack under the pressure. When you think about it - what adversity has California-boy Johnson ever had to face? He never seems to have bad equipment, he’s only had a few “bad races” which really when compared to the crap his teammates have faced - including Jeff Gordon - weren’t really all that bad… how WOULD he cope?

Anyway - enough Jimmie bashing, my problems with NASCAR don’t really have anything to do with him. I miss the old NASCAR - that feeling of “anything can happen @ a race”. Now it feels a lot like the old World Wrestling Federation when you knew that the appearance of Hulk Hogan in the ring either meant a slam-dunk WIN or some major drama to be stirred up for a bigger match in the coming weeks. It feels SCRIPTED, PLANNED, PRE-DESTINED or however you want to categorize it. It just doesn’t feel like the sport I used to know, enjoy and get excited to see.

OK - so I’ll go to Daytona. I’m going to enjoy Texas this weekend because that track is always a blast - the PEOPLE there really just know how to watch a race. So no matter who wins or how frustrated I am with NASCAR I’m going to have a good time and bring some pics back for the CarRacing.com galleries. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

My son is a huge Jeff Gordon fan and has had to endure his share of needling from an Earnhardt-dominated family over the years. But I’ve just got to say congratulations to Gordon who won his first race at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend (one of only 2 tracks that he’d never had a W, my son would like me to add) breaking a long-running losing streak in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.

It was awesome to see - even for this not-really-Gordon-fan - watching him celebrate in victory lane. Perhaps it was because it wasn’t “Shrub” (again), maybe it was because it wasn’t Jimmie… but I think most of all because of the heart that Jeff Gordon shows - his passion for racing and his thrill at this weekend’s victory. When a driver celebrates with that much gusto and heart-felt excitement, it feels as if you’re right there with him in victory lane.

So… congrats to Jeff Gordon - thanks for a great ride this weekend at Texas!

As he gets ready for his upcoming appearance at the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown — ‘the Daytona 500 of short-track racing’ — in Irwindale, Calif., actor and comedian Kevin James races NASCAR stock cars with his Segway to promote the release of his new movie ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’ at Texas Motor Speedway January 14, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas.

(Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for the Texas Motor Speedway)

Already anxious to see both the movie Mall Cop (out this weekend!) and attend my first-ever NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown later this month, but this looks like a helluva lot of fun! Can’t WAIT!!!