Let the Countdown Begin!

As as sit here and look out the window at the falling snow here in the Northeast, my mind turns to Florida. Daytona, more specifically. Because Matt and I will be in Daytona in 26 days. While a place without snow is very appealing right now, it's the roar of the engines that's the most enticing to me.

As long-time sports car fans, the Rolex 24 has been on our bucket list, well, since forever. It's finally time to cross this one off the list. Our plans are in place, and I'll be sharing our trip on this blog and on Twitter (@4wheels_engine). We kind of "trained" for this race by doing the Six Hours at the Glen, but now it's time to do that race -- times four. And for anyone who has been lucky enough to go to the Rolex 24, please feel free to pass along any tips you have for the race!

Mini Book Review: Fast Girl

Photo  courtesy of Seal Press

For many years, my "hobby" has been driving a car fast on the racetrack. I don't race, but I do get to drive my car at high rates of speed on tracks throughout the Northeast. I mean how else am I going to find out where my limits (and the limits of my car) are? Needless to say, there aren't many women at these events. And I often find it difficult to explain exactly what it is I'm doing at the track on the weekend.

Well, author Ingrid Steffensen didn't have that problem. In her new book, Fast Girl: Don't Brake Until You See the Face of God and Other Good Advice from the Racetrack, Ingrid documents her first year of participation in high-performance driving events, from finally accepting her husband's invitation to join him at the track to, well, I don't want to give away the ending. (For those wondering, she started driving her everyday car (a Mini Cooper) before graduating to a Lotus Elise.) Throughout the book, she weaves her experiences behind the wheel with stories from off the track, proving that one definitely can have an effect on the other.

As a woman participating in the same activity, I totally related to Ingrid's stories. As I read, I could picture the tracks she described and recalled having similar experiences and feelings. But this book is about more than just driving fast -- it's about stepping out of your comfort zone and finding out how that can affect your life. Join Ingrid on her journey -- from the pit lane, through the esses, and to the checkered flag. 

Grand-Am/ALMS Merger: Remember, It's a Job

When I first heard about the Grand-Am/ALMS merger, I had the same questions as everyone else -- what classes will run in the new series, what tracks will they run at, what manufacturers will be involved. But it was this tweet from Guy Cosmo that changed my train of thought:

If you don't like it, well, too bad. I plan to stay employed as a race driver & if I stay in Sportscars, this new venture is my ONLY choice.

As race fans, we see this as a merger of two racing series. But at the end of the day, this is a business transaction in which one corporation has acquired another corporation. Mergers and acquisitions of businesses affect the livelihoods of people -- me included -- every day. It's just that Grand-Am and ALMS are fun businesses.

Four years ago, I lived through rumors that a competitor was going to buy my publication and shut it down. Those rumors eventually became reality, but all the speculation can wear you down.

For at least the next few months, there's going to be a lot of speculation about the future of sports car racing in the United States. While I really want to know all the details, there are drivers and crew members in two racing series wondering about their jobs. I just need to remind myself of that every once in a while.

Monday Musings - 8/20/12

To quote my husband, "The racing the past couple months has been absolutely amazing." Much to muse about this week. So here we go!

Nationwide - Montreal always proves to be an interesting race. Sometimes it's racing the rain, but this year it was hard racing. I've always been a Jacques Villeneuve fan, but he's making it harder and harder to root for him. He always seems to be in the hunt when he runs a Nationwide road course race, but his aggressiveness always seems to bite him in the last couple laps. While Villeneuve's aggressiveness did not cause his last lap spin, I feel it was karma paying him back for spinning Alex Tagliani just a few laps before.

A note to ESPN -- I understand that Danica is a big draw for the Nationwide series and NASCAR. But there was a point in the middle of the race that you would have thought she was the only one running. There were other drivers who had mechanical issues (for instance, Michael McDowell had lost a couple of gears), but no one got the in-depth coverage that Danica got. ESPN was so eager to broadcast her radio transmissions that it let an expletive slip on the air. Like Tim Tebow and the Jets, ESPN is going to keep going to this well.  I guess I'm just going to have to live with it.

Sprint Cup - As a Carl Edwards fan, Brad K. has never been one of my favorites. However, over the past year or so, it's been kind of hard not to root for him. He's winning without being overly aggressive (OK, maybe he was a little aggressive at Watkins Glen last weekend). I was just as surprised as anyone when I found myself rooting for him to win his hometown race yesterday (and it's not just because I had him in my Yahoo! fantasy team). And him "challenging" Jimmie Johnson after the race makes things interesting. Also, the last three races before the Chase may actually be interesting because there are drivers actually racing for a WIN, not points.

ALMS - After four hours of racing, Guy Smith's margin of victory over Lucas Luhr was 0.083 seconds, the closest overall finish in ALMS history. This race wasn't just close on the last lap -- Smith and Luhr battled each other for the last 20 minutes of race. It was get another great finish at Road America this season.

Rolex - Congrats to Ganassi Racing for win number 150. Paul Tracy made the most of his time in the No. 5 Action Express, rallying from a first-lap incident to take the third step on the podium. And tough luck for Magnus Racing with a punctured radiator. Saturday was one of those days I wished Porsches were still air cooled.

Trucks - Congrats to Nelson Piquet, Jr. on his first Camping World Truck Series win. Maybe he should honor his dad on his car every week. Might be his good luck charm.

F1 - There's been a lot of F1 chatter in the New York metropolitan area this week about F1 and the race in New Jersey next year. David Coulthard brought the Red Bull show car to the area and drove the proposed course. He also took the car through the Lincoln Tunnel. Everyone in the area wishes they could go through the tunnel this quick Check it out below:

Best Finish in a Long Time

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

\After two awesome races on Saturday, it was time for the main event on Sunday at Watkins Glen. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this race, especially when the only thing memorable about the Sprint Cup season is a driver running into a jet dryer. But as you well know (and as the photo above shows), I was completely wrong. And I'm OK with that.

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

We started our day early, staking out a great table at the Glen Club. We had an awesome view of Turns 1 and 2 and the Sprint Vision, so we could see what was happening on the rest of the track. As you can see, Matt enjoyed his morning coffee while checking out the views of the track and Seneca Lake.

While there are cars on the track almost every minute of the day on Friday and Saturday, Sunday is so different because there is not a peep out of the cars until the command to start engines is given. So it can be quite peaceful in the morning, and it is fun to watch the track fill up with fans.

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

But eventually, the day got going. First, there was the flyover with the C-130 (and apparently a seagull too).

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

This is how most of the race went. Kyle Busch led the most laps. But then that spin that happened right in front of us (see photo above) changed everything.

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

And it ended like this. With Marcos Ambrose celebrating in Turn 1. I'd fill in the blanks between what happened after the spin and how Marcos got to Victory Lane, but that could take a while. If you don't know what happened (or if you want to watch it again), check out one of the best finishes in Sprint Cup racing in a long time. (And sit through the commercial -- it's worth it!)

Rolex Watkins Glen 2 in Pictures

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

Race number two of the weekend (and Saturday) was the Rolex Grand-Am Series. Because this was a two-hour race, it was a fun "sprint" race that also had a great ending. The race didn't end until after 8 p.m., so the light was perfect for my intrepid photographer (that's not him in the photo above). So rather than tell you about the race, I'll let the photos do the talking.

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

Scott Pruett finishing the race for the Telmex team at dusk.

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

GT class winner Turner Motorsports with Bill Auberlen behind the wheel.

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

Brumos #59 Porsche, driven by Leh Keen.

What Happens When Your Driver Doesn't Win?

Photo  by Matthew Lowell Thompson

The first race of the weekend was the Nationwide, and it was the first of three great races that weekend. Needless to say, I was pretty happy that my driver -- Carl Edwards -- won the race. Because the race is always better when your driver wins, right?

Which got me to thinking about racing and what sets it apart from other sports. If I go to a hockey game, it's usually to see my team play another team. At the end of the game, I'm either happy because my team has won or unhappy because my team has lost. And generally speaking, I have only one favorite hockey team. But's not so simple in racing, is it?

Let's use this past week's Nationwide race as an example. For me it was simple because Carl was in the hunt the whole race and he won it. But what if Carl had an issue and was knocked out early in the race? What's a fan to do? Give up on the race altogether because my driver isn't in it any more? Unlike most sports, there's more than two teams to root for. Is it OK to root for another driver? Is it OK to have more than one favorite driver?

Me personally? I seem to have more than one favorite in each racing series. So if they win, I'm happy. Then I have some not-so-favorite teams. I'm not happy when they win. (And no, I'm not naming names.) And then there are some winners that just come from out of the blue and make you smile -- like Marcos winning on Sunday.

WGI Infield: Where Fans and Drivers Come Together

Photo by Jennifer Thompson

I've been to my share of NASCAR races, but the one that the most fan friendly is the race at Watkins Glen. Unlike other tracks, everyone and everything are in the infield -- the garages, the drivers, the crews, the fans. So chances are pretty good that you're going to have a driver sighting during the race weekend. Matt and I have had the chance to meet several drivers during NASCAR weekend, and this year as no exception.

Our biggest sighting was Rusty Wallace. Rusty wasn't scheduled to appear at the Glen Club, our home for the weekend. Nope, apparently Rusty stopped by for the food and the view (the same reasons why we were there!). Rusty is Matt's all-time favorite NASCAR driver, so needless to say he was grinning ear to ear when he met him (see the photographic evidence above). Rusty liked the food so much, he had both breakfast and lunch!

Photo by Jennifer Thompson

Photo by Jennifer Thompson

One of the perks at the Glen Club is the driver appearances. We had visits from defending Watkins Glen winner Marcos Ambrose (left),  Marcos' teammate Aric Almirola (right), and Bobby Labonte.

For some reason, the Glen Club attracted NHL players this year. Dustin Brown of L.A. Kings, was the honorary starter, and rumor has it New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundquist was there. As Devils fan, I can't say was really excited to see either. (Oh yeah, and former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer was there too).

Photo by Jennifer Thompson

On Sunday morning, I attended my first Tweetup. Watkins Glen hosted the meeting of fans on Twitter in Gatorade Victory Lane. All you needed to get in was the password, which was "Follow Me to the Glen." Jeff Gluck, motorsports editor for SBNation.com, brought along Brian Vickers as his guest.

Brian answered the fans' questions, and he signed autographs and took pictures with everyone there.  I hope we see Brian back in a full-time ride next year.

Thanks to the Glen (@WGI) for hosting all of us fans who follow the track on Twitter.

Photo by Mike Meadows (ISC)

One of the things I absolutely about the Rolex Series is the access to its drivers. On Friday afternoon, we headed over to the team haulers for autographs. I had all the drivers sign a poster from the Sahlens Six Hours at the Glen -- a nice souvenir from our vow renewal.

On a side note, during the Rolex race on Saturday night, we spotted Jimmie Johnson, his wife, and daughter watching the race from their golf cart and talking to Jamie McMurray. Since it was family time, we stuck with a sighting from afar.

What a Weekend!

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

When you go to the track, you always hope that it's a good race and that your driver wins. Fortunately for me, I got not one, but three great races this weekend at Watkins Glen. And my driver Carl Edwards won on Saturday. I have plenty to share - stories from me and photos from Matt. I'll be posting some new blog entries in the next couple days. (And thanks to Matt for today's photo!)

The Power of Love (and Social Media)

A few months ago, I wrote a blog about how Matt and I met because of Watkins Glen (click here to see that blog). At the end of my entry, I mentioned that our fifth anniversary was the week before the Six Hours at the Glen and that maybe we could renew our vows in Victory Lane. On a whim, I tweeted a link of my blog to Watkins Glen (@WGI) and Michael Printup, the President of WGI (@theglenprez). And then I kind of forgot about it.

A couple days later, Michael responded to my tweet, asking exactly what we wanted to do. A few emails later, and all the arrangements were made for us to review our vows in Victory Lane.

Matt and I kept it simple -- it was just the two of us and the minister (and a few photographers and workers from Watkins Glen). Our officiant was Reverend David Fife. Although we didn't meet him until right before our vow renewal, he spoke as if he had known us for years and had just the right words for us. And just like on our wedding day, we were blessed with beautiful day.

After a few photos, we were whisked back to the Glen Club, where we each had a celebratory piece of cake and enjoyed an afternoon of racing with the Continental Tire Series. It truly was a perfect day for the two of us.

There are many people for us to thank. First and foremost, thank you to Michael Printup for reading my blog and responding to my tweet. Huge thanks to Betsy Mayer, the Public Relations Manager at WGI. She made all the arrangements for us and took time out of her busy schedule on race day to make sure that everything was in place (and to take pictures!). Thanks also go to Rev. Fife for his kind words and for making us official again. And finally, thanks to intern Gary, who shuttled us around the track and made sure we were able to squeeze the driver autograph session in as well.

Oh, and after such a great weekend, we'll be back for the NASCAR race in August.

My Phoenix Picks

Now that the excitement of Daytona has just about faded (although I'm sure Fox will remind us about it), it's time for the regular grind of the NASCAR season and the first of two races on the West Coast. The Daytona 500 is an oddball for Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing because you don't have to pick your drivers before qualifying. Having to select my drivers before qualifying definitely made a difference this week. Here's how my picks shook out this weekend:

A List - Carl Edwards. My two picks -- Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon -- qualified 24th and 30th, respectively. Everything else being equal, I picked Carl as my A List driver this week. Carl has never been known for his qualifying (despite winning the poll for the Daytona 500), and maybe the fact that the race is the Subway Fresh Fit 500 will be a little motivation for him. Gotta win for the sponsor.

B List - Mark Martin. Picked up 10 bonus points by picking the pole sitter. So I'll be keeping Mark this week.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Yes, I probably would have been smarter picking him at Daytona last weekend. And yes, he did qualify 29th this weekend. And I do have other drivers that qualified better. But Dale has run well here in the past. Here's my leap of faith for the weekend.

C List - Aric Almirola. My two C List picks (Almirola and Dave Blaney) both qualified better than my A List drivers. I know I should be riding the Blaney momentum, but Almirola (14th) qualified a little better than Blaney (23rd), so Aric is my pick for Phoenix.

Last week's results: I finished with 264 points, which miraculously put me in first place in my league. It's so early, but at least I got bragging rights for one week.

The Waiting Is the Hardest Part

Photo by Matthew  Lowell Thompson

Yup, Jeff. We hate waiting out the rain too. And now we're going to have to wait until tomorrow for the Daytona 500. Let's hope Mother Nature cooperates. Maybe rain in the first race of the season means good weather for the rest of the season.

FYI - Matt took this photo during a rain delay at New Hampshire.

And Away We Go!

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

Six years ago, Matt and I were fortunate enough to attend the Daytona 500. Attending NASCAR's biggest race of the year was everything I expected and more. And if you're going to have your photo taken at Daytona, there was no better place than lying down on the start-finish line. This is still one of my favorite photos of Matt and me.

This year we'll be enjoying the Daytona 500 from our couch, rooting for our favorites and watching our fantasy picks. Our family fantasy league on Yahoo is quite competitive. With three consecutive championships, my dad is looking to become the Jimmie Johnson of our league. And we can only hope to spoil his ambitions.

I'll share my fantasy picks every week, time permitting. Without further ado, here's my picks for Daytona:

A-List: Tony Stewart. This is a gut pick. I don't know why, but I have this feeling that this is Tony's year to win the Daytona 500. Maybe it's his confidence coming off his championship last year. Or it could be his new crew chief Steve Addington. While I think he could win it all, every other driver I picked is driving a Ford with a Roush-Yates engine.

B-List: Greg Biffle. Roush Fenway is not known for its restrictor plate program, but their cars have looked impressive this year. I may be taking a gamble by picking Biffle over some drivers who are strong on the superspeedways, such as Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jamie McMurray. But this is where I'm going to put my money on Roush Fenway.

Marcos Ambrose. If you had told me a week ago that I would be picking Marcos Ambrose in a restrictor plate race, I would have said you were crazy. But Marcos has been impressive in his two races in Daytona. Let's hope this Daytona 500 changes people's minds on Marcos being just a "road course guy."

C-List: Trevor Bayne. Yeah, I know. It's easy to pick the defending champion. But that kid, that car and this race seem to work well together. And the Roush-Yates engine doesn't hurt either.

As far as points go, Daytona is only of 36 races in the season. But for the drivers, it is THE race to win. Sit back, hang on, and enjoy the ride!

Confessions of an NHRA Newbie

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

Do you smell that? If you're an NHRA fan, you know that's nitromethane in the air. Yup, the NHRA is back with two straight weekends of racing to open the season.

I'm new to NHRA, which would surprise most people. I've followed racing most of my life. My dad's shop, which was right down the road from Englishtown, was a sponsor at the drag strip. But somehow I never got into it. But Matt was kind enough to introduce me to the series. He went to New England Dragway as a kid, and he was a track photographer for Moroso Motorsports Park (now PBIR).

We started watching the NHRA on TV, and I instantly was hooked. Even though they're race cars, drag racing as a whole different language compared to other types of racing. I slowly learned the lingo (so I could at least hold my own in a conversation). And I educated myself on the history of the NHRA, which is fascinating.

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

Then a couple of years ago, we went to Englishtown so I could see this for myself. My head was on a swivel the whole time trying to take in the whole thing. I was amazed how accessible it was for race fans. I was pretty surprised when Tony Schumacher sat down on his golf cart, called me over, and signed autographs for us.

But it was standing outside John Force's hauler that my mind was completely blown. We were waiting for John to start his Funny Car before qualifying. Matt explained exactly what was going to happened, but I still wasn't prepared. The noise was deafening. My chest was pounding. The smell of nitro literally took my breath away. Part of me wanted to turn away, but the other part of me kept my feet glued to the ground because I didn't want to miss a thing.

That was the exact moment that I got it. And I've been hooked ever since.

Unfortunately our schedules have kept us from returning to the drag strip, but that's going to change this year. E-Town is on the schedule. In ink. I'm not missing this. I've missed too many already.

Snow Day in Green Hell

When Mother Nature gives you snow, should that keep you off the track? Apparently not at the Nurburgring.

(Thanks to Nancy for the link!)

What Was Your Favorite Super Bowl Car Ad?

Everyone was trying to sell a car last night during the Super Bowl. According to USA Today's Ad Meter,  these were the top five car commercials:

• Volkswagen: Dog Strikes Back: A dog loses weight to chase the new Volkswagen Beetle.The punch line? Darth Vader found last year's Volkswagen with little Darth funnier!
• Kia: A Dream Car. For Real Life: Mr. Sandman leaves a little too much sand for one dreamer, and what results is a combo of bikini girls, Motley Crue, and oh yeah, a racing Kia.
• Chevy: Silverado: Apparently the only things that will survive the apocalypse are Chevy Silverados and Twinkies.
• Audi: Vampire Party: Note to self: Audi's new headlights can kill vampires.
• Honda: CRV's Day Out: A short version of the Ferris Bueller video we've seen all week. Either you love it or you hate it.

Strangely, Chrysler's ad with Clint Eastwood to start the second half was not on the list. But that one definitely got my attention.

What was your favorite car ad from the Super Bowl. Choose from these six below. Or let me know if the comments which car commercial was your favorite.

Does NASCAR Need the Top-35 Rule?

The news yesterday was the "alliance" formed between Stewart-Haas Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing that gives Danica Patrick TBR's owner points and guarantees her a spot in the Daytona 500. Many people have been questioning whether such a deal should be allowed to happen. But I'd take it one step further -- should NASCAR get rid of the whole top-35 rule?

Under the rules, owners in the top 35 in points are guaranteed a spot in the race. Presumably this is to ensure that the "top" NASCAR drivers and teams are always in the race, even if they have a bad day qualifying. But I've never been a fan of this safety net. These drivers are professionals. They should make the race based on their qualifying time, not based on where they stand in the points or whether they are a past champion.

Yes, this means that the sponsor doesn't get the exposure that it paid for. And I'm sure there are some fans who would be disappointed if they get to the track and their favorite driver doesn't qualify for the race. Your favorite driver also could qualify for the race and crash or have an issue on the first lap. That leaves the fan and the sponsor in the same position -- the driver is out of the race essentially before it began. That's the gamble sponsors and fans take.

Very often there are more cars to qualify then there are places in the race, which raises yet another question -- how many of the cars qualifying for the race actually intend to finish it? I get the economics of NASCAR -- it's not a cheap sport and it's often less expensive to qualify the car, start it, park it, and collect the prize money. But are these start-and-park cars part of the reason why the top-35 rule is needed? They fill out and expand the field beyond 43 cars, with absolutely no intention of finishing.

And on a side note, I'm not sure how I would feel about this "alliance" if I were Danica Patrick. Sure, the pressure would be off because I know I'm running the Daytona 500. Especially since I'm sure she is getting plenty of pressure from NASCAR and the media about making the race. But in the back of my mind, I'd be wondering how many people are questioning my ability to make the race and why the deal had to be made.

So my plea to NASCAR is this -- keep it simple. Do away with the top-35 rule (and the champion's provisional as well). The 43 fastest cars make the race. No exceptions. This is the easiest and simplest way to do away with "alliances" or "deals" for owner points.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Just a couple of videos I came across yesterday ...

I think most of us would kill for a ride in a DP on the high banks of Daytona. In this video, Joao Barbosa's wife was ready to kill her husband after her ride.

Here's the first of many car commercials that will air during the Super Bowl. For those of us who grew up in the 80s, this is a great taste of nostalgia.

Our Racing Season Appetizer

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

My father-in-law had a boss who insisted that you had to order dessert first. And the Rolex Series has done the same thing -- forced us to have dessert before our dinner. There is no better way to start the racing season than the Rolex 24. And if the race is usually a slice of cheesecake before our entree, this year it was cherries jubilee (or insert your favorite flaming dessert here).

For sportscar fans, it's always a great race because it brings out the Rolex regulars plus competitors from the ALMS series and other endurance car specialists. There are always a few drivers to strike the interest of NASCAR and IndyCar fans. This year we got action sports star Travis Pastrana and rock star Brian Johnson. And of course, there's always the McDreamy factor.

This 50th anniversary race seemed more intense than those of years past. Every driver said the speeds were fast. And the numbers proved it -- drivers were running laps faster than their qualifying times. What always amazes me is how close the races are after 24 hours of hard racing. In both classes, there were two cars on the lead lap at the very end. There were just seconds -- not laps -- between the first- and second-place cars. And we ended up with very popular winners in Michael Shank Racing and Magus Racing.

But here's the problem with the "appetizer" we call the Rolex 24. It leaves me wanting more. More Rolex Series racing. More racing in general. It's making me count down the days until I get to see some racing in person (the Rolex race at NJMP in May seems so far away).

So thanks to the Rolex Series and all of the drivers in the 50th Rolex 24. I may have to have dessert first more often.

How a Piece of Blue Guardrail Changed My Life

It was a simple case of Girl sees guardrail, meets Boy. Online dating is a series of hits and misses. After a series of misses, I got a big hit when I found this picture. When I saw it, all I could wonder was--who was this guy with the fancy camera standing in Turn 1 at Watkins Glen? Having spent plenty of time at the track, I knew that blue guardrail anywhere.

Without hesitation, I sent this message: "You are standing in Turn 1 at Watkins Glen. If you wonder why I know, send me a message back." He wondered. We emailed and then talked on the phone one afternoon. After talking for about two hours, we realized that we really should just meet in person. So he changed his plans, bailed on a friend's BBQ, and hung out with me. And Matt and I have been inseparable ever since.

About a week after we first met, I was headed up to Watkins Glen with my dad and uncle for a driver's education event (I drive Porsches fast on the track). Matt didn't hesitate when I asked if he wanted to come up for the weekend. Within a half hour of meeting my dad, Matt was strapped into my dad's Porsche GT3 Supercup car for a ride. Matt learned all about "the boot" that day.

Doing a little driver's education at the Glen.

Over the next couple of years, we found our way back to Watkins Glen for all kinds of events. We camped in the sole of the boot for the inaugural IndyCar race. Matt got involved in driver's education (because I really had to twist his arm to drive fast on the track). I experienced camping for NASCAR for the first time (what happens in the infield, stays in the infield, right?).

And then one July day in 2006, I came home from work to find a UPS package. Matt told me to open it, and inside was Speed Circuit, a 1970s board game that features Watkins Glen. I opened the game to check it out. It took me a second to realize that among the game pieces was an engagement ring. Next thing I know, he's on one knee. Spoiler alert - I said yes!

Underneath all those cupcakes is a piece of
guardrail from Watkins Glen.

As we were planning the wedding, I thought it would be neat to use a piece of the guardrail to make a cakestand. I sent an email to Watkins Glen, telling them our story. A couple days later, I got an email back, asking us how big a piece we wanted. When Matt picked it up, he was the buzz of the office. At the wedding, we laid the guardrail flat on the table and put a sheet of Plexiglas on top of it. Then we arranged chocolate and vanilla mini cupcakes in a checkerboard pattern on top. Most of the people at the wedding didn't even notice the cakestand or understood what it meant. But we knew what it meant.

At the start-finish line at Watkins Glen while on our honeymoon.

We spent part of our honeymoon at a driver's ed event at the Glen (and part of it at the inaugural Nationwide race at Montreal). We've been back to the Glen for NASCAR. Two years ago, we were guests of Holiday Inn and were on the grid for the opening ceremonies. This year, we spent four days (well, it was supposed to be three, but it rained) in the Crown Royal Club. Nice place to watch a race!

So needless to say, the Glen holds a special place in our hearts. We're always looking for something different to do up there. Next year, our fifth anniversary is the week before the Six Hours at the Glen. Maybe we need to renew our vows in Victory Lane.

New Year, New Photo

Photo by  Matthew Lowell Thompson

I thought this beautiful photo was a great choice to start the New Year. This is sunrise over NASCAR Bend at VIR on an early November morning in 2007. This was the calm before the cars took to the track at a PCA track event. Just like the first couple of weeks of the year are the calm before the racing season starts. Enjoy the calm. Because the roar is coming soon.