Marathon Race Weekend

When you sit in front of your TV praying for a race to get called off because of too much rain, even though your favorite driver just pitted and will end up finishing far worse than his car actually was, and the guy that will win doesn't deserve a victory, you've probably been watching NASCAR for far too long.

Forget Markaholic, we're all NASCAR-a-holics.

After yesterday's marathon length, six and a half hour, three rain delays Coke "600" (Ok, so technically it was the Coke 340.5) everyone wanted to see some finality (if that's even a word). We got our plea for mercy when at 6:26 NASCAR decided they could do no more, and called the race official.

To NASCAR's credit, they did get two things right yesterday. Let's take a quick look back at what NASCAR did right on Memorial Day in Charlotte.

#1. The caution and pause at 3PM for the national moment of silence was pretty cool...
There isn't much more I can say than that. NASCAR finally got something right. They realized that there was a higher calling on a day such as yesterday, and if it weren't for those men and women who were remembered for their service, NASCAR wouldn't even exist.

Tony Stewart radioed in and said, "It was one of the coolest things [he's] ever been a part of." Smoke waved a small American flag in front of his in car camera during the moment of silence. Thanks to FOX for putting that on air, that was pretty neat.

At 3PM all the crew members and NASCAR officials lined up on pit road for a national moment of silence

In fact, I realized that for two short seasons, as a fan of the US Army Chevy driven by none other than the proclaimed "hottest driver in NASCAR" (although coming from DW this weekend, we're not sure exactly what we can believe) I found a closer connection to the armed forces. One weekend I wore my US Army Mark Martin t-shirt and it hit me like a 2X4.

I was prouder than all heck to even have the opporunity to wear a shirt that says US Army on it. I know fighting like they do isn't something I could do willingly, and I'm glad there are people out there that do that so I can sit here and write what I write today. Sounds cliche, but it's true.

#2. NASCAR tried to dry the track and continue the race... Kudos for that one
Unlike the season opening Super Bowl of the sport, the granddaddy of 'em all, the Daytona 500--which was rain shortened itself, NASCAR actually decided to work their butts off to clear the track and get back to racing.

Conspiracy theorists unite; maybe NASCAR really didn't want David Reutimann (whose win I can't take seriously, it should have an asterisk next to it, but by the rules he won, so I guess that's how it stands. "Rules is rules" as one quote goes) to win his first race in the Cup Series. Maybe NASCAR really hates Michael Waltrip after his incident years ago at Daytona (anyone else need some jet fuel?), but one fact remained when it was all said and done: NASCAR wanted to see how much more racing they could fit in.

Safety vehicles and more couldn't dry the surface at Lowe's Motor Speedway and NASCAR pulled the plug

Let me tell you this, if that race was the Brickyard 400, I would have waited it out too. But that's just me.
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Join me tomorrow for a short presentation on why you should visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I'm giving a short one to two minute presentation in one of my classes tomorrow about a place I'd like to persuade my classmates to visit. I doubt they'll join in the fun, but you NASCAR fans will love my short talk--even if it's typed!