NASCAR

I am a NASCAR fan, but I'm not exactly sure why. If I'm honest, it doesn't really make much sense. I'm from Bend, Oregon (mecca for ski bumbs and retired california golfers). I went to school in Eugene, Oregon (mecca for hippies, hemp clothing, and organic groceries). I played on my high school golf team. I would consider myself an intellectual. I'm pretty good at math. I prefer imports and microbrews to domestic beer. I like foreign-made cars. I care about the environment. I'm skeptical when it comes to mass marketing and commercialism. I'm not all that happy about the war in Iraq. Finally, I like classical music.

I seem to forget all these things about me when it comes to NASCAR. At the race last week I enjoyed the smell of exhaust coming from the cars in front of me getting less than 4 MPG. I wore a red hat with a big #8 on it, bought a Chevy Racing shirt, and considered buying a $8 bottle of Budweiser just because it was Dale, Jr.'s sponsor. I got excited about the fighter jets overhead. I played country music when I tailgated.

There is one thing that makes me not care about this hypocritcal way of life: FAST CARS!

Just thinkin' 'bout bumbper-to-bumper 3-wide 'round turn 4 makes me move into my alter ego.

Watch these videos and maybe you'll get a taste of the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway three weeks ago; I went there with my brother, Allan.

Green Flag Drops at California Speedway



Comin' 'Round Turn 4