I mentioned yesterday that I found out that my name is on Dale Earnhardt Jr’s car for this weekend’s race. I’m still giddy just thinking about it. But I hope I didn’t jinx Jr by my name being on the car.

During the first practice today, he had engine issues, and they had to change the engine. Then after only 9 laps on the track during the second practice, his right rear tire exploded. And when I say exploded, I mean EXPLODED. It tore up the rear of the car, and several other cars were also involved. They had to bring out a backup for him. Luckily, the names are on the backup car too.

Hopefully all these issues for Jr during practice will mean he will have a good race on Sunday. He’ll have to start in the back because he’s in a backup car, but that boy knows his way around Talladega. He’ll be up front before the race even reaches halfway.

As I mentioned in my last post, I had more pics that I took at the Paul Menard appearance. If you’re interested … check ‘em out here: Paul Menard Appearance - 23 October 2007. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find …

And here’s what Paul signed for me …

I mentioned the other day that Paul Menard was coming to town today for an appearance at the new Menards over in Moorhead. I left work at 4pm so I could go get in line. I guess I didn’t have to leave so early. I got there about 4:30pm or so and there were only 2 other people in line* … a guy and his kid. But I’m still glad I got there early. I took pics of Paul’s car and Matt Crafton’s truck (he was there too, but my plan was to kidnap see Paul). Since I was so early and bored, I was texting Carla (from work). She said she’d be my getaway driver if I needed one if I followed through with my plan to kidnap Paul, but of course I chickened out. I don’t think I would have gotten very far anyways … LOL.

I snapped a couple of pics of Paul when he was signing stuff for the people in front of me. Then it was my turn. I had bought a hat at the other Menards (in West Fargo) last Friday. And they had some hero cards that they were signing (good thing too since I didn’t have anything for Matt to sign). He signed my hat and asked my name so he could put it on the hero card. And I asked him if I could get a picture with him. He said yes … :dancin: The guy behind me in line was nice enough the take the pic for me. Paul put his arm around me and I put mine around him for the pic … That SO made my year. Here’s the pic. It turned out really good … except for me … LOL. Robin … don’t hit me for saying that … LOL.

click to enlarge

I need to resize the other pics I took and put copyrights on ‘em, and then I’ll put them up on my photo gallery. I’ll post the link after I get that done. I think I should eat first. I’m flying high right now and probably will be all nite (hell … probably for the rest of the week), so I’ve got the energy to get it done.

Now I just need to meet Dale Jr, Martin Truex Jr, and Scott Riggs, and I can die happy …

I shoulda stuck around ’til the appearance was done (8pm) and tried my kidnap plan then. Maybe I should go back and hide out and wait for him and grab him. :hmm: Nah … better not. That’s no way to make an impression … :G-LOL:

* That is there were only 2 people in front of me when I got there, but 3 when Paul got there. Some bitch decided she was just going to plop herself at the front of the line … in front of everyone else who was patiently standing in line. I mean, the guy in front of me had been there since 4. And who in the hell budges in front of a kid (who couldn’t have been more than 10 years old). I gave her some pretty nasty looks, but apparently it didn’t phase her. The guys behind me were going to go say something to her. But I think they came to the same conclusion I did … it just wasn’t worth it. Who wants to start a scene. And besides … I wasn’t gonna get thrown out of the store before I got to meet Paul.

My mood just got a million times better. I got a flyer in the mail today for the new Menards over in Moorhead. They’re having their grand opening Oct. 20 - 28. It’s a HUGE Menards. I’ve been telling Lisa since they started building it that they need to bring Paul Menard here when they open. Well … THEY ARE!!!

I was just going through the flyer while I ate looking for the ‘celebrity appearances’. And what did I find when I came across the page in the middle of the flyer?

Special Appearances … NASCAR Driver Paul Menard … :dancin: :dancin: :dancin:

I just wanted to be sure, so I went to the Menards Racing website to be sure. And what do I find?

MOORHEAD, MN
Date - Tuesday, October 23rd
6pm - 8pm

Moorhead Menards
3000 27th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56560

Drivers:
Paul Menard
Matt Crafton

See the new Menards Race simulator:
10am - 4pm

Looks like I might be taking a little more flex time next week so I can go get in line. OMG!!!!! I SO can’t wait. I gotta find some Paul Menard merchandise before then. I’ll probably have to go to Menards to find any. I haven’t been able to anywhere else. But I need something for him to sign. OMG!!!

I’d better go finish eating. My corn dog is probably getting cold. Oh well. Paul Menard is coming to town … :drool2:

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a HUGE Dale Earnhardt Jr fan. And those who know me also know that I really don’t care for Hendrick Motorsports (ewww ). Today one of my favorite drivers (and the first one … the main reason I’ve become such a NASCAR fan) announced that he will be driving for my most detested race team for the 2008 season. Dale Jr will be replacing Kyle Busch at Hendrick motorsports.

I will ALWAYS be a Dale Jr fan. Even though he is going where he is going. I’m gonna have to suck it up. But just because he’s driving for Hendrick and he’s going to be teammates with Jeffie Poo ( ) and Jimmie ( ), that doesn’t mean that I’m gonna cheer for those two. The only good thing is that he’s going to be teammates with Casey Mears now. Maybe Lisa and I won’t fight so much when we’re watching the races together (yeah right … aren’t sisters SUPPOSED to fight … LOL).

I really hope that Budweiser decides to move with Dale Jr. It would be so weird seeing him drive a car with any other sponsor on it. It’s gonna be strange enough to see him in a car that doesn’t have the #8 on it. But whatever his car #8 and whomever his sponsor is … I’m still gonna be a Dale Jr fan. I’m not a “fair-weather” fan. I’m a TRUE fan.

All I know is that the 2008 NASCAR season is going to be an interesting season.

I decided to sign up for Trackpass Scanner today. I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to since it’s $29.95 a year, and from what I’ve heard on a Dale Jr message board I visit, it doesn’t always work. But I thought I’d give it a shot. And I get a 14 day free trial. So I can try it out for a few races and see if it works. If I have problems with it, I’ll definitely cancel before the 14 days are up. But otherwise, I might keep it. I like listening to the drivers on the scanner … you find out more than the stupid tv announcers ever tell you. And there are 40 drivers to choose from (I think that’s the number). So I can switch between Dale Jr and Martin and Paul and Scott. I just hope it’s worth the price.

For the past month or so on a Dale Jr message board I’m on, they’ve been talking about a new ’social networking’ website out there. But it’s not just another MySpace. It’s built as a race fan community. And I found out last weekend that Dale Jr is a part owner in the site. Talk about cool. So, I took the plunge and signed up.

The site is called Infield Parking. They don’t currently have as many features as MySpace does, but I believe they’re planning on adding more soon. They already have blogs for the drivers that are members (and there’s quite a few). I’m hoping they add them for regular members soon. I don’t know if I would post in it much since I’ve got this place. But I might post something now and then.

So, if you’re a race fan, head over and sign up. And even if you’re not, check out my Parking Place and let me know what you think. I’m still tweaking things and deciding what I want on there. I don’t want it to get too cluttered and obnoxious like some MySpace pages are (they’re out there … I know you’ve seen the ones I’m talking about). And this site is MUCH easier to customize than MySpace is … at least for me. The CSS for the stuff at Infield Parking is much more thought out and tweak-friendly.

Now, I need to get away from my computer. I didn’t get a chance to write up my grocery list last nite (I started a new project … cleaning up my financial records. Now I just need to get a paper shredder and go through my old records. I have stuff dating back to 1997), so I’d better get that done tonite.

It’s about time. The racing season officially starts this weekend … woohoo!! :dancin: There’s stuff on the Speed Channel ALL DAY (and dammit … I’ve got a lot of running around to do today). There’s practice for Cup qualifying tomorrow. The Bud Shootout is tonite. The ARCA race is this afternoon. Oh, it feels good to have racing again. My Sunday’s will be busy now until the middle of November … LOL. I need to get my butt in gear and update my racing websites. I gotta get those in order before the Daytona 500.