California Race TV ratings

Hello,

My name is HUDSON HORNET, ...... and I'm a recovering race fan.
Of course, every day is a struggle, but if I take one day at a time and have faith in a higher power, I know I can make it through any snoozer race held anywhere. What it all boils down to is mind over matter. As long as I'm in the right frame of mind, that's all that really matters.

For example, just last Saturday, I attended the Busch Series race at California Motor Speedway and actually stayed awake for the entire day. And I'm here to tell you, -- if I can do it,.......ANYbody can do it. All it took was my desire to succeed, failure was not an option. And I put myself to the ultimate test of endurance.

At first I planned on doing this all by myself. But as it turned out, I received help I hadn't counted on, requested, or even counted on. Truely there IS a higher power --- and that power shined on me brighter than the track lights and caused me to realize I need to accept that there are things I cannot change, and that I should change the things I can. And once I've made the decision to change, a whole new race opens up and replaces snoozers with more fun than a human being should be allowed to have.
Can I get an A--Men?!

Here's my story ---- and I'm stickin' to it.

I'm an old geezer. Been around about as long as NASCAR has. Been there, Done that, Then wrote the book. But it's been a long time since I've read that book. On Saturday I took that book off the shelf and started reading.

In The Beginning,........ there was a tailgate. And ON that tailgate were Brauts,......and potato salad, and chips, and deviled eggs, and cookies, with friends and fans for dessert.

We arrived early for the early evening race and spent some time experiencing the simple pleasures usually ignored and taken for granted. This time, I slowed down to smell the flowers for a change. When was the last time y'all just wandered around the parking lot after a tailgate lunch? Checked out the sights and actually stopped and talked with other race fans who are still in touch with what real race attendance is all about? Shared their tailgates and stories, -- maybe a beer or two, -- and by doing so, become a part of their race day memories that they'll share with other tailgate fans from time to time for years to come, which might just be the most important part of the whole racing package. Now-A-Daze, it seems we jump in the car, rush to the race and fight traffic, jump out of the car and rush to the enterance gate like cattle, eyes and attention fixated on getting to our assigned seats before the race starts. Squeeze betwixt one hundred thousand, or so, other fans in a hurry to find their seat in time to stand up for the green flag.

Then, after the checkered flag waves, --- we do it all over again in reverse. And a good time was had by all. That's racin' folks! That's the way it is.
But I've rediscovered that isn't the only way. And that good time had by all can be a great time if we focus outside the box for a change. Break the mold! Dare to be different. Have any of y'all noticed that with ALL the "time saving" technology we have now --- we seem to have less time to do the things we used to do before the invention of all our time saving devices? Or is it just me?

For the California race, I packed all the usual, standard race day equipment generally accepted as necessities, but this time those things stayed packed in the car in the parking lot. Instead of the usual equipment, I became part of a small group which included a nine-year old birthday boy, who wanted to attend the race as a birthday present, along with his soon to be seven-year old cousin --- both of which became interested in numbers by watching the scoring pylon when they attended their first race when they were around three-years old. These boys are the great-grand sons of a good friend of mine, who was also a member of the group on Saturday.

To further enhance the racing experience --- our group included a young family of three, two of which were attending their first race ever. One was the mom, the other just turned two-years old --- and daddy. If y'all have never watched a two-year old at his first race, you don't know what you're missing. It's the best way I've found to actually feel younger as you watch them taking it all in and trying to imagine what's going on in their head. Sensory overload? Yup! For ME. The kid handled it all in stride.

The crowds at the Busch race weren't as large as a Cup race, which was perfect for hitting the NASCAR trailers on the midway, --- now called "Fan Zone". It actually took us longer to decide what we wanted than to make the purchase. However, that caused a problem for me. I had enough energy to want to continue exploring when the others were content to head for our seats in turn one.
No problem!
See y'all later, I'll be back.
And off I went,.......................

During my exploration, I walked the entire Fan Zone --- taking in the simple pleasures I usually over look. I took advantage of the short lines and purchased a David Gilliland T-shirt and a hat, then saw Kasey Kahne's trailer and decided to get that T-shirt TruckerMom wanted. Then, just a few steps away I found Mark Martin's trailer. Stopped there too. Picked up a few window stickers and talked with the sales person.

Saw the PILOT Truck Stops trailer and engaged the truck driver in conversation. Talkes for a good fifteen to twenty minutes about his new trucking gig and how much more he enjoys it over pulling a flat bed.
Saw a woman sweeping the floor in one of the trailers and asked her how come SHE had to do ALL the work. After talking with her I learned that she and her husband gave up heavy-haul and over-size freight to follow the races and what that was like.
Ambled over to an adult beverage stand to quench my thirst and was faced with a decision. Which brand to buy? For some reason I thought of KurtsFan and my mind was made up. One Miller, please.
Sat down for awhile to consume my beverage and did a little people watching. Didn't see any little people though --- but I DID see a bunch of hot chicks. California!
Did I mention the weather was perfect?

With about a half hour to green flag, I rented a scanner and two headsets, and headed UP to our seats to discover we could see all but a very small section wayyy out in turn three. But, down on the infield, right in front of us, there was a huge screen monitor that covered any action we couldn't see. Somebody pinch me!

The kids were well behaved, albeit excited. They already decided which drivers they were going to cheer for --- so I picked different drivers so we could argue which of us picked the best drivers. I noticed a fan who was older than me sitting at the end of the row, with nobody sitting betwixt us, so, I slid over his way to gab for awhile. He was wearing a Dale Earnhardt hat and a Dale Jr. T-shirt, so I asked the obvious question, "Are you an Earnhardt fan?" That was all it took for a good 30 minute conversation. A most enjoyable conversation I might add.

When the race started, the two-year old new fan lit up like a skyrocket! He and the great-grand kids were totally into the racing. They kept me informed when the numbers changed on the scoring pylon and pointed out when my drivers were in the pits and tugged on my sleeve when drivers lost it in turn two. Between us, we had picked Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth for the win, so I think y'all can imagine the excitement as the race came down to the last laps.

When the checkered flag flew, the race was over, --- but not the experience.
After waiting a few minutes for the crowd to exit the stands, we went down, but not out. Nope!
The Fan Zone was still open and the nine-year old decided he wanted a Jeff Burton T-shirt. Then a little live music listening. That's when I decided I wanted A Juan Pablo Montoya T-shirt.

When our arms were full, we headed for the parking lot wayyy out yonder.
TruckerMom got a hitch in her get-a-long though, making walking difficult. I decided to ask a track staff member if I could fetch the car and pick her up at the main gate to help her out. The track staff guy said he had a better idea, raised his arm and hailed a golf car and driver to drive us all to the car.
How do you say "thank-you" enough for that?

I picked a reference out in the parking lot to make it easier to find our car. A big, beautiful 379-X Peterbilt with a custom sleeper. Very easy to find. Unfortunately, the big Pete had moved in closer, and our car hadn't followed.
But thanks to the birthday boy, who rememberd a NONmovable landmark, the driver was able to deliver us to where we needed to be.

As I reflect back, I realize how much more enjoyable attending races can be when I step back, relax, and take in the bigger picture rather than concentrating only on the track action. The change of pace was refreshing. And I'm convinced that the Craftsman Truck series and the Busch Series races are the races to attend. When it comes to the larger crowds at the Cup races, I prefer my over-stuffed easy chair planted firmly in front of the television. That way, it's easier and more comfortable for me to snooze.
Just in case,.............................

The birthday boy we took to the race made a planned move to Arizona the next day, (Sunday), ---- but before he left, he invited us to attend a race in Arizona with him. Ya reckon I oughta have said "no thanx" instead of "just say when?"