Friday was here! The big day! For although I was looking forward to the races, my heart tripped over itself like a newborn baby bird at the thought of speaking to my hero in person. It was so exciting words are difficult to find to explain the feeling.

We arrived at the track early at my insistence, and then of course had to wait, me bopping up and down the whole time and barely stopping to take a breath chattering nervously. Lisa made her call and Oh NO! At first it looked as if they had changed the time on us, but Lisa worked her magic and the NASCAR Foundation gal came to pick up the Smoke Fan Club to get our credentials to meet Smoke! The NASCAR Foundation gal (hope she forgives me for forgetting her name...I forgot mine for a time there). We bumped along in our golfcart (right across the track...talk about cool!)..and she pointed out drivers and their coaches along the way. We saw Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, and Richard Childress with a bottle of his wine in his hand. He smiled at me as I said Hey. When we got to a beautiful black motorcoach and she said it was our destination my breath was literally taken away!

I was totally ignorant of the fact that Tony had just gotten back from a media frenzy regarding his fine and probation (had no idea about that either)...but when he walked up in a red shirt and jeans..I was thrilled. The NASCAR gal went and said something to his he and his pals and then he went into his motorcoach. Shortly afterwards he walked out in his firesuit! Handsome and charming he strolled over to the golfcart where everyone was standing (I was leaning, my legs were wobbly!)...and asked "Which of you ladies is Cindi?" My mouth dropped open and I stood up, weak and wobbly, and said, "I'm Cindi." He came over and gave me a hug! So this man, who had just had to deal with a bunch of crap from people who couldn't care less about him sat down and talked to me like an old friend. Lisa DID ask him about the potty thing (oh GAWD!)...lol. He signed hats for us and some photos...I had one that I had recieved from joining Smoke VIP...he signed that one to Cindi. He was so much fun to talk to, I couldn't have asked for any more from anybody. I will be sending out thank you cards to all who have made my dream come true. As for Tony, in my eyes, the man can do no wrong because I met this person, looked in his eyes, and spoke to him about more than just racing. Tony and I connected in a way that I would have never dreamed of. Think he liked my mama too!