I brought along a picture I had of Tony when I joined the VIP club...I wanted him to sign it to me personally...which of course he did graciously and happily.

No matter what, NASCAR fans are the most patriotic of any sports fans!

The guy in front of me allowed me to use his scanner for a while since I had never tried one. I loved it! Oh..and I had it on scan for all drivers...Jeff Gordon talked the most! LOL

My new hillbilly sister...none other than Lisa!

My mama at the airport feeding the pigeons...I am quite sure the other passengers thought nasty thoughts..but mama feeds all living things.

More to come!

Have to upload the pictures so it might take a little bit...but some are too funny and too good to miss!

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!

From the moment I woke up on Thursday (not that I got a lot of sleep), I knew things were going to go just right. Mama and I got to the airport in time, traveling first class for the first time in our lives. I had my Tony Stewart racing jacket on (a present from an angel) and the stewardess hung it up for me. I had my eye on it the whole time as we were in the second seats. We arrived a little late but Lisa was there to greet us at the gate grinning from ear to ear, as I was. Of course, collecting mama and I's baggage was easy but they had lost Lisa's...or detoured it actually. Of course...it only weighed 57 pounds...for four days! LOL! We straightened that out as much as we could at the time, rented the PT Cruiser, and we're on our way to Dega!

We found the motel with little trouble and we were right next to a Walmart so Lisa and I had to do a little shopping...mainly for some drinks and snacks for the rooms. They weren't bad at all really, not that it would have mattered, we spent very little time there. We called who we had to call to let them know we had arrived safe and sound. (Although actually Lisa needs a blue tooth badly, she's on that thing constantly..lol).  This little motel in this tiny town was actually quite accommodating with free internet service so this made Lisa and I quite happy.

Lisa and I chatted on the terrace while she drank a beer and I smoked...lol! We also chatted with some NASCAR fans, very nice ones, on the first floor who were from Illinois. But it had been a long day for all of us and so we said good night knowing that to make sure we were not late for the meet and greet with Tony, it would be another early morning.

As I snuggled up cozily in bed, I'll leave you guessing as to what my last thoughts were.

If it had been anyone except Bobby Labonte, I assure you this would be a rant of magnificent proportions. But, I have to admit it, Bobby's a nice guy and a good racer...and today was just racin'.  During the red I went down to take a couple of pictures of Tony in his car and give him the thumbs up...I will not do that tomorrow if the chance appears...maybe I'm jinxing the guy!

Qualifying was interesting considering there was a tie...of course Jeff "Fruit Loop" Gordon winning the tie....because...hmm...he's Jeff Gordon (gag).

The Busch race was exciting from beginning to end...I'm hoping my heart can take all the excitement tomorrow's race will bring! There are a lot of contenders that are more than worthy and so the excitement should be palpaple. Actually, it already is. From the Lousianian we met last night at the Stampede restaurant who rescued my mama's cellphone and lipstick to the tailgaters we have enjoyed so much on the first floor of the hotel, as the time gets closer and closer to the Cup race, the more animated people become. I always knew I loved racing, stockcars, NASCAR, and just the pure joy of driving fast down a country road. But it wasn't until today that I realized I was IN love with racing!!!!! And I am like a giggly girl with her first schoolgirl crush I am in no way ever going to be satisfied with just these two races!!!! I found my heart and it revs up to speeds of over 200 mph!!!

Hopefully I will be getting some sleep tonight, as I kept waking up last night, anticipation causing the smile on my face to grow ever wider.

To dream the impossible dream and have it come true is a feeling that is so very difficult to explain.

I can't write a long post as I have to get to bed for some resting up for tomorrow's qualifying and race.

But I wanted to tell you all that my heart still fills with joy at having a dream fulfilled. Tony Stewart is a wonderful person who treated me with immense respect while at the same time making me feel we were sitting on the porch chatting with tall glasses of iced tea in our hands and my dog snoring at our feet.

We took wonderful pictures as I was allowed to speak to Tony as an old friend...and to be honest...when I left him...I feel now that he IS an old friend..one who's happiness will be a concern to me till the day I die.

He's not spoiled, he's just emotional about the sport we both love and if you had the chance to talk to him I swear you would feel that way too.

Thanks to all my friends here at Fox Blogosphere, Fox Sports, NASCAR foundation, and most of all, Tony "Smoke" Stewart for making a dream real.

I am in your debt forever.