He always said that I would rather be lucky than good. How about both ? Being at the right place at the right time elevated Richard Petty to the top rung of the sports world and Daytona was his playground.

The manufactures pulled out of racing in 1971 with one exception. Chrysler would provide Petty Engineering with 4 cars and engines. Two Plymouth's and two Dodge Charger's. Buddy Baker was tapped to drive the Dodge. This did not sit well with other competitors and some fans but what are you going to do.

Richard won the Daytona 500 with his team mate Baker finishing second. Speedweeks of 1971 again was dominated by the Petty's.

The 1973 Daytona race had a familar ending with Petty in victory lane. Buddy Baker now driving for Nord Krauskopf in the K&K Dodge suffered engine failure while running down Richard in the late stages of this race. Richards STP Dodge was probably the most famous race car in America after this event. The now classic dayglow red and Petty blue paint scheme is legendary.

Daytona in 1974 was again Richard's and it took some luck. Donnie Allision driving the Di Gard number 88 Chevrolet was a serious contender to win this race but tire failure did him in. Donnie's Chevy lost a tire past the finish line late in the race costing him precious time on the track. Richard also suffered a tire failure but it happend on the backstretch allowing Petty to pull into the pits for new rubber and his 5th Daytona 500 win.

Losing is also part of Richard's deal at the Daytona 500 and 1976 was a hard one to take. David Pearson had Richard's number for quite some time and the Silver Fox was just that on this day. These classic moves have been replayed over and over as the two Titan's played a chess match.

David Pearson was probably the only driver to really get into Richards head but there are others who took shots at the man. Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough also took chinks out of the Kings armor.

After Richard wrecked David Pearson at the finish of the 1976 Daytona 500, he apologised to David in victory lane. History would repeat itself and Richard still had bullets in the gun.

The 1979 Daytona 500 was done with mirrors as Cale Yarborogh and Donnie Allison played a chess match that was called off costing both a chance for a good finish in the Great American Race. Cale was going to win this one but Donnie wanted the 500 real bad. Allison ran Cale into the grass on the last lap but Cale was not into that and slammed into Donnie's Hawiian Tropic Chevrolet on Daytona's super stretch.

Richard Petty was in third place a whole straight away behind with Darrel Waltrip and A.J. Foyt in tow. After Richard took the checkered flag he quipped, I couldnt wait to get back to the third turn and watch the fight..... Petty had no business winning this one and had been struggling. A horrible 1978 season with stomach ulcer surgery in the off season did not bode well for the King. The man still had it and drove to his 7th championship in 1979.

The gun was not empty yet in 1981 as Richard pulled it off again ! Bobby Allison was the man for this speedweeks driving a sloped back Pontiac Lemans and he was the favorite. As this race unfolded Dale Inman had the call that is classic on the pit box. Allison was on the point for all of this race but took tires on the last pit stop. Inman made a beautiful call with a gas only stop that put Richard into the lead that Bobby could not erase.

Richard remembered what happened in 1976 and 1979 as he dealt his last hand at Daytona in July of 1984. After years of winning and losing this was the perfect set up as he had been there before.

Having Buddy Parrott as his crew chief was a blessing and even Buddy did not know what was in Richard's head that day in Daytona as Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough, two masters who jousted for a Firecracker 400 finish.

Buddy radioed Richard near the end of this race saying, "Are you OK ? ". There was no reply as Petty was running his race knowing that Cale was lurking and remembering 25 years of racing. 

Cale made his move going into the third turn looking for the win. Yarborough washed up in the turn after passing Petty. Richard had the answer this time and pulled up to Cales door lightly bumping and rubbing the number 28 Hardee's Chevrolet to the flag, the move worked as Richard Petty won his 200th race.  

Lee Petty made racing a business and became a legend along the way. Making a living is a way of life and doing this for family is what Lee did. The elder Petty christened Daytona Speedway begining the high speed chess matches that we enjoy today. The next event at Daytona in Feburuary nearly took Lee's life.

In an ironic twist Johnny Beauchamp took Lee for a ride out of Daytona's track during a qualifying race for the 1960 event. Petty suffered severe injuries that for the most part ended his driving career. Beauchamp finished second to Lee in the storied finish of the first Daytona 500. Lee's son Richard would not be outdone the day his father took a tumble as he also left the track during his qualifying race.

Richard was lucky only suffering a sprained ankle by slipping off the hood of his demolished Plymouth outside Daytona's banked third and fourth turns. The young Petty was just getting started. Soon Detroit would take notice of the family from Randleman.

The muscle car era bloomed in 1964 with Chrysler's introduction of the Hemi engine in responce to other manufatures willingness to provide high powered automobiles to the American public. The Petty's were among the first to recieve engines that were pourpose built for racing at the new Daytona Speedway.

Petty Engineering had at least two problems in taming the Hemi beast. The car would not turn and the engine leaked. Richard Petty and Dale Inman fixed it.

The car would not turn through Daytona's steep banks as Dale Inman threw everything at  Richard Petty's car in preperation for the upcoming 500 mile race. Then they relised that Richard was sliding out of the seat in Daytona's banked turns. The light bulb went off and the Petty's bolted a 2 by 4 piece of wood wrapped in a towell to the right side of Richard's seat giving the leverage needed for Richard to pull his Plymouth through the turns.

The other problem was with the Hemi engine as it leaked coolant. One of Hemi block's cylinder decks was deformed causing coolant loss. Richard welded up the deck making necessary repairs leading up to the Daytona 500.

Richard blew the field away at Daytona in 1964. Nascar did not like this domination and banned the Hemi Engine for the 1965 season. The Petty's bowed out with this turn of events. Nascar  finally relented by allowing the Hemi engine to compete for the 1966 season. Richard took it to em again at Daytona in 66 becoming the first driver to win two Daytona 500's. 

This was just the beginning of Daytona becoming the Great American Race.

For Richard it was just another race, for us Daytona is special and Richard Petty lit the torch.

More of his story is to come as only befitting of a King.

The high banks of Daytona Speedway is the Crown Jewel of stock car racing as many have sought it's trophy through triumph and defeat.

Daytona's first event ran caution free and in a photo finish that took three days to decide the winner. So unique is this track with steep turns and high speeds bringing inspiring awe to the best drivers ever. Many have made their bones on this hallowed ground as many have felt defeat and death.

To have the blessing of victory at this track starts with the area code of Randleman, North Carolina. Lee Petty pulled it off at the first Super Speedway race on a track of over 2 miles in length with high banking in the turns. Daytona would soon end his career. His son would go on write a book that defines a true champion.

Richard Petty has won and lost at Daytona in every way imaginable. He has dominated, wrecked, beat on the last lap, blown up and just been there at the end. Being there is the key. Daytona owes him nothing but he is fortunate to take from it.

Richard's story goes back to the beginning of NASCAR as he worked on his father's car. Seeing his dad win got the competitive juices flowing. Lee prevented Richard from driving in a race untill he was 21 years old. It worked out pretty good.

Commenting on his first visit to Daytona Speedway, When we first drove into the track it was the biggest thing we had ever seen ! For the time it must have been like a child in a candy store. This candy store would eventually show some real hard knocks and bring many trophies.

Five years after Lee Petty's inagural victory at Daytona it was his son's turn. The Petty's were never known for all out speed but it is they who used speed to make the legend.

more to come

From a time when a drivers ability and decisions could make all the difference on the race track he became the first to reach true star status in Nascar's Grand National Series.

Born in Olivia, North Carolina this man would become one of the best ever to drive a stock car after working as a farmer and in a sawmill.

Herb Thomas drove in Nascar's first Strictly Stock Series race in 1949. His first win came in 1950 on Martinsville's clay half mile track. Thomas turned up the wick in "51" after switching to the Hudson Hornet during the season defeating Fonty Flock for the Championship and winning the Southern 500 at Darlington.

Thomas is the first owner driver to win a Grand National title and the first to win two championships. He was in pretty good company mixing it up with the Flock brothers, Lee Petty, Buck Baker and others.

Although his competitive career was not long he was a threat at every track. With 48 career wins including three checkered flags in the Southern 500 and winning 21% of his starts, there is no doubt that Herb Thomas is one of the greatest ever.

Over the years many drivers have said that if they could win one race it would be at Darlington in September. When Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Dale Earnhardt tasted victory at the famed supersweedway they knew that Herb Thomas was riding with them in reaching their dream.

Romance can take years to realise with the sweetest of memories. Years from now other memories will be just as sweet.

He may have never thought to light this torch leaving Washington D.C., heading south with his family to make a new life. Maybe it was in his head to do this or it just happened.

They drove south and kept on driving until their car broke. Did it break ? What luck having to stop at the birth place of speed. The wide smooth beach would become treacherous and triumphant in it's glory.

As the Atlantic washes over this sandy stretch the echo's of legend are whispering. Through heartbreak, tragedy and with glorious victory only a chosen few have experienced the Beach.

Bill France Sr. found his dream in Daytona Beach Florida, his vision has given us something very special and unique. This belongs to us in an intimate way that only we know.

. . . . . . .

Nothing compares to the firing of engines on the pit lane, the people, the smell and the color. Still there is magic in the air. We look for a chess match and a fair fight for victory as all who achieve the trophy are deserving.

From the sand to highway and finding highbanks reaching into the distance these lucky few have felt what it means to run. Their names are engraved in stone and engrained into our hearts. Only the best take a handful of sand home to call their own.

Bill France Senior turned the sand into a precious gem. His dream is our fortune.  

GOODYEAR and Nascar are going to take the heat for this BrickYard event but the track itself is as much the cause for yesterdays tire wear as the tires that were used. Knowing what happened at the tire test in April is of interest as well. They had to know there was a problem in April unless all the laps run were short stints.

Indianopolis Speedways racing surface is the real culprit being diamond grinded several years ago, the new car abusing the right rear more than the previous car adds to this condition. The speedway's asphalt was diamond grinded several years ago to smooth the surface, remember Charlotte's deal a few years ago ? It doesnt matter what tire you bring with this kind of surface, there is going to be a problem.

Rockingham and Darlington were tire eaters but nothing like a diamond grind. This kind of surface is like razor blades as it peels away the rubber. When they show a close up of the yard of bricks you can easily see these grooves. Indy needs to repave the track and they have the money to do it. Then they will have to slow down the IRL cars.

It is a shame that two of the biggest racing facilities in this country have done this in an effort to save money resulting in poor events. The fiasco at Charlotte was rediculous but now the track is in good shape. Now it is Indy's turn.

I was surprised that Lee Spencer did not mention the track surface in her post about this race and no mention of the track condition was noted by the first page of bloggers responding to her post. The track surfaced was mentioned on the television pre race show. Another problem for stock cars at Indy is that this track only has one groove. Years ago there was an apron at the bottom of the turns but track officials eliminated this run off are because the Indy cars were using to compensate for the push condition that happens with these cars, more than one driver has been killed because of the angle of incidence created when losing traction in the middle of a turn backing into the wall at 200 plus mph.

The apron has been replaced with a grass area then the pit lane run off. This lack of racing surface makes it difficult for stock cars to put on a better race, it also inhibits the Indy cars as well but understandable to safety reasons.

Nothing and no one is perfect but Indy needs to take a look at their racing track and repave it now.

The revelation of Tony Stewarts buy in with Haas Automation is no surprise. Stewart is looking at the long term more than next year. He may be more fond of running the show than driving at this point as he has climbed alot of mountains and fences. From a professional standpoint it makes since. To become a winning owner driver will be a tall task. If anyone has the mentality to pull this off it is Tony.

These guys can make big money if successful at this level and Tony has made it by winning championships in two major series with many victories. Stewart, even with a hot head is one of the most talented race drivers in the world and has matured in recent years. Surely he has learned a few things driving for Joe Gibbs.

Being able to hold your own cards is always better. Tony holds the cards now and has good people around him to handle the day to day business of running a race team or tracks for that matter. Most of this is already in place, we just havent found out yet.

Holding the cards in the elite series of Nascar means there is plenty of money, Tony has the coin and the smarts. Not being a big Stewart fan I admire his motivation and like him more every day.

The owner driver deal takes some real mojo. The only driver to parlay a successful driving career to being a big winner as an owner is Junior Johnson. Richard Childress was a driver but never won a race but as an owner..... well we know his accomplishments. Childress is also a great business man just like Junior.

Darrel Waltrip and Ricky Rudd had success as owner drivers and their efforts are amazing. Richard Petty and Alan Kulwicki are the last owner drivers to win a championship in 1979 and 1992. As a car owner after giving up the wheel Petty's success has been linited with only three wins. Junior and Childress quit driving at relatively young ages and pulled it together with ownership. Petty hung in there too long and paid the price.

Robby Gordon is a hard head and owns his deal, have to give him credit because under the circumstances he is doing very well. Robby is rock climbing on a 90 degree face but heck, nobody tells him what the deal is. These happenings are better than the racing.

It will be facinating to see if Tony can pull this off and just maybe his cards will be a royal flush.

Good luck Tony

This write is in response to the wonderful post about the Rise and Fall of Nascar by Q Jordan.

Nascar will not fall but is feeling the belt tightening as all of us are. The huge exspansion enjoyed by Nascar has been somewhat curtailed for several years. The events at Atlanta have not been selling out for awhile and many of the tracks have grandstand seats painted in multicolor patterns that give an illusion of filled seats.

Every Cup race is telecast live on cable or network TV. We do not have to make a trip to the track when we can sit at home and maybe train the dog to pull a beer out of the fridge for us couch taters because we know that the Ole Lady isnt into that !

To the regulars here forgive me for going back in time again...... The romance of big time stock car racing is not there and it is no ones fault, just business. The real fan from years ago would listen to the radio and look for newspaper or magazine articles to get the dope on the big boys and on rare occasions go to the race. We would almost salivate at the opportunity to see one of these events in person, it was a special and a personal thing.

To be sure, hardcore fans are still there and will stay there but the boys in Daytona maybe ahead of themselves. We swallowed losing North Wilkesboro and Rockingham but taking away the Southern 500 was incorrect and hurtful to the true fan. Imagine the Indy 500 being run somewhere else ? Not going to happen.

Just a guess but the boys at the Beach or the Beach Boys thought California was dreamin...... it's not, because Cali could give a rats #### about a stock car race.

The Nationwide series ? Just as well go to a water park because it is washed down..... oh..... Edwards won, Harvick, Stewart, ?.... oh yeah... the Bush boy finally knows what sleep is and missed one.... smart move as that big motor home bus is pretty nice in the infield of a Cup race.

The Nationwide Series used to be the Sportsman Division and show cased short track racing. Now it is a feeder division with it's weekly competitors being eaten by the big boys. It has never been easy getting to the top but there are distinct differences in these two series and it doesnt work. History repeats itself time and time again.  

Very few drivers have cut their teeth in the Sportsman series and made it big in Cup as those drivers were content just to race.

Now the Cup guys spear fish at these races. Better yet the bigger Cup teams feed development drivers to the NW Series and they get eaten just the same or better, yet the top Cuppers..... is that a fish, noooo a shark..... drop down into the NW and have a feast. It is true that some of the hand picked ringers and veterans feed on NW to get a jump start or go to the bank but it is not short track racing in the truest way.

The days of the good real racing are gone and so is a real race, last week at Daytona was no different.

After retiring from pro football for the second time it is obvious that Joe Gibbs has another home, one that he built 16 years ago.

Being from the Washington D.C. area, I and many others have been lucky enough to have Joe Gibbs as one of us and our own. His personality is hard to see now but we know how special he is.  

The Washington Redskins are rarely a front running high profile team but Gibbs ability to lead and delagate authority is legendary in sports and the business world. His formula for success starts with strong faith in god and ends with smart calculated decisions. Joe Gibbs touch helped bring the Redskins to become champions.

We didnt think much about Gibbs when Jack Kent Cooke hired him in 1980. Washington went 0 for 5 to start the 1981 season, they rallyed to finish at 8 and 8. History was made in 1982 as the Redskins won the Championship in fine fashion.

This was not just about Joe Gibbs but about everyone. The core of a solid team was already in place. Joe Theisman had been picking up splinters for years behind Sonny Jurgenson and Billy Kilmer, now it was his time. John Riggins took a year off or quit until Gibbs lured him back so he could run over people. Dave Butz, an interior defensive lineman was already there and nobody could ever run through Butz. Mark Mosely, not that flashy of a kicker but he fit right in...... the pieces were in place and Gibbs took advantage of this.

On the sidelines it was no different with the coaching staff, bar none this was possibly the best group of coaches to be on the same team. Ritchie Petibone as defensive head coach, he was a Geroge Allen player, Charlie Taylor, another Allen guy and in his day one of the best wide outs in football. Bobby Mitchell, here we go again...... Bobby Beathard came up from Miami to help Gibbs have a tremendous draft with people like Art Monk, Joe Jacoby, Russ Grimm and Darrell Green among many others.

Gibbs came into a good situation and he knew what buttons to push. Joe showed his worth in putting together three Super Bowl Champions with three different quaterbacks. No other coach has accomplished this.

It was time to go racing and again Joe Gibbs knew what to do. The Coach knows little about the nuts and bolts of racing but did dabble in drag racing before football and is from North Carolina,  which is no surprise. When Gibbs decided to try Nascar racing he asked for advise from Junior Johnson and Rick Hendrick.

There may have been other influences as none other than Richard Petty makes an anual trek to D.C. in December to see the Redskins and Cowboys go at it, Joe and Richard probably have had a conversation or two.

It was Rick Hendrick that gave Gibbs technical support and engines that found victory lane in Daytona with Dale Jarret.  

Since then Joe Gibbs Racing has become one of the front runners in Cup racing with three Championships and many victories. Joe may not know how to gap a spark plug but he does know people and winning. Already a Hall of Famer, another Hall awaits his arrival.

Joe has a wonderful personality and we in Washington have been blessed with such a person. Joe Gibbs always made us feel at home as he was with us. There is something different about Joe Gibbs, this is not new but of faith that we all are good.

He is the Coach.

This is the most important day for America and signifies our independence and freedom.

Such great men, our forefathers having the insight to take liberty and embrace it. Freedom has it's price and so many have given their lives for this.

It seems that there is always others who do not want freedom for all and are willing to use treachury in making a point. Some of our own are trying to do us as well and we should pay attention.

A jerk of a journalist wrote an article this week for the Philadelphia Enquirer saying the we are not deserving of this holiday and should be ashamed for what we do. This must be a bathroom rag, for any editor to allow such garbage to be printed about Americans is a traitor.

These back benchers are riding the tails of the humidifiers on Capitol Hill. Our own leaders are squeezing us tighter and tighter and ask for more. We pay for everything, yes we do. This is still not enough for the Big Heat in Washington.

We pay the bills and people are cracking on us ? Those who wish to lead this country either say nothing or give us a recipe for Marxism. One speaks in many tongues and another says nothing but would rather lay down like a dog and let it go.

Our current policy on the Hill is that of appeasement, cant hurt anyones feelings.... we have the bank..... that you and I own. We can save the world and make it a better place. Well this is the best place, take care of it.

The supposed front liners tell of how bad we are, how polluting we are and how bad our soldiers are. It is human nature to see this and to know that we are all people and have feelings. We as Americans work hard, take care of our families and ourselves. This is America.

The Bo Bo's in Washington do not see it correctly as our Supreme Court has given constituntional rights to probable terrorists or more than likely the enemy that are inprisoned in Cuba. They should rot.

Everything the government does is paid for by us. It is ironic that we declared independence from England because of taxes and home rule.

There is another world out there we and learned of it on September, 11 2001. We cannot allow this behavior to exist in our lives. In a general sence the Bad guys do not want freedom for all because they have to give up some of their coin.

In the truest way, having freedom and liberty gives all an opportunity to be great and free to live our lives as we wish.

We pay at the pump, we pay for earmarks and entitlements..... we pay always. They tell us of what others in the world think about us and how bad we are. Who cares about the others ? What about us, the people that make it happen everyday

It seems that being elected to office means that things have to be bad as that person will make it good. To be sure, very few are saying anything good about us as a people or has reached into our hearts in a sincere way.

Our government has put us in a hard situation and I for one will not contribute to a national cause or challenges for the betterment of Capitol Hill, ie our country and its pretenders of faith as we are told of.

We do contribute locally and nationally with state and federal taxes. We contribute to our family, when we deposit money in our local bank it is used to help others in our community. We contribute in the work place by providing goods and services for others in return benifeting ourselves.

This is our day as every day is ours. Let freedom ring.

The best writers in Hollywood could not have penned this one any better than what happened on this hot July afternoon in Daytona.

Most hoped or knew that this magical day would happen and we were not to be disappointed. A birthday present fit for only a King.

This cat had one more trick in the bag and pulled a rabbit out of the hat in fine fashion.

At the age of 47 Richard Petty was past his prime but there were still a couple of bullets left in the gun. In 1984 Richard was driving for Mike Curb with Robert Yates engines. Petty shut down Petty Enterprises after 1983 with an embarassing post race inspection failure after the fall race in Charlotte. Dale Inman had left during the 1981 season and Richard's brother Maurice was out with the debacle in Charlotte.

Mike Curb is one of if not the top record producers of country music in the United States and Mike put together a record deal for Richard that ended with the number 200.

It was a pretty sweet deal having Robert Yates engines and one of the best crew chiefs ever in Buddy Parrott. This combination brought a nice finish to Richard's win totals.

Win number 199 came at Dover Delaware in the spring as Petty outlasted the field in a tire war as Dovers cracked asphalt took  other contenders out of the running with blistering tires.

The stage was set going into Daytona for the Firecracker 400 and it played out perfectly. After things settled down it was between Cale Yarbrough and Richard. Cale had been dominate on the superspeedways at this time driving Harry Raniers Hardee's Chevrolet with Waddell Wilson power plants. This race would be different.

Late in the event Parrott noticed that Richard was backing off and radioed his concerns but Petty did not reply. Richard knew that he would have to deal with Cale when the chips were up. With two laps to go Ken Ragan flipped into the tri oval grass and it was on. Cale put a move on Petty going into the third turn as he had done to several drivers in the last two years resulting in victories.

Not this time  as Yarbrough washed up between three and four on this hot slick day in July. Richard had a set on the bottom and came up to Cale's door going to the stripe. Petty used a perfect move on Yarbrough by lightly bumping him as they were side by side taking the checkered flag by inches.

The move is used to this day, showing real class and sportsmanship. Two of the all time greats going at it is what defines stock car racing at its best.

Richards winning car resides at the Smithstonian Institution in Washington D.C. at the Museum of American History. The where about's of that engine is unknown now but that motor powered Greg Sacks to his only Winston Cup victory at Daytona in July a year later.

Many people came together to bring a fine finish to Richard Petty's winning ways and what a finish it was.

During the Civil war, Robert E Lee stated, " I am a Virginian first and always will be a Virginian". Over a hundred years later he would be pardoned for his actions during this conflict by the President of the United States.

Through such a tragedy as the Civil war with brother against brother, Lee wanted his Virginia more than a war which was the bloodiest in the history of this great land.

To this day Robert E  Lee's genius and tactics are studied and hopefully our warriors of today also learn about the man and his blessings more than what happened on a battlefield.

Old Virginia has produced many great individuals and one of them made his mark on the hot asphalt race tracks of Nascar.

Very consistent and soft spoken this boy from Chesapeake, Virginia maybe the last of a dying breed in the high stakes world of sport and racing.

Ricky Rudd started by driving Go-Karts and ended up rubbing fenders with the best ever and drove for some of best of all time. He finished by being one of the Iron men of racing.

Rudd was noticed on the world stage in a way that nobody would want. At the Busch Clash in 1984 Ricky suffered one of if not the worst crashes that has been seen in modern history with his big barrel roll in Daytona's tri oval grass driving Bud Moore's Ford. They patched him up and he finished 7th in the Daytona 500 a week later.

Ricky had an answer that few know by winning at the next event in Richmond with his eyes so swollen that he taped them to stay open. This guy was tough.

Ricky Rudd settled into a modest career driving in the big league of Stock Car Racing by winning at least on race for 16 years consecutively.

Probably his greatest feat was to happen years later in Indianapolis by winning the Brick Yard 400 in 1997 as a car owner and driver. No one has won a Cup race being the car owner owner since and for now Ricky is the last of a dying breed.

A Virginian first and always a Virginian

Very few knew every inch of  a race track as he did. No one could feel what cannot be seen as this man could.

He represents the past in Nascar's lore of hard short track racing and is part of  the present with the high speed chess matches we enjoy today.

No one was a tough as Dale Earnhardt. From the old Richmond Fairgrounds to Talladega Super Speedway Earnhardt was the toughest competitor we have seen in Nascar racing in the last 40 years. 

Dale was as comfortable on a tractor as he was in a race car and he knew one thing for certain. Drive hard, have fun and plow the field.

Earnhardt's driving style is reminicent of Curtis Turner as he did not like to be passed and many drivers today will attest to that. This hard nosed driving style brought him to the top with 7 championships.

His knowledge and feel for race tracks is a secret that has been locked away. Dale's work at Talladega may never be seen again as no one rode the wind the way he did. Maybe it is personna, intimidation or just true grit.... Earnhardt knew what to do on these high banks as well as any other track. Dale knew how to work the draft better than anyone in recent memory.

Dale learned his lessons well from his father beating on his bumper to becoming a champion . No one has been rookie of the year and champion the next year. Earnhardt did it and at the World 600 in 1980 he learned what it was all about and changed the gaurd. At Charlotte that day Dale was the only one to really race and he put on a show. Probably racing too hard the yellow and blue Rod Osterland Chevrolet blew a tire wiping out several contenders but this was a man on a mission.

This was the start of his reign as it took several years to rise as a top competitor. Hooking up with Richard Childress for the second time proved to be a blessing as Dale blistered the speedways with 6 titles while driving for Childress.

Racing doesnt matter so much, I just miss him. Those sunglasses, mustasche and that sly smile that says I got you

Wish he was still here to give us some of that old school and his smile.

Dale Earnhardt was one of the best ever and brought racing to a level that is very hard to beat.

Born in Bessemer Alabama there was only one thing for this man to do and that was to hammer down.

There was never any doubt in what he wanted to do and that was racing. As a young man he pestered Bobby Allison wanting to work on Bobby's cars to the point that Allison tried to swat him away like a fly. To no avail he went on to become one of the great drivers and is missed dearly.

Neil Bonnett was Bobby Allison's fly and drove into our hearts. He forced Bobby to bring him in and we are fortunate to know Neil if only just a little.

Bonnett learned the Alabama Gang's deal and was on the throttle when his chance arrived. Neil was known for taking it to the limit, if the car would hold up he would win no matter what. Bonnett's talents are not well known but true. More than one track promoter called for Neil after seeing his talent on a race track.

After serving his apprenticeship with Allison Neil found himself running the Winston Cup division. It all came together late during the 1977 driving Jim Stacy's Dodge with Harry Hyde calling the shots.

Neil's first two victories were at the expense of Richard Petty as he knocked the King off at the old Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway and blew away Richard at the last race of the season in Ontario, California. Some how it seems that Bonnett knew what happened but was only concened with winning.

When we see the snake move on tracks with long straightaways like Pocono and other long tracks, think of Neil because he was the first to use this strategy.

Neil Bonnett is very much a part of this as there is no real answer, I miss him dearly. That sweet drawl and just a good guy, this man is Hall of Fame.

Neil was Dale Earnhardt's best friend as they would take hunting trips and knew other things than racing and that was friendship.

They are best friends

It is more than race cars and sporting events. the human condition is engrained in our nature.

We emulate and embrace ancient Rome and sport of our distant past. Indianopolis Motor Speedway is a perfect example of how we have brought this past to our present.

Just look at Indy on Memorial weekend, this is a coliseum with the spectacle. We repeat our past time and time again. Who is to say if this is wrong or right but the difference is that human kind wants to be entertained.

So many have felt the loss of their loved and so many are still to learn.

We are saddened by certain events and happy with others, until it hits home. This oblivious nature is us as we shut the tragedy out and feel excitment.

Until it hits home

With with the loss of a loved one

It hits home

Many have lost those who are most precious to them

This is home

Lest we comment on anothers loss without knowing a loss

With our loss we must go on after grieving as this is our healing

Moving on and knowing our blessings and caring is to heal

Our home