Snowflakes. What were you thinking I meant? We have them just dusting the yard now, and the season now looks correct. White fuzz on everything and less than a month before the best holiday week. I have procrastinated decorating and now have promised to hang lights in the cold. The tree is in a box in my car and my people are getting antsy to to the indoor thing. Maybe tonight.
As I watch the mostly uncomfortable faces of the folks at the big Nascar banquets in Las Vegas I wonder how much some of them go for the holiday decorating. They have all made the big-time, and could certainly afford to hire the pros. But, knowing guys like Kenseth and Martin, and the ones who struggled early in their careers, I would imagine many of them actually like to do something “regular” like decorate a tree with the kids, or hang lights. I know for me it is a way to feel at home, safe, close to family, and rooted in a nice tradition. It is kind of fun to see the famous drivers and wives awkwardly tottering around in stiff formal wear and having to sit still for hours. Most of those guys are really cranked-up individuals to begin with, and these dinner things are tough on them. It will be a relief for them (and me) to see them back in polo shirts and driver’s suits in February.
There are opportunities now for some mid-tier drivers to get some racing in. Indiana, the Carolinas Georgia, and especially Florida have series where you can go to all manner of tracks and succeed. Drivers who race around here get exposed to lots of different tracks and conditions, and I encourage anyone thinking of venturing south to do so, and get as much racing in as possible. Just ask Carl Edwards how that kind of exposure worked for him.
I have a young driver to buy a Christmas gift for. I wish I could afford a set of brakes or a cool driver’s suit, but I think I will have to settle for the “regular” kind of stuff. Hmmm, maybe slippers. That’s all the specifics I will give here, I think the kid might read my stuff…
Also, this week you can not deny it is good to be a Wisconsin sports fan. Packers at 12-0 and the Badgers going to the Rose Bowl after winning one of the best college games I have ever seen. I don’t mind the flakes right now. Remind me of that in mid Feb.
