Sunday Afternoons

One fine Sunday in February, our family tuned in to watch Chevrolets, Dodges, Fords, and Toyotas speed around a paved track in Florida. And we've been hooked ever since.

At five minutes to race time, we turn on the TV. Together we stand while we listen to the Invocation by a local pastor, salute the flag as a country star sings our National Anthem (correctly!) and get goose bumps while military jets roar overhead.

and then those famous words, "Gentlemen, Start. Your. Engines." followed soon after by DW's "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity. Let's Go Racin' Boys!"

Sometime in the middle of the race, I make popcorn. And toward the end of the race, I make dinner.

Even though they drive Chevy's, we root for Jeff Gordon, number 24, and Junior in the 88 car and number 48, Jimmie Johnson. (James loves the M&M Car - Kyle Busch #18).) We gasp at crashes and feel for the drivers they take out.

And we yell at the screen on the final five laps as every driver in the top ten has a chance to finish on top.

Yesterday, we witnessed true sportsmanship. Junior has not won in more than a hundred races. But he decided that pulling one for the team was more important that winning for himself. So he put his teammate, Jimmie Johnson, in front, and pushed him across that finish line just .002 seconds ahead of the #2 spot, taking 4th place finish instead.

I never would have expected it, but we've had a lot of fun these past few weeks, watching stock cars zip around an oval!