Hello race fans!

Well, there has been alot of things that have happened since my last blog! Where do I begin?!! First of all, I need to start with the race in Phoenix. As most of you know, my favorite driver is Denny Hamlin. Phoenix was his first race back after his knee surgery. And, even though it didn't go the way he planned, I have to give him alot of credit for running the entire race! I really questioned his decision, especially after going two laps down, but in the end, he didn't want to let his team down. I get that now, but at the time, I didn't think it was such a good idea! I hope it didn't set his recovery back, but I guess time will tell. As for the race, I thought it was pretty good. It was good to see Ryan Newman back in victory lane again! It was a long drought for him and his team, so congratulations to them! I have to tell you a story about Ryan that happened two years ago at the fall race in Charlotte . I was in the garage area with my husband Dean and my nephew Tucker, who has cerebral palsy. We were pushing Tucker around in a wheelchair (he can walk with crutches, but it's easier on him when we do alot of walking to use a wheelchair). A man came up to me and handed me a bag and said, "Don't ever say the Nationwide Series never gave you anything!" and he laughed and walked away. I said thank you and proceeded to look in the bag. Here it was a #12 Ryan Newman diecast car. one of the larger scale diecasts and I thought, wow, that's really cool! Now, keep in mind, they were probably getting rid of all of his items since he was going to Stewart-Haas racing the next year, but still I thought that was really nice. Now, I'm still not quite sure why a man from the Nationwide Series gave this to me, but whatever, I wasn't going to argue with him! Later on, the drivers started heading out to the stage for driver introductions, we were standing near the exit of the garage, when here come's Ryan with his wife and a guy from MRN radio doing an interview while he was walking beside him. I had told my nephew to get the diecast car out of the box, just in case we would see Ryan and boy am I glad he did! When Ryan saw us standing there with Tucker, without us even asking him anything, he walked right over to us, while he was doing his interview, and signed the car for Tucker!!! I was so shocked and amazed that he would do something like that when he could have easily just kept right on walking and talking without even acknowledging us! Ever since then, we have had a new found respect for Ryan, and now that he is with Tony Stewart (which happens to be Tucker's favorite driver) we all kind of like him a little, maybe even alot more than we did before! Thank you Ryan for an awesome experience!!!

Now, on to this past weekend's race in Texas. Wow, what can I say?!!! That race was awesome, and maybe I'm just saying that because Denny won, but even so, it was really exciting, especially at the end! Maybe we should start calling Denny, Monday Morning Denny! What an unbelievable task, not just winning the race, but winning it with a bum knee that was just operated on less than three weeks ago! Needless to say, I was ecstatic! Congratulations Denny! Also, congratulations to Kyle Busch on winning five in a row at Texas in the Nationwide Series race! Joe Gibbs racing had a spectacular weekend!

Also, what does everyone think of Kasey Kahne signing with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the #5 car starting in 2012? I was a little surprise, but not really. I know he has the talent, I just don't think he has the right equipment and with going to HMS, he will have some of the best equipment out there. The only question out there now is where will he be for next year? Everyone is speculating he will go to Stewart-Haas, which to me, would make the most sense, but one thing is for sure, he will be going in a Cup car and NOT a Nationwide Series car. Whatever he does, I wish him all the best!

This weekend's race should also produce some exciting racing! Talladega baby!!! I am really anxious to see how the new spoiler works this weekend. I know the drivers where somewhat pleased with it in Texas, but the real test is going to be to this weekend. It will be interesting to see if anyone gets airborne when the "big one" happens, and if they do, will the car come right back down to the ground or will they flip over! Let's hope they don't even get the chance to test them out, but if it does happen, hopefully they stay on the ground. I know I will be watching on the edge of my seat, to see what happens! So, good luck drivers and crew members. Have a great race and be safe and as always, I'll see you at the races!