My Ryan Newman Weekend

Anybody who has followed this blog knows how much I love Tony Stewart. He's the driver I picked when I decided to follow NASCAR. And I've loved every minute of following him.

Tony's having a great year this year, and that makes it all the better.

Yet this weekend may have changed all that. [Syd just fell off her chair.]


Let me back up a bit.

When you go to a NASCAR event, you don't just go for the racing. You go for the shopping. True fans wear apparel supporting their driver. Though I am well stocked in Stewart apparel, I had nothing supporting Newman.

At every race there are haulers, one per driver, selling apparel. The stuff they carry is a lot better than what's available online. We headed straight for Newman's hauler, and I got my hat and shirt.

That same afternoon, Newman won the pole. In NASCAR-speak that means Newman was the fastest qualifier and lined up first to start the race. Winning the pole earned him first pick of pit stalls. He chose pit stall one, which just happened to be directly in front of our seats.

Could it get any better?

Yes.

[No, Newman didn't win the race.]

The icing on the cake came right after the race, as we were exiting the stadium. We were walking back to the campground when a golf cart on its way to the helipad drove by carrying Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie. No one walking along side of us noticed (Ryan & Krissie were in the rear-facing back seat of the golf cart). But I turned around to see as they drove by and sure enough, it was him! I said "Great race Ryan!" and he looked over to me said "Thanks" with his bashful smile.

~SWOON~

Though I dressed in red and sported my Old Spice shirt in support of Tony, I donned my Ryan Newman cap in honor of his winning the pole. I am so glad I was wearing Newman's hat when we had our conversation.

Move over Tony. I've fallen and I can't get up. From now on, it's me and Rocket Man.

And just for Maggie...