A few minutes worth of thoughts as we close in on race time.

The PA guy introducing the drivers is the most enthusiastic I’ve ever heard at a race track. Maybe a bit too much. Actually, I don’t think I’d mind him if they weren’t playing a soundtrack behind him. Not necessary.

Like it that he reminds us that Helio Castroneves was “Dancing With the Stars” champion. I think Helio should make it standard procedure to give a dance lesson in the days leading up to the race at every city where these cars race.

Danica Patrick got the biggest cheer. Do you guys pull for her? There’s a lot to be said for the idea of having no barriers to who can race. Danica’s plenty fast. And she’s tough. It would be great to see her get this track figured out and really contend.

When Janet Guthrie came to the old Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway half-mile as a NASCAR rookie, she gave a reasonably good account of herself. She was nowhere near contending to win, but drove reasonably well in a not-so-great car and stayed out of trouble. I liked what she said during practice about driving a short oval for the first time. She said when she went into the turn at speed with other cars around her, it was like swimming in a school of fish. Everybody knew exactly when to dart but her, she said. By race day, she had it pretty well figured out.

Posted by Randy Hallman in • Auto Racing
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