NASCAR WEEKEND IN THE POCONOS

Yes, yours truly is a Nascar fan. I used to be afraid to admit this, but now I'm a full fledged fan and unafraid to show my loyalty to the second biggest spectator sport in America. The fact that I'm a Nascar fan can be blamed on the Phillies. As I stated in my last post, I only ask the Phils to bridge the gap from the end of the Flyers season until the beginning of Eagles' camp, and usually they don't follow through. As a result, I've had a lot of summer Sundays to fill over the years. Thankfully, I have found Nascar to fill this gap.

In addition to the Phils, my buddies Mistar Nascar and George can also be blamed for bringing me to the world of restrictor plates and catch cans. My buddy Mister Nascar was turned onto the sport by his brother Big Daddy Chad, who started following it when he was stationed in Alabama while in the Army. Mister Nascar then systematically persuaded the rest of our crew to follow the sport. At least Mister Nascar can blame his brother for his loyalty towards the sport, I'm pretty sure George was born into it without a choice. Anyhow, they both did a pretty good of selling me because for the last three seasons I've attended multiple races a year. For crying out loud, I even have a #17 magnet (my favorite driver, 2003 Winston Cup Champion, Matt Kenseth) on the back of my car.

This weekend marks "The Over The Wall Gang's" 3rd annual trip to the Pocono Mountain area to see the Pennsylvania 500. My father has a house in the mountains about 15 minutes from the track. So, we're not so much up there for the race (which is nearly impossible to follow on Pocono's 2.5 mile track), as we are up there to get away for a weekend and have a great time. Plus, we usually come away with multiple stories which get better every time we tell them.

During our first trip two years ago, Big Daddy Chad asked Nascar driver Brendan Gaughan (a former Georgetown University basketball player and roomate of AI's), if The Answer "ever made you drink the bong water" at an autograph session. The look on Brendan and the woman working the autograph line were absolutely priceless. Brendan mumbled something like "yeah, he was pretty wild" and Chad got escorted away before he did any more damage.


Last year, after a long day of sitting in the sun at the track, Mister Nascar and I went to the local Pocono grocery store to get some last minute supplies for our big tailgate the next day. As we got into the check out line, we noticed Nascar driver Kyle Petty standing right in front of us. I've never met a nicer professional athlete in my life. He joked with us and then gave Mister Nascar an autograph. As he was leaving, he told us "make sure you boys stay out of the sun tomorrow" as we were both red as tomatoes. (Try to imagine a similar exchange with Pat Burrell or Chris Webber at your local Shop Rite...Don't worry, I couldn't imagine it either.)

Who knows what funs awaits us this year, but this weekend has tons of potential as we have pit passes for Sunday and we plan on shooting assault rifles at a local gun range on Saturday. We might also find time to make a run over to the "Pleasure Dome" some time this weekend. (Just kidding, JK. I wanted to make sure you were still paying attention.)

In any event, while a good amount of you guys will be home watching the scuffling Phils get belted by the streaking Braves, I'll be up in the mountains watching the good ol' boys "git ur dun" on the track and make a whole bunch of left hand turns. Try not to be too jealous.