Jay Busbee

I'll reserve my review of the book for a personal story.

I just can’t remember, so many years ago, however in 87,88, or 89 in either North Wilkesboro, Martinsville, or Richmond, my dad and I went to watch the race. In the south, when you say "THE race" everyone knows you mean the NASCAR race that weekend. Anyways, somehow dad and I end up in the NASCAR Family side of the infield at the track. This would be in turns 3 & 4, the action packed corner of any track. We wanted to be near the action. Making our way from where dad parked the car, we get up to the fence, keeping us about 15, maybe 20 feet from the track. We had no chairs to sit for the entire race and we were offered a tailgate of a pickup truck to sit on. We later found out we were watching the race from Kyle Petty's truck bed. Next to the son of "The King's" truck were two guys who happened to work with Dale Earnhardt. These two also happened to have pit passes! They graciously offered to take my dad and I into the restricted pit-lane and watch a Dale Earnhardt pitstop. When my turn came, I was second after dad, I got to see a green flag pitstop - it was amazing! I remember being able to literally feel the power of Dale Earnhardt’s car as it leapt out of the stall and back on to the track And the gas man, Chocolate Myers, watching him do his job was seriously like a ballet. Handling two gas cans without missing a beat.

However, this isn't even close to the best part of the story.

Dale Earnhardt went on to win this race. Victory lane back in these days was right on the track near the start/finish line. And, yes, dad and I got to go into Victory Lane. To get to victory lane we had to cross the pit road. The very same road all of these BIG LOUD RACE CARS are being driven down by a bunch of pissed off drivers who just lost. Not being used to the situation and not paying attention I wander out on to pit road without looking and almost get run over by either Morgan Sheppard or Ricky Rudd (depending on which year it was) driving the Quaker State Buick. Surviving this close call, I am on to victory lane! Getting into the crowd finding the perfect spot, I lean back on the driver side front quarter panel of Dale Earnhardt's car. Let’s just say, after running flat-out for the past three or four hours, it was damn hot! Jumping up to avoid being burned I bump into the camera man filming the victory lane interview.

Still not the best part – during the interview, I decide I want to shake Dale Earnhardt’s hand. I stick out my hand in the middle of the interview in the middle of victory lane and shook Dale Earnhardt’s hand. How cool is that?… (mehr)