As we approach the beginning of the pavement racing season, as well as the kickoff of the dirt track season (where it’s warm enough to race, anyway), I find myself with butterflies in my stomach. And somehow, at the same time, I’m nostalgic and pensive. Wasn’t it only 2 months ago that we were in the throes of the NASCAR offseason, with seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel? And now look at us. The 500 is in 2 days, Florida speedweeks has flown by, and local circle tracks are counting down the days until opening night. Started from the bottom—now we here, peeps!!
But I can’t help but dwell, just a little bit, on the past couple of months and how it’s shaped where I am now. Where we all are, now. The lot of us: racefans, trophy girls, race car drivers, promoters, wannabes, and everyone else…Hasn’t the thought, thrill, and promise of upcoming racing gotten us through the dark times? Haven’t we been supportive of each other to the best of our abilities? Haven’t we trash-talked, went to racing expos, and been glued to twitter and any social media for rumblings of the racing world? We have. And it’s how we’ve survived. Dr. ARF said that this would happen, that we would get through this together. Because we’ve survived, I feel like the racing community has bonded in a whole, brand-new way—and I love everyone even more than when I first met you all. I feel so full of hope for our futures.
We’re all going to be okay for the next 8 months. We’re going to watch racing, go to races, be with race people, and race our hearts out and we’ll have everything we need to do that. And I guess I just wanted to say thank you, and you’re welcome, and jump up and down and scream and shout and cheer because we’re finally here: the precipice of NASCAR season.
I love you all, more than simple words could express.
Cancel your plans: we’re watching the Daytona 500.
<3/Lainey
Miss NOD Awareness 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment