By Staff
It is hard to believe when I look outside that on Saturday night NASCAR returns.
The mounds of snow outside my house don't really get me in the mood for racing, but I know that I am ready to watch the stars of NASCAR hit the track.
With Speed Weeks under way in Daytona, Fla., it is time we shift our focus from the long winter to the coming of spring.
To me, NASCAR's first weekend marks the half way point of winter.
The past few weeks of snow and frigid temperatures made me long for spring and summer.
I can't wait to hear the sounds of those motors cranked up on my television set and at the Michigan International Speedway later this year.
When the cars hit the track on Saturday night for the Budweiser Shootout, I know that the icy grip of winter will be over soon.
I don't care what a ground hog sin Pennsylvania had to say earlier this month.
When the NEXTEL Cup drivers arrive in Florida, I know that spring is just a matter of weeks away.
The second two weeks of February means that it is time to haul out the NASCAR apparel and get ready to support your favorite drivers.
It's time to pull out the hats, T-shirts and at this time of year, sweat shirts and jackets.
It's time to start the banter between you and your buddies about who is going to win the championship this season.
NASCAR has provided us with several new twists to the 2007 season.
There are new cars, which will be used about half the time. There is a new point system.
Then there is the Dale Earnhardt Jr. contract saga, which will probably keep us, intrigued until mid-summer.
I have listened to the "experts" until I am blue in the face about the "Car of Tomorrow" and the new points system.
I used to get really worked up about those types of things, but I have become more of a fence-sitter on those topics.
The same can be said about my feeling on Toyota coming into the sport.
Let's just wait and see how things play out. Let's get the cars on the track and see how they perform.
I honestly doubt if Toyota is going to come in and dominate the sport no matter how much money they are willing to spend.
The "Car of Tomorrow" could be good for the sport, we won't know that until they have actually raced them a few times.
Dale Jr. will end up signing a contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. before the summer is over. You can count on that.
As far as the point system goes, who knows if it will be better or worse until the season had been completed.
So NASCAR fans, sit back in your Jeff Gordon arm chair, get out the chips and pop and enjoy.
Saturday night is just right for racing!