Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup Champion and my very favorite driver - coming to Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne - really? No way - couldn't be true....... but there it was on the local news last week! I was afraid I had heard about it too late to get tickets. So before you could count to 10 I was on the phone to the track and happily tickets were still available! So before you could count to 20, I had my tickets bought!
I guess I should tell you that I have been a fan of NASCAR since 1986 and Bobby Labonte has been my favorite driver since 1994. I have been to one NASCAR race in Michigan in 2006. It was great fun and great to experience a race in person -- very different than watching on TV -- but I do have to admit that I enjoy being able to watch instant replays in the comfort of my own home!
So I talked my better half into going with me and on Sunday off we went; me in my Bobby Labonte shirt with my Bobby Labonte hat and picture in hand -- all ready for autographing! There were all kinds of fans there with all kinds of things to get signed, but the one that topped them all was the guy who brought the hood off of Labonte's 2009 Daytona 500 car. He was carting it around on a dolly. And just to prove it - there I am standing next to it!
It was a long wait, but I was happy to get my autographs, my picture taken, a handshake and a nice to meet you!
So, there I am with Bobby! Ladies - he has amazing blue eyes!
The event included Bobby driving one of the modified cars on this 1/4 mile dirt track. There were two other NASCAR personalities there - Dave Blaney (he is in the background of the picture above) and Michael Waltrip - Dave drove and Michael just commentated. It was fun to watch Bobby race one of these cars - he has never driven a dirt track before, and it was fairly obvious that it was something new for him! He didn't crash, but he wasn't really a contender. I wonder if he wondered "What was I thinking?"
There he goes driving the # 76!
There's Michael Waltrip talking to Dave Blaney with Bobby to the right in the red and black and white driving suit.
And, here is my new NASCAR "treasure"!
Later Y'all!
