Happy Fathers Day, Dad.
The one and only big-time NASCAR race I’ve attended was at Michigan International Speedway in 1970.
My father and I made the trip from our small hometown in Illinois. Although I was fairly young, I remember we drove somewhere — Rockford, Ill., maybe? — and got on a bus that took us to the track in Brooklyn, Mich.
Charlie Glotzbach, one of my Dad’s favorite drivers, won the Yankee 400 on that August day. It was hot and loud, and I think we were in the main grandstands, a bit to the left of the start-finish line, because I remember having a good view of turn 4.
It was pretty tough for an 8-year-old to follow a lot of what was going on.
We got back on the bus for the trip home, and I felt pretty tired after such a long day, and really just wanted to sleep.
There was a open shelf for luggage above the seats, and my Dad put me up there and I slept the whole way back to the car, and then I slept in the car all the way home.
The next day, Monday, I woke up with the measles.
Not a fun illness to have in a hot Illinois summer, I can tell you. The bumps are itchy to begin with and only get worse with sweat.
But still, the race is one of the greatest memories of my childhood.
Thanks, Dad, for everything.
I am still missing a correct Cup pick to finish off my Grand Slam of Prognostication. Something tells me that isn’t going to change this weekend.
Oh, well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Sprint Cup: I like Jeff Burton to win the LifeLock 400 on Sunday. With qualifying rained out, Burton will start from his best position of the season, outside of polesitter Kyle Busch.
Nationwide Series: It was great to see a series regular, Brad Keselowski, win last weekend’s race. Let’s keep that trend going for Saturday’s Meijer 300 in Kentucky, with Joey Logano winning his first NASCAR race in his third start, thus making Brian France almost forget the $225 million lawsuit the organization faces.
Craftsman Trucks: For Saturday’s Cool City Customs 200 at MIS, I’m going to say Todd Bodine gets back to Victory Lane for the first time since February in Daytona.
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