Driving Off Into The Sunset

Those of you who know me know that I am a HUGE sports fan. I love all kinds of sports, whether on TV, watching as a fan in the stands, or actually participating in sports. Football is my all-time favorite and starting next week, don't even think about calling me on Sunday because I'll be watching games. I enjoy baseball, will watch the last 2 minutes of a basketball game--because that's when the real action takes place--watch and play golf, play 16" softball--a Chicago only thing--love the olympics, participate in equestrian sports, and also watch and play tennis.

Every Memorial Day weekend since I can remember, I would watch the Indianapolis 500. I will admit I watched mostly for the crashes, but enjoyed the true racing as well. Several years ago I would also watch NASCAR races, although they were not on TV as much as they are today. I remember sitting at my dad's house and watching Dale Earnhardt crash for the final time. I remember my step-sister Tina getting married and her husband, John, who was from Florida was a NASCAR nut. He liked Jeff Gordon and his rainbow car. I had heard of him and knew that car, but I wouldn't say I was a "fan."

In 2005 I moved to Florida to be closer to my brother. I got a job as a marketing/events coordinator at a Harley-Davidson dealership and made friends with my co-workers quickly. Little did I know at the time that NASCAR in Florida is almost a religion. Whereas in Chicago, there are Notre Dame, Michigan, Northwestern, Cubs or Sox flags flying from porches and flagpoles, in Florida, there are Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, and Jr. flags flying. If you walk into a sports bar in Florida, there is more likely to be a NASCAR race on than a football or baseball game.

The talk in our break room every Monday was about who had won the race that past weekend and the talk on Friday was on who was most likely to win the upcoming race. One of the girls camped out all weekend at Homestead every year and knew more about NASCAR history than I would ever know. The guy who was most into the races and the drivers was Larry. Larry was the guy who worked in the service department and washed the bikes. His entire area was covered with model cars of his favorite drivers. He had the NASCAR yearbook. When he finally got cable,he would ask me to show him how to look up NASCAR races on ESPN Classic. Larry, and others, told me that in order to be really into NASCAR I had to pick a favorite driver.

I knew I didn't want to pick Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson. I also didn't really like Dale Earnhardt Jr., much to Larry's chagrin. I liked Tony Stewart because he got mad when he lost and was a little overweight, but I didn't like the color of his car. So, I asked to borrow Larry's NASCAR yearbook and began to look at the drivers I thought were attractive. There were OK looking ones, but no one stood out. Until I got to the driver of the 38 car. His name was Elliott Sadler.

He was more than 6' tall--I've always like tall men--had a nice goatee, and was, I thought very attractive. He also drove the M&M's car. NICE!!! Elliott was going to be "my driver." I told this to Larry and others and they laughed at me. "Elliott Sadler? Really?" was the most common reaction. But, I stuck by my choice. Elliott was a fairly good driver. At the time I picked him he was in the "Race for the Chase" at the end of the year and

consistently was finishing higher than Junior, who was Larry's favorite. Plus he was hot AND single.

I got a little die-cast Elliott Sadler car, and when Larry went shopping at the NASCAR store in town, he said they had a bigger one that he would gladly pick up for me and I could pay him back. Deal. I joined the Elliott Sadler bandwagon and wouldn't allow any badmouthing and would defend him to the end. In 2005, Elliott Sadler finished 13th in the rankings of the top drivers. Not bad. Not as good as the previous year when he finished in the top 10, but since I wasn't following him then, I didn't care. The year after I started following him, he changed teams and numbers and cars. He now drives the number 19 car, which is either decorated in the Best Buy, Stanley Tools, or McDonald's colors. He also shaved off the goatee but he was still "my driver."

In 2007, I moved back to Chicago, but still followed NASCAR and Elliott. I joined the Elliott Sadler fan club, got t-shirts and sweatshirts and almost drove 80 miles, during rush hour traffic, to meet him in person when he was at the Chicagoland Speedway. I still rooted for him in races and he was still "my driver." I even ordered a picture off of his website and put it in a frame and had it on my desk.

Lately, Elliott has not been doing so well. He seems to do really well in the Daytona 500, the first race of the year, and then rapidly declines in rankings. He finished 25th in 2007 and 24th in 2008. He seems to start most races toward the back of the pack, and in the last race started 42nd out of 43 drivers. A few of the races this year, he has crashed so early, there's no point in looking for him in the scroll of drivers across the top of the screen. He is not going to be in the "Race" at the end of the year, not even close. He was not in the All-Star race. It's no fun watching the races on TV, when there is no chance of seeing Elliott's car, unless it ends up being involved in a crash, or even worse, causing one.

Yes, I believe it is time for my relationship with Elliott to end. Time for me to move on. Time for me to pick someone else to root for. Elliott got married in January of this year and I wish him and Amanda all the best in the years to come. Elliott Sadler will no longer be "my driver."

So, I am on the hunt for a new one to follow. I like Carl Edwards because he is from Columbia, MO, where I went to college. I think Clint Bowyer has gorgeous eyes. Same for Denny Hamlin. I like Mark Martin but he's a bit old. Jimmie Johnson, Junior and Jeff Gordon are still out of the running. Kasey Kahne is adorable, but I'd feel like a "cougar." I can't stand the driver of the M&M's car now, Kyle Busch, although his brother, Kurt, seems like a really nice guy. So I believe I will have to go to my old friend Tony Stewart. He's a driver/owner now. He still has that fire and actually wins some races. He also reminds me a lot of Eric.

There are 12 races left in the season and I will watch as many of them as I can. I will also stick it out with Elliott until the end of the season because I'm just a faithful kind of girl. But come the Daytona 500 in February of 2010, look for the number 14 flag hanging outside my balcony.