Richmond International Raceway

The boys and I had a great time at the Richmond NASCAR race.  We got to sit with veterans and their families and watch one of the best races of the season.  The Richmond event is the final race of the NASCAR regular season before the ten-race championship begins.  Most of the 11 of the 12 drivers were sure they were in the championship when the green flag fell, but one was not--Dale Earnhardt Jr. who drives Army National Guard car.  He had to finish 20th or better to make the championship.  Not a big challenge--except he got caught up in a big wreck less than 20 laps into the race.  Then another one.

The nose of Earnhardt's car was crumpled.  He was last car running in the field.

Drama!!!

We cheered Earnhardt for the remainder of the race.  He was a lap down and got his lap back.  He would slip back below 20th place because his crumpled front end hurt the handling of his car.  But enough cars wrecked in front of him that he finished 16th by the end of the night and made the championship.

Nigel and I have been watching car racing since he was very young.  Jacari is only mildly interested, but tonight's event made him a fan.  Now the three of us can follow the ten-race championship together.