We needed that to make things a little more interesting. The guy still has a ton of points on Mark Martin but at least it gives hope a chance to shine. And, if I’m being honest, it was pretty cool getting to see the 48 team pull together and get that car back into shape to run in the race again. I’m never against seeing Ron Malec in action. (hehe) I have to give it Chad Knaus though, that guy is one cool customer. He was pissed of course that they ran into trouble, but his voice is always even. He doesn’t freak out, and you can’t afford to freak out in a situation like that, which is why Jimmie and the Lowe’s team are 3-time Sprint Cup Champions.

Watching Kurt Busch do his victory lap around Texas Motor Speedway in reverse with his tongue sticking out made me realize who he reminds me of, and no, it’s not Michael Jordan. No, I was thinking more along the lines of the character Pete Campbell from the awesome TV show Mad Men. Pete, played by Vincent Kartheiser, is kind of a punk. He whines when he doesn’t get his way and always thinks he should be treated better than he perceives he’s being treated. It’s funny. Watch Mad Men, it’s awesome. The latest season is over, but that’s what Netflix is for.

That being said it was cool to see Kurt so excited about winning and all that.

Uhm… There’s this one driver, I think his name is Dale Earnhardt Jr. or something, who doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break this season. I’m at the point, well I’ve been here for some time now, where I want to just say to him “Dale, (yes, in this scenario I know him and we’re BFFs) I think you should just park it and call it a season, this is lame. I know you’re doing your best but you need to tell whatever gods are in charge of luck to kiss your butt.”

He was running really well and then of course something happens and finishes crappy. And his finish has nothing to do with his overall performance. They were kicking butt and then it falls off. Ugh.

And now ladies and gentlemen, a photo bonanza!

Ricky Carmichael sits in the No. 4 Monster Chevrolet in the garage area during practice on Thursday for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Carmichael struggled during the first practice with a mid-pack car, but picked up speed for the second practice coming in sixth fastest with a speed of 178.501 mph. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Menards/McGuire-Nicolas Chevrolet, hugs race winner Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort/Graceway Toyota,in Victory Lane after Busch beat the pole sitter to the checkered flag in Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/WWE Smackdown Toyota, waits as the checkered flag is dropped down to him from the flagstand after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series O’Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. This is Busch’s fourth victory and fourth straight NASCAR national series races at Texas Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Could someone please get Juan Pablo a firesuit that doesn’t make him look like an Oompa Loompa? kthanxbye

Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the No. 42 Target/Dream in Color Chevrolet, stands in the garage as crew members work on the car following a lap 176 accident in Turn 1 involving Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards during Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Seris Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 8, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. Montoya finished the race in 37th place and is sixth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, 236 points behind points leader Jimmie Johnson. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, stands on pit road with his wife Ingrid Vandebosch before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left), driver of the No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, talks with last week’s winner at Talladega, Jamie McMurray, driver of the No. 26 Crown Royal Ford, during Friday’s practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Matt Crafton (center), driver of the No. 88 Menards/McGuire-Nicholas Chevrolet, talks with Brian Scott, driver of the No. 16 Albertson’s Toyota (left) and David Gilliland (right), driver of the No. 98 Menards Chevrolet, in the garage area during Thursday’s practice for Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350 at Texas Motor Speedway. Gilliland, who split practice time with Crafton in the No. 98 during the first practice, had the fastest time for most of the final practice (179.766 mph) until Crafton eclipsed his time with a posting of 180.180 mph. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

After Jeff Burton took a hard hit on the wall during Friday’s only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, team owner Richard Childress decided to substitute the double-duty driver of the NASCAR Nationwide No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet, with teammate Casey Mears in Saturday’s O’Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. Pictured here during qualifying where he placed 14th, Mears will have his first Nationwide Series start since 2007. (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR driver Aric Almirola proposed to his girlfriend, Janice Goss, yesterday and she said yes. Janice announced the engagement on her Twitter page along with the photo you see here.

Congratulations to Aric & Janice who are planning to wed in the winter of 2010!

That’s way more fun isn’t it? And speaking of the Championship festivities there are a number of ways for fans to get tickets to attend the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony that is being held for the first time in Las Vegas on December 4, 2009 (my mom’s birthday!).

Here’s a handy-dandy rundown of all of the opportunities:

• Bristol Motor Speedway will give four awards ceremony tickets to a selected fan who has attended every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol since the track’s 1961 opening (open to current ticket-holders).
• Daytona International Speedway is using two different promotions involving two sets of two tickets. Fans should visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/awardsceremony to register for both random drawings.
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway also is using two promotions involving two sets of two tickets. One is well on its way; interested fans were to visit IMS’s administrative lobby on Oct. 14 to register to win. For the second promotion, fans should visit the track’s web site, www.brickyard.com, to complete an online registration form. Note: You can’t win both promotions.
• Infineon Raceway is hosting a sealed bid auction for two awards ceremony tickets. The auction will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities. Visit www.infineonraceway.com for more information.
• Kansas Speedway will use four tickets as part of an enter-to-win contest. Each fan winner will receive two tickets, plus spending money, airfare and hotel. Click here for more information.
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway will use four tickets for its promotion. Visit www.lvms.com for more information.
• Lowe’s Motor Speedway will use four tickets as a Speedway Club Members auction item, with proceeds benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities. Visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com for more information.
• Michigan International Speedway’s two tickets will be distributed via a drawing. Included is a trip to Las Vegas. Season-ticket-holders who renew are automatically entered in the drawing. Visit www.mispeedway.com for more information.
• New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s promotion was a part of its ongoing “FansFirst” initiative. Anyone who purchased tickets for the Sylvania 300 on Sept. 20 was eligible to win a trip to Las Vegas – airfare, lodging, $1,000 in spending money and two tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony.
• Phoenix International Raceway is using two fan tickets as part of a ticket-purchase promotion. Visit www.phoenixraceway.com for more information.
• Richmond International Raceway will reward one fan with two tickets, but if you want their seats, be prepared to do a little work. Fans must submit a video describing why they should be selected as Richmond’s Fan Reporter in Las Vegas, plus include their most memorable moment at the track. Visit www.rir.com for more information.
• Texas Motor Speedway is using two pairs of two tickets in separate promotions. One pair will be part of a live auction with proceeds benefiting the Texas Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. Fans must register for a chance to win the other pair of tickets. Visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com for more information.
• Watkins Glen International is using a pair of tickets to reward a longtime fan of the track. Along with tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, the winner will receive a trip to Las Vegas, which includes airfare, lodging and rental car expenses. Visit www.theglen.com for more information.
• Kurt Busch will auction off two fan packages during his charity golf tournament on Dec. 1 in Las Vegas. Both packages include two tickets to the awards ceremony and a meet-and-greet with Kurt. Visit www.kurtbusch.com/foundation for more information.
• Greg Biffle is giving away a total of four fan tickets to the awards ceremony. He’ll give away two tickets during his weekly internet radio show, “Straight Talk With The Biff.” Fans are encouraged to call and tell Greg why they’re his biggest supporters. He’ll use the other two awards ceremony tickets as part of an auction to raise funds for the Greg Biffle Foundation. Visit www.gregbiffle.com for more information on both contests.
• Ford “I’m Driving One” Online Sweepstakes — One grand-prize winner (and one guest) receives a 2010 Ford Taurus, plus an Ultimate NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week Experience, including an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas, two tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, and special recognition during the NASCAR After the Lap presented by Tissot program. Visit www.imdrivingone.com for more information.
• Bank of America (NASCAR RacePoints®) — Two Champion’s Week VIP packages were made available for redemption that included tickets and access to the awards ceremony. Visit www.nascarracepoints.com for more information on the NASCAR RacePoints program.
• The NASCAR Foundation — Ten tickets will be auctioned as part of the Foundation’s Champion’s Week package fundraiser. The auction is from Nov. 9-23 and will be hosted on NASCAR.COM. Visit www.NASCAR.COM/foundation for more information.

I wasn’t mad about the whole no touching each other in the corners rule because of the rule itself, but more anxious about the enforcement of that rule. As it is, Talladega is a race that I love but one that also makes me crazy with anxiety because I’m hoping that my driver doesn’t get caught up in the “big one.” I hold my breath during Talladega because you just never know.

So then you add in the fact that my driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., could get caught on some lame rule NASCAR cooked up an hour before the race starts, you’re just tacking on another layer of panic for me to deal with for the ENTIRE race.

Seeing those guys run in a big long line was actually kinda relaxing, I could breathe for a little while. I also thought it was a nice little F-you to NASCAR. I don’t know if everyone saw it that way but I did. It’s like they were saying “Fine, we’re not going to touch each other and make this race as boring as possible.” But again, the real action happens at the end, when it really matters, because who cares who’s leading on lap 20 when there are 188 laps.

Even with Dale Jr.’s charges to the front, it just wasn’t meant to be. It’s sad because he was so much better than 11th.

But, it was very, very awesome to see Jamie McMurray in Victory Lane. That guy needed that win, if it helps him get a ride that’s great. He definitely needs one, but I think it matters more for him on a personal level. And his shout out to his fans was soooo sweet. Loved that. And speaking of Jamie Mac fans, I have to give my own shout out to THE Jamie McMurray fan, Margaret, aka RivenSky on Twitter. She is the only Jamie McMurray fan I know, er that I talk to via Twitter, and she loves the Jamie and every race this year she’s been having a hard time (a feeling I can relate to!) so I knew that she was going to be over the freaking moon on Sunday.

And over the moon she was! You have to read her tweets from yesterday and today. I’m almost happier for her than I am for Jamie! She also writes for LOLdrivers, it’s hilarious, you should check it out.

Oh and since I’m already on the subject of Twitter I would like to cut & paste some tweets from Michael Waltrip (@mw55) and Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) after yesterday’s race.
—
mw55: So if drivers bitch about nascar ignore them. No better yet teLL em to grow up. We all signed up for it. Its not nascars fault. Wieners.
3:06 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter

dennyhamlin: @mw55 we signed up to drive our cars.. Not be told how to
3:10 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter in reply to mw55

mw55: RT @dennyhamlin: @mw55 we signed up to drive our cars.. Not be told how to,,, all sports must be officiated. Without rules there’s chaos.
3:15 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter

dennyhamlin: @mw55 so what did it prevent?? I wasn’t in a wreck.. But I knew what was coming.. Harder hits on straight because we aren’t able to push any
3:21 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter in reply to mw55

mw55: @dennyhamlin there isn’t a fix.It is what it is as the kids say these days. just look in the stands and the ratings and take it twice a year
3:30 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter in reply to dennyhamlin

dennyhamlin: @mw55 I agree there isn’t a full fix. but those people in the stands and watching tv aren’t very happy right now. Jus sayin. Golf this week?
3:34 PM Nov 1st from UberTwitter in reply to mw55
—
Soo now they’re going to go golfing. I wanna go!

But on a serious note, I loved reading this exchange between Mikey and Denny. It’s cool to see drivers debating a real racing issue in real time, and it’s interesting how you can tell which one is the younger driver and who the more experienced older driver is just from the text. Being one of the youngest people in my office there’s always a Michael Waltrip type telling me about the “rules” and I’m always the Denny Hamlin questioning each and every one of ‘em wishing I could just do what I was hired to do.

Supercool! And Chrissy finished 13th, not bad at all considering it was Talladega.

(Left to right) Chrissy Wallace, driver of the No. 08 Fuel-Doctor.com Chevrolet, Carla Wallace and Mike Wallace, driver of the No. 48 Rockingham Speedway Chevrolet, pose on the grid before the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday in Talladega, Ala. Chrissy and Mike became the first father and daughter to compete in the same national series race. (Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Even in a silly costume, Carl is still a cutie.

(Left to right) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards and Subway’s Jared Fogle dress as each other to celebrate Halloween at Hallowdega Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. (Photo Credit: Stephen Arce/Action Sports Photography)

Crew chief Steve Letarte and driver Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) chat with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Lance McGrew (No. 88 AMP Energy “Get on the 88″/National Guard Chevrolet). (Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports)

If you look really, really, really close you can see people’s names.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove a specially-painted No. 88 AMP Energy “Get on the 88″/National Guard Chevrolet on Nov. 1 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. (Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports)

Crew members work on the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, driven by Tony Stewart, in the garage area after an incident on track that also claimed his teammate, Ryan Newman, in the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday in Talladega, Ala. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Center to right) Team owner Jack Roush and Jamie McMurray, driver of the No. 26 IRWIN Marathon Ford, celebrate in McMurray’s third career win in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday in Talladega, Ala. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I have been a sports fan since I was a kid. As I always I say I’m one of the best spectators ever. My mom was responsible for instilling a love of football, baseball and basketball in me. My mom played college basketball for Boston College and my sister got a scholarship to Cal to do track, she was a heptathlete and a basketball player. So I’ve been around sports my entire life. I have a deep respect and admiration for athletes.

But there’s something that bugs me, and it would be the elitism amongst sports fans in general. People look down on NASCAR as if it’s not a real sport. It’s really irritating. It’s a feeling I get from people who don’t watch NASCAR on a regular basis like I do.

I respect them and the fact that they lose their minds over a dude throwing a ball through a hoop, so why can’t they give me the benefit of the doubt over a guy wheeling a car around a track at 180 MPH inches away from another car?

I don’t buy it and, honestly, it makes me want to be even more successful with this blog. I just want the quick assumptions about NASCAR fans to fade. I do not spend my weekends working on my car. I don’t geek out on horsepower. NASCAR fans come in all shapes, sizes, colors and flavors. Our sport shouldn’t be pigeonholed and neither should our fans.

Ugh. Sorry, I didn’t mean to rant. And I don’t want you to think that the guys I met at Blogs With Balls were all “NASCAR?? boooo!” because they weren’t. For example, the guys I hung out with from GearUpForSports.com were super cool. I just think people need to broaden their horizons and realize there’s more to the sports world than just three sports.

And frankly, just because NASCAR has a boatload of sponsors, that doesn’t make it any easier for a NASCAR blogger to get sponsorship and advertisers on their website. Trust me. That’s actually something I was hoping to get an answer about from one of the sessions. Is there some secret word or phrase like “the blue cow jumps over the green duck at midnight” that will get a company to buy a sponsorship on my site? Apparently not.

Anywhooo… Blogs With Balls did an awesome job with the sports blogging track and I cannot wait to go back next year. To me being a blogger is about being a part of something that isn’t mainstream; it’s something you get to make up for yourself. So I love hearing other people’s experiences and opinions.

The NASCAR & Social Media panel (which wasn’t in the BWB track) that I was apart of was really cool, and fun. I love any opportunity to talk about NASCAR. Seriously, I will talk to anyone about it. I love telling people that NASCAR romance novels exist. It literally blows people’s minds. I’m not even kidding.

SO for a highlight reel of Blogs With Balls, check out the following video. I’m in it, you get to see me talking (no audio). I was asking a question during a panel about branding. I look like crap because I was sick the entire time I was in Vegas even though I really tried to will myself to not be. It didn’t work.

Hey! That’s me! Two things about this photo:
1.) It was cold in the convention center and in this photo i’m wearing a hoodie that was free, provided by Carbon Poker, but it was an Extra Large, and so I was swimming in it.
2.) My fingers are freakishly long! Hello! I had no idea that’s what I looked like when I’m typing.

Anyway, came across this press release from Talladega Superspeedway. They had a Creek Medicine Man come out to the track and do a blessing ceremony:

Strange occurrences and urban legends have swirled around Talladega Superspeedway since its inception 40 years ago. But instead of focusing on rumors and myths during its Halloween race weekend, the historic track turned to a much more symbolic and meaningful ceremony to prepare for welcoming thousands of race fans. Creek Medicine Man Robert Thrower performed a traditional Native American blessing ceremony today on the start-finish line and asked for balance to be restored to the land.

“Most everything in Native American belief is about keeping balance,” said Thrower. “Sometimes people and places can get out of balance and that unbalance may be perceived as something bad. What we did today was bless the track and ask for reconciliation so that balance can be restored.”

Thrower comes from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. He has been a traditional medicine man for nine years, and his family has a long history of performing traditional medicine. His great-grandmother was the last tribal medicine woman.

The ceremony was opened with Thrower offering a prayer in his native Muscogee language. He then asked for reconciliation and the restoration of balance while burning a collection of ceremonial offerings in a small bowl. The ceremony was then closed with another prayer.

“It was a very moving ceremony,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “It’s like Mr. Thrower said, sometimes things just need to be brought back into balance. With the controversy that surrounded Talladega when we first opened, it’s a possibility that there has always been some unbalance here. I’m confident in saying that after this ceremony however, we don’t have to worry about that anymore and we are looking forward to a great AMP Energy 500 race weekend.”

I would define a “great” AMP Energy 500 as one that includes Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning, but that’s just me. I’m curious to see what effect this blessing will have on Sunday’s race, it would be crazy if there was no “big one” and it was straight green flag racing all the way through.

The race itself was fun, and I’m glad Denny won.

I was thinking that I wouldn’t comment on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s bad, bad luck but I feel like I have to say something. Maybe just for myself? This season has sucked and sucked hard. I don’t place blame or feel the need to point fingers because I truly believe that Hendrick Motorsports is doing everything they can to make Dale Jr. successful. I mean, it’s in everyone’s best interest that he wins. There is nothing to be gained from having an annoying season like this one.

Talladega is next and we all know that’s a track where Dale can excel. So I hope he gets the opportunity to do so, it’ll make that race so much more fun to watch if he’s in it at the end contending for the win.

In terms of the Chase, Talladega has to change the game. It just has to!!!

Mike Skinner poses with wife Angie after winning the pole for the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway, his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series leading 50th career pole. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Jeff Gordon leans against his car while waiting to qualify for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Gordon will start Sunday’s race from the outside pole. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Fans wave green flags to start the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The fans served as the Grand Marshals and Honorary Starters for the race. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Denny Hamlin celebrates winning the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, his second career win at the Virginia short track. (Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Timothy Peters celebrates winning the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway, his hometown track. The win was Peters’ first in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. (Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

After the two-day sessions were completed the following drivers were selected: Mackena Bell, Michael Cherry, Katie Hagar, Juan Pitta, Rebecca Kasten, Paul Harraka, Jessica Brunelli, Ryan Gifford, Sergio Pena, and Darrell Wallace Jr.

My main reason for talking about the Drive for Diversity combine this year was to point out how many young female drivers are out there that want to compete in NASCAR.

These are the girls that the media should be falling all over themselves to talk about and champion. These women are the future of NASCAR and they deserve our support to get them to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series. So forget about Danica for 5 seconds and take some time to learn about Mackena, Katie, Rebecca and Jessica.

Mackena Bell, of Carson City, Nev., gets driving tips during Wednesday as part of NASCAR Driver for Diversity Combine at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. “I got to do so many things this year,” Bell said, “and without the Drive for Diversity program, I wouldn’t even be fortunate enough to be in a race car. I am very thankful to be back in the program this year –- at the Combine –- and am just hoping we can get a spot on Revolution Racing and we can excel from there.” (Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Laura Hayes of Wilton, Calif. prepares to takes laps around Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. on Day One of the 2009 Drive for Diversity Combine. (Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Drivers Katie Hagar and Natalie Sather watch as fellow drivers test NASCAR Camping World series cars on Day 2 of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. Hagar’s performance at last year’s Drive for Diversity Combine Hlanded her a ride in the 2009 Drive for Diversity class with Golden State Racing, and Sather earned NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rookie of the year honors running Late Models in Washington. (Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Dylan Smith of Randolph, Vt., watches Michael Cherry of Valrico, Fla., make laps on an iRacing simulator at Motor Mile Speedway. (Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR)

– Why was Dale Earnhardt Jr. running on a beach with a gnome in his arms?

– This week Office Depot and Tony Stewart announced the winners of the “Show Us Your 14″ online photo contest. Tony personally picked each winner himself and along with each person’s bio is a quote from him explaining why he choose them.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Jeff Strangman of Seabrook, New Hampshire
Jeff Strangman never misses a NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS), located roughly 65 miles northwest of his home in Seabrook, N.H., and the loyal Tony Stewart supporter is something of a celebrity among fans at the 1.508-mile track. Every season since 1996, Strangman has attended both Sprint Cup Series events at NHMS with his meticulously branded 1964 camper in tow. He parks in the same spot for each race and enjoys the enthusiastic response his rig gets from fellow fans. Last spring, Strangman estimates he spent 80 hours detailing and repainting the camper from orange to red to match Tony Stewart’s new look with the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice team. “This is as authentic and old school in NASCAR as you can get,” Tony Stewart said about Strangman’s photo.

FIRST PRIZE WINNER: Melanie Hutchens of Hammond, Oregon
Hutchens’ four-year-old black lab, Isabelle, has one of the most colorful dog houses in the neighborhood. After reading about the Office Depot “Show Us Your 14″ online photo contest, Hutchens – who was in the process of painting her home red – decided to extend the hue to Isabelle’s house and incorporated the No. 14 “paint scheme” as well. And if the paint looks a little wet in the shot, well, that’s because it probably was! Hutchens said she finished painting just in time to take this photo and submitted it three hours before the contest deadline. The longtime Tony Stewart fan is excited about her HP prize package and plans to share her winnings with others by donating a laptop to a charitable organization during the holiday season. “The only person other than me in the dog house…sit…good boy!” Tony Stewart said about Hutchens’ photo.

SECOND PRIZE WINNER: Diane Cox of East Alton, Illinois
Dedicated Tony Stewart fan Diane Cox and her four-year-old daughter, Mackenzie Cox, were inspired to build this replica of Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy when Mackenzie and her pre-school classmates at Washington Elementary School in East Alton, Illinois, were assigned a school project to “build a car out of a box” during National Transportation Week earlier this year. It took Diane and Mackenzie – who likes to call her mom’s favorite driver “Tony Stewart Little” after her favorite Disney movie, “Stuart Little” – two days to build the colorful car. “Somebody call the police; a cute young blond stole my car!” Tony Stewart said about Cox’s photo.

So I’m sure you remember the Tony Stewart “School of Endorsements” commercials launched by Burger King earlier this year. In the very first one Tony attempts to teach Mr. Estrada and Carrot Top to only endorse things they believe in.

Estrada’s glasses were so memorable and just awesome. Why? I have absolutely no idea. Maybe it’s the way Erik says “Estrada” with an accent that I cannot replicate. I don’t know but it’s the coolest thing ever and now YOU can own your very own pair too!

You’ve got between now and tomorrow at 6pm EST/3pm PST to bid on 150 pairs of the Estrada glasses that Burger King has made available to the public. All of the proceeds from the eBay auction will go to Burger King Corp.’s HAVE IT YOUR WAY® Foundation.

So not only will you get to look like a rock star you’ll also do some good in the process. I must praise Burger King for listening to the people and seizing a huge opportunity. Good job!

This is me sporting my Estrada glasses very seriously…

…and now happy!