Well, I made my first laps around the “Lady in Black” today. I have to say it is about what I expected and pretty much how everyone described it to me.
It’s pretty darn cool, to be honest. My day started really early with the Nationwide rookie meeting at 7:30 a.m. Practice started around 8:30 in the GameStop car and I have to say I was pretty lost at first.
SOUTHERN 500
Check out slideshows from today at the track
Send us your pictures from the track
Get the latest at the track from WBTW News13's Matt Lincoln and the Morning News' Lou Bezjak:
ON THE GO?
Are you heading to the infield on race day but still want to be in the know? Or did you get stuck at work and can’t make it down to the track? We’ve got you covered. Visit http://www.darlingtonracing.mobi on your web-enabled cell phone or PDA and you’ll get all the latest from the Darlington Raceway. We’ll have blogs, videos, track information and pictures sent in by you and your friends right from the track. Just bookmark the link above on your mobile device, or text the word “racing” to 82672. It’s complete coverage from the track, right in the palm of your hand.
It probably took me 20 laps before I started to get a feel for the track. The longer I ran the easier it was for the guys to work on the car. We got it pretty good for the race. The GameStop car was pretty similar to some of the video games I’ve played before. I was surprised.
As for the Cup car, not so much.
The Home Depot Toyota started out pretty good and we slowly dropped down on the speed charts. We would go from one extreme to the other, back and forth both practices. So I had no idea what to expect for qualifying.
After Nationwide qualifying got rained out, I was able to focus on Cup qualifying. Since the last time I had been on the track was in the Cup car, I knew the feel when I went out to qualify.
I just went for it. We picked up a ton of time and qualified fifth for the Southern 500. I can’t explain what an amazing feeling it is. To see how excited the guys were and how good it felt. I think we have a really good car for Saturday.
The one thing I did learn today, and I realized it watching old races on Thursday night, is that it is going to be tough to pass. The track seems really, really narrow. Timing your runs to pass people is going to be key to getting anywhere around here, even if you are two tenths faster than the next guy it’s going to be difficult. I think I learned a lot in the Nationwide race that will help me figure it out for today.
They are honoring our moms before the race on today for Mother’s Day, so during the rain delay mom and I did an interview together for the race broadcast.
My family has been so important to me growing up and even now, it’s great that the sport and the media take the time to recognize them. My mom has really kept me grounded and has been the one who taught me the importance of treating people well. So thanks, mom.
My qualifying effort in the Home Depot Toyota gave me a lot of confidence going into the Nationwide race. The GameStop Toyota is usually the easier of the two cars two drive, but for some reason it was so ‘tight’ it would not turn.
It was not the race we expected, but I learned a lot in my first NASCAR start at the “Lady in Black.” I should be in better shape today for the Southern 500.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement