Later in the morning, we headed off to do some last-minute shopping, picking up supplies for tailgating on Saturday,
Then we were off to Roush to meet up with the other Edheads...we toured the museum, got pics in (part of) Carl's Scott's car, of course we had to have each of us "driving" it. Then we went out front for a group pic by the Roush fountain, with another Edhead who showed up with her family just for the day, Ithildin. We were so happy another Edhead showed up, we didn't even quibble at the fact that her son was dressed head to toe in Jeff Gordon gear...he's young, she's got plenty of time to swing him to the RIGHT side...LOL
As the Roush Cup shop is just up the street from the store and museum, that was next on the list. We delivered the basket, one of the team picked it up and took it back to the 99 shop....the haulers were already gone, so we didn't know if it would get to the team at the track for the All Star races, but we figured at worst, it could be put on the hauler for the Coca Cola 600 weekend...we had to ask him to slow down for a pic, which he was apparently reluctant to do, he just tried to grab and run LOL...
We wished him good luck for the races, then gawked a bit into the hallowed halls of the Roush shop. Unfortunately there was only one 99 car in view, right by the windows...apparently his shop is in the next room...but that 99 car had a nice little sign on it: "Thanks Race Fans...from the 99 crew"...HOW SWEET!!! I had the thought maybe they appreciated being cheered on during their practice the day before...LOL
After that, we each went our own ways, some to do race shop tours, and a much-dwindled group headed out to the Speedpark for the Edfest 500 2007...only 4 participants this year...
Unfortunately, the result was much the same...Jen showed her eye for horsepower and nabbed the fastest car again...left the rest of us in the dust...LOL
Jen's win WASN'T without controversy...but the little guy in the 29 was as aggressive as the NASCAR driver in the 29, bumping ad lib and taking no prisoners, and his antics eventually got him spun...I was just sorry I wasn't the one who did it!! The little squirt started behind me, and barely waited until we got out of the gates before bumping me to pass me...despite the big "No Bumping" signs plastered liberally around the track.
Paige insisted she had an "equipment failure" that kept her from contending...lo and behold, we have photographic PROOF of that failure!!
After that refreshing competition, it was off to the track for some browsing and gawking...we chatted with the gals at the souvie hauler, and got their assurances that as soon as they knew if Carl would add on a last minute signing the next day (not likely, but fingers crossed) they'd let us know.
We then headed down the road for lunch at a charity function for Speedway Children's Charity...Jen and I were proud to say we ate BBQ and drank beer for kids!! LOL It was yummy BBQ at Texas Land And Cattle Steakhouse, and even though we were too early to see any "celebrities", it was worth it. While eating, we DID watch the Ginn blimp overhead, going so up and down, we were just waiting for it to crash...they were CRAZY having it out on such a breezy day, it was obvious that they had quite the battle on their hands, keeping it in the air. For some reason "Hindenburg" kept flashing through my mind, watching that blimp bob up and down, like a....well, like a balloon in a wind tunnel! LOL
Back up the road, we visited the Sam Bass gallery, where Dave Moody was broadcasting his Sirius satellite radio show amidst the telethon going on...kinda cool to see the face that goes with the voice I listen to each week!! Down the road, the Motorsports Authentics tent sale was on...we browsed through, but it's sad that it's no longer Team Caliber, and Roush owned, because it was the same problem as in most NASCAR stores...8, 20, 24, 48 and 9 were the main contributers. Oh, and the 3, of course.
We split up at this point to get the banner and park and get to Trackside, we all managed to get signed up for the PRE-RACE DRIVER INTROS MOSH PIT tomorrow!! It's through the Official Nascar Members club...a bunch of us are going to be a few of the hundreds down there...hope I don't drop a crewman!!!! LOL
Then we were on to Trackside at the Speed Stage, where, if you watched at all, I KNOW you could not miss the banner...the boom camera guy even got bored of ignoring us, and decided to give it a close-up...at that point, we figured our job was done...however, we DID also manage to get Jeff Hammond to sign the banner, too...we didn't unravel the entire banner, so unless he saw it during the broadcast, I don't think he has any idea he essentially just became an honorary Edhead, signing the Edhead banner...LOL
Then off to qualifying. Dizzy yet???? Actually, I had to make a detour to the car to drop off the banner, as they wouldn't let it in to the track with the wooden poles on it...what a difference different tracks make, we had it in at Fontana and Phoenix no problem...but we soon were up in the stands, waiting, and before we knew it, our boy was on the pole!! WAY TO GO CARL!!! Let's keep the momentum going!!
And you should have heard the shocked gasps when MARK MARTIN spun out on his qualifying run!!! He's the LAST one you'd expect to see that from...And the CHEERS when the Killer B's reeled off their 11.6 second pit stop to help Matt bump Jimmy Johson off the pole were priceless...one Jr fan in front of us even will soon be owning a Matt Kenseth hat, if he was half serious about his bet to buy one if Matt bumped Jr off the pole. LOL
All in all, a pretty full day...we DID walk right past Mike Joy, before we realized who he was, and turned around and called his name, waving at him...that's the only close encounter to speak of, although I DO think Brandi and Pam may have a few stories of their own adventures to add. I'm thinking they might have had a few close encounters...or where they of the "art" kind??? LOL
Well, I'm zonked, and it's another early day tomorrow, trying to get to the track plenty early to set up camp for the day...note to self, slather up on the sunscreen...the neck is DEFINITELY a little red after today!!
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