The Strange Rituals of my People
In all my life, in nearly thirty years of NASCAR fandom (albeit casual), I have never before seen someone finish a race upside down and on fire.
[wik] For those of you who might be less than fully up to speed on the intricacies of stock car racing, please consult this handy primer on the subject from QandO.
[alsø wik] And because I think it's funny, here's a good recap of the race from the New York Times, including a great shot of the thrillingly close finish.
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Johno
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Didn't watch the race, but
Didn't watch the race, but that was quite something.
Once in Falcon 3.0, I ejected from a plane that was upside down and on fire. At about 500 feet.
It's just a game, of course, but I think someone trying that in real life would also die.
On the way to the gym, I was
On the way to the gym, I was listening to the guys on ESPN radio describing the end of the race (which they, in turn, were watching on TV). Very "meta".
I don't know how the call sounded on TV, but the radio guys were going batshit nuts trying to describe what was happening. I didn't find out who the winner was until I was on the way home, since they were busy sorting out the husks of flipped, crashed, and burning cars as the checkered flag came down.
I also learned, from the same broadcast, that the race was as boring as a zit-popping party until the last 40 laps. Which might explain why, for excitement, I prefer to watch a good EPL soccer match.
Funny, I fell asleep around
Funny, I fell asleep around lap 30, and then went and did some stuff like cook dinner and finish cleaning out our flooded basement for much of the rest of the race. I made it back to catch the final 20, which is pretty much all anyone needs most days. And I'm glad I did. Nothing against Premier League soccer - I watch that effete Euro stuff every chance I get - but I've never seen anyone dive between two defenders and poke in a goal from 30 yards out while simultaneously bursting into flame.
Bursting into flame is,
Bursting into flame is, outside of Hollywood blockbusters, an greatly underutilized form of entertainment. We should lobby for more of it in all forms of entertainment. Just think how Barney and other children's programing, golf, put-put golf, beach volleyball and your morning constitutional would all be improved with a solid dose of bursting into flame.
Well, I thought it was crappy
Well, I thought it was crappy that the race officials waited until Mark Martin reached the finish line to throw the caution and freeze all the other positions PER THE RULES. Grrrrrr... at least Martin beat out Busch. That's always a good thing.
Good point - the entire
Good point - the entire "bursting into flame" thing IS a distinguishing factor, I'll grant you that.
On the other hand, I have seen the occasional guy score from 30 yards out, upside down, if that helps even the score. Which it doesn't, so never mind.