Brian Patton

Brian April 4th, 2005

The race weekend started off on a rough note. We arrived at the track on Saturday, around 11:00 am. We wanted to get our souvenir shopping over early and be ready to watch qualifying for the Busch race. Of course, the clouds opened up and it rained, rained, and then finally snowed on Saturday. Needless to say, that race was postponed until today and I have to miss since I am working now.

Sunday went much better. I had been to several races at Bristol, but none like this one. The friends I went with had some good connections and we got pit passes and entrance into the Food City hospitality tent. Its hard to beat a free meal right before a good race.

Inside the Food City tent, we ran into several important people. I brushed shoulders with Frank Beamer, head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies, on his way up to the starter’s stand. Then, another familiar face walked by us. Indeed it was none other than Jerry Kilgore. Not only did I shake his hand, but we exchanged a few words. What was I supposed to do, refuse to shake his hand? I don’t think that would have been appropriate. One of the guys I was with, who is a Republican, said he would have not shaken hands with Tim Kaine if he could have avoided it, had the situation been reversed.

After enjoying the free meal and hanging out in the Food City tent, we made our way up to our seats. We were about forty rows up from the bottom, in between turn 4 and the start-finish line. They ended up being great seats as most of the action was in that turn. Additionally, we had a quick and clean exit after the race.

But the best part was who won. As I mentioned before, Kevin Harvick is my favorite driver and has been since 2000. I was a Harvick fan before he took over for the late Dale Earnhardt in the Cup car. As a Harvick fan, there have been some good years (2001and 2003) and some not so good years (2002 and 2004). Although Harvick seems to be finding more and more adversity this year, I still think it will be a good year.

It was a heck of a weekend and who knows, Harvick might still win the postponed Busch race that starts today at 10:00 am.

Update:
Wow, what a weekend to be a Harvick fan, eh? Turns out he did win the postponed Busch race today. I would have loved to have been there and seen the Bristol sweep.

I thought I had timed my lunch break so I could be home eating for the last 15 - 20 laps, but all I got to see was a few restarts and cautions. Looks like they had a hard time getting everyone settled down. Ah, thats Bristol.

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