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Rednecks driving fast , scraping paint, and turning left ... yeehaaaaaa !!!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

True story:

I have a golf buddy who is a NASCAR official and lives in Atlanta. About 12 years ago, after a few days of golf, I accompanied him to Talladega for the Sat & Sunday races. He is involved in marketing and promotion for many of the big racers and needed to see them over the 2 days both on and off the track. Disclosure...I know nothing about NASCAR other than the fact that they "drive fast and turn left." So his mission was to show everything about the cars, drivers and everything surrounding the event. I went everywhere from walking the track, to leaning over racecars looking at motors (not engines, I learned), drinking beer with racers, announcers and mechanics and even attending Sunday morning church services with the drivers and crews in the pits.

Every single driver and announcer was a delight to meet and just the most grounded and interesting group of people I ever met... except for one outlier. We walked into the garage of #3 and there was Dale Earnhardt himself. My friend introduced me to him and while loosely shaking my hand and not looking me in the eye he looked at my friend and said..." and why do I need to know him?" I gave a little chuckle as he dropped my hand while he said in an irritated voice..."who the f**K is this guy!" Needless to say, I wasn't rooting for him the next day.

Other memorable highlights were watching the race from the NASCAR booth where they had shrimp the size of lobsters and filet mignon as big as a fist. Finally, on Sunday during the race, we got a chance to walk through the pits and the infield. What a party...with nary a care about the race. I've since been to the Indy 400 with him but it was nothing like Talledega...then again even that up close exposure wasn't enough to get me to follow NASCAR on a regular basis. Still, I'd party or play golf with any of those good 'ol boys anyday!

RIP #3

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Unfortunately that's not the way Nascar is these days. It's more of a politically correct parade(with a bunch of advertising mixed in) instead of a race.

JJ, maybe #3 had heard of you

Dale's people skills weren't anything like his driving skills. He was a friend of a friend. I met him on several occasions and he seemed nice enough. It wasn't at a racetrack, and I've heard alot of stories about him being rude to fans.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Well, at least their cars and jump suits show you who bought them off at your expense. Too bad you can't say the same about politicians and Supreme Court judges.

Aint singin' for Pepsi,
Aint singin' for Coke,
Aint singin for nobody,
Makes me look like a joke ....

....This note's for YOU

And in the video, holding up a beer can that says "sponsored by nobody"

(Neil Young)

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"