Well, this is new. Since we are under a red flag ...for a broken camera cable...I thought I would jump on here and make a quick post.

I want to take a moment to honor our Nation's Veterans and those currently serving in the military. This country wouldn't be who we are today if it wasn't for all of you. Thank You for everything you do.

Also, I want to take the time to bring recognition to the pit crews in NASCAR. We definitely DO NOT give them enough credit, in any series. The cars wouldn't be able to do what they do out on the track if it wasn't for them risking their lives each and every weekend.

As we are sitting here during the red flag, I have Danica Patrick's radio on. I seriously can't stop laughing! Danica and her Crew Chief have the best chemistry out on pit road. I say that for a few reasons.
1: He believes in her. He and his crew came over from Newman's team and put their heart and soul into her as a Rookie. They didn't want to change her driving style; they adapted to it.
2: Tony Gibson is a down-to-earth NASCAR guy who has been in and around this sport his entire life. He is the PERFECT CC to work with Danica as she transitions from IndyCar to NASCAR.
3: Have you ever listened to the No.10 radio during a race? Especially under caution? There are times I am laughing so hard I can hardly breath normally!

Here are just a few of the comments on her radio during the red flag:
Tony G:  "Watch this guy try and cut the cable with a pocket knife"
~Danica: "Macgyver right there."
~Danica was talking about people throwing stuff onto the track. She saw a guy throw food at the cars.
Tony G: "Most people get wiser as they get older. Apparently not him."
~As the drivers were getting back into their cars, Danica went on a rant on the radio about finding a steering wheel that was flat on top. At 5 foot 1, she can't see over the steering wheel very well in the corners. Tony said they would get her a booster seat.

Seriously can't get enough of these two on the radio. Throw in Brandon, her spotter, and it's a real party!

Really glad NASCAR gave the teams time to work on the cars after the cable broke. It definitely wouldn't have been fair to those with damage from the cable to have to pit and lost their positions due to something like that. I though NASCAR handled the situation 100% the right way.

Ok... red flag over. Let's get back to racing boys.... and Danica!

Your every awkward and now chatty race friend,

Katie :)

So, I am sitting here in the radio station at college and it gives me a lot of time to think between songs. So much time in fact, that I have ample time to write this blog post!!!!

To start....let's discuss the All-Star Race! I didn't get the chance to watch the Sprint Showdown but I did catch a decent portion of the All-Star Race thanks to my DVR. What started with a Busch Brothers show turned into a win for now Mr. 4-Time Jimmie Johnson. Johnson started towards the back after a not-so-great qualifying run but battled his way towards the front in each of the segments. Johnson's pit crew won him the race in my opinion. They pulled of a pit stop that was just over 11 seconds and that is just amazing. That allowed him to start up front and eventually pass by teammate Kasey Kahne. After he was out front, the race was all but over.

Johnson became the first 4 Time winner of the All-Star Race and that is quite the achievement. For those of you who think he cheated in some way or doesn't deserve it, this one he fought for. It wasn't like last year where he won the first segment than sandbagged the last 3; he came from the back on this one.

Looking at the start of the race though, I thought we were bound to see one of the Busch Brothers in Victory Lane at the end of the night. Kyle Busch's average finish was 2.2 and his brother Kurt's was 2.6. Pit Road was where the Busch Brothers faltered leaving Kyle with a third place and Kurt with a fifth place finish when the checkered flag waved.

Jamie McMurray and Rookie Ricky Stenhouse raced their way into the All-Star Race via the Sprint Showdown. Reigning Sprint Cup Series Champion Brad Keselowski finished the night 22nd after losing his transmission after 2 laps.

The Sprint Fan Vote winner was none other than Danica Patrick. Patrick ran well in the 40 lap Sprint Showdown and finished 9th but her appearance in the All-Star Race was less than spectacular. During the first segment, something was not right with her car and her Crew Chief just could not figure out what had happened between the races. Listening to her radio during the race, you could hear the frustration and confusion in both of their voices. In the end, she finished 20th but learned a lot leading into the Coke 600 this weekend.

A lot of race fans were upset that Patrick got in via Fan Vote saying it was rigged to make her win. I hate to tell all of you out there that actually believe that but she won that vote fair and square. with almost 1 Million followers on Twitter, that girl as a lot of people supporting her whether they are race fans or not. Danica Patrick just might give Dale Jr a run for the Sprint Cup Series Most Popular Driver.

This weekend kicks off summer and also hosts two of the biggest racing events in the season. The Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 both run this Sunday and it is one of those days that race fans love. It gives us an entire day to sit on our butts in front of our TV screens and enjoy some of the best competition racing has to offer.

I for one will be watching both this weekend and I get to spend my time watching the Coke 600 at a radio station here in town learning how to run the board for the MRN broadcasts. I am SO excited! Radio and racing all in one and it's also getting me one step closer to my dream of working in the motorsports world.

I can't wait to see where this new job leads me and hopefully I will see some of you at the track this summer. If you are heading to Iowa in August or Kansas in October, let me know! I am working on getting there myself and would love to meet some of you amazing people face to face!

Until next time, Your Ever Awkward Race Friend,
Katie :)

P.S. Don't forget to comment with your topic suggestions :)

P.S.AGAIN: If you want to get a hold of me and need more space than provided on Twitter...shoot me an email! You can click on the envelope icon at the very top of the page or head to the CONTACT ME tab and you can send me an email right from there! Can't wait to here from you!

Well, it only happens once a year and its right around the corner. The Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series heads to Darlington Raceway this weekend and I could NOT be more excited! Darlington is my by far my favorite track on the circuit and don't ask me why because I really have no idea.
There are so many unique characteristics that makes Darlington "Too Tough To Tame" so maybe that is it. Or maybe it's because the drivers don't race each other, they race the track itself. It could be because only a handful of drivers really become friends with this "Lady in Black" but even if they do, they never really know when she will turn on them. Darlington is definitely the most unique track on the schedule and I am really sad they only race there once a year.

SPEEDWAY SPOTLIGHT: Jeff Gordon will be making his 700 career start at Darlington this weekend and that is a HUGE milestone. Gordon also happens to be very good friends with this Lady and has recorded 7 wins there in his career. Could Gordon make his 700th start his 8th win at Darlington? It's quite possible and I really hope he does. It would be a great milestone in Gordon's career and a fabulous day for No24 fans across NASCAR Nation.

I was checking out the Rookie points standings and noticed something quite interesting. Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are tied. Yup, you heard me, TIED. At 106 points each to be exact. If the season would end right now, Patrick would be your winner. Her Daytona Pole Award and 8th place finish breaks the tie leaving Patrick the winner over her boyfriend. Interesting.

The NASCAR season is heading into the summer months so tighten your belts because the racing only gets better from here!

Your Ever Awkward Race Friend,
Katie :)

P.S. Don't forget to comment with your topic suggestions :)

P.S.AGAIN: If you want to get a hold of me and need more space than provided on Twitter...shoot me an email! You can click on the envelope icon at the very top of the page or head to the CONTACT ME tab and you can send me an email right from there! Can't wait to here from you!

Votes were submitted by the dozens and the results are in!!!!! I want to welcome you to my new blog, THE LUCKY DOG BLOG!!!!

That's right, it was overwhelmingly popular both here on this site and on Twitter and I think it has a nice ring to it. Now, there was another that was also quite popular and I have decided to use that as well.

Along with my weekly, or if I feel talky then twice weekly, blog post, I will also be doing a profile on the upcoming racetrack. This will include some random facts, statistics, history and just my general thoughts on the track and will be titled.... SPEEDWAY SPOTLIGHT!!!! (I thought it was quite fitting)

I want to make this blog into something fun and exciting to read, and that is where YOU come in.

Each blog post will feature my own personal comments on various subject matters in the racing industry...which will hopefully be pretty entertaining to read...but I want to know what you are wanting me to discuss. Each week, I want you, in the comments section below, to tell me what you want me to talk...or type...about!

It can be anything! Drivers, incidents on the track, or heck, even relationships off the track ;)

I can't wait to get this blog up and running and see what becomes of it so if you have any suggestions at all... let me know!

And I've had a few people who have had issues leaving comments...here is what you do.
-at the top of the page, in orange, it says 0 comments... or however many comments are     posted...click on that.
-scroll to the bottom of the page....
-type in your information and you are ready to post!

So...I don't really have a lot of racing news to talk about today...so I will fill you in on ME!

-FINALLY finished my sophomore year of college today...YAY!!!
-I start my new job tomorrow as a Members Service...person...at our local YMCA. I've been a lifeguard there for 7 years so being in the air conditioning...and NOT in a swimsuit...is a change I'm looking forward too!
-I got a call today from this really awesome DJ for a country music station in town and set up an interview for next week... they also happen to be the network that broadcasts the NASCAR races in the area :)
-I also got some REALLY SUPER AWESOME news today... that I can't really tell you until I know for sure that it will pull through BUT...if you know me well... just know that I am SO excited for this and YES it involves racing :)

Well...that is really all I have right now so with that said...Welcome again to the new LUCKY DOG BLOG!!!!!

Your Ever Awkward Race Friend,
Katie :)


P.S. Don't forget to comment with your topic suggestions :)

P.S.AGAIN: If you want to get a hold of me and need more space than provided on Twitter...shoot me an email! You can click on the envelope icon at the very top of the page or head to the CONTACT ME tab and you can send me an email right from there! Can't wait to here from you!

Between your votes here, on Twitter and on Facebook...and my own favorites...I have narrowed the field down to the SEVEN finalists!!! So vote for your favorite name and no more suggestions because the decision is already hard enough as it is :)

The Lucky Dog Blog
Speedway Spotlight
Press Box Pit Pass
In The Fast Lane
The Str8away
Under the Lights
On The Spotters Stand

Vote for your favorite and help me choose!!! Cause I'm really

So here are some of my favorite suggestions so far... comment below with your favorite and help me pick a name!

In The Fast Lane (by @StrokerAce90)
The Lucky Dog Blog (by @LiamRedford)
On The Spotters Stand (by @LiamRedford)
A Load Of This (by @AJBomberSports)
The Str8away (by @JohnnyFuzzbox)
Motor Bytes (by @JohnnyFuzzbox)
Speed Speak (by @JohnnyFuzzbox)
Fast Facts (by @JohnnyFuzzbox)
The Quick Shift (by @JohnnyFuzzbox)
Front Stretch Facts (by @KristinaMajors)
Boogity Boogity Blogging (by @KristinaMajors)
Speedway Spotlight (by @KristinaMajors)
Pit Box Press Pass (by @KristinaMajors)
Flagstand Facts (by @KristinaMajors)
Checkered Flag Connection (by @KristinaMajors)
From the Truck to Victory Lane (by @JGR112018fan)
Racetime with Katie (by @NASCAR19661)

I've been wanting to start a racing blog for quite some time now and now that summer rolling in, I think its the perfect time to start! But I need your help. I am NOT creative when it comes to titles or anything like that so I want you to help me decide! Comment below with what you think I should title my blog... I'll pick the best ones and have a final twitter vote!