Introduction : I first want to wish Infield Parking a Happy 1st Birthday and thanks for making it possible for me to meet so many nice racing fans throughout the US and Canada, both in person and on-line. It
has been a really fun year and so refreshing to come to IP daily and talk to my friends about the sport I love most, Nascar. Secondly, I would like all my friends to know that I'll be making my
racing debut in 2008 at one of our local Nascar sanction race tracks, the All-American Speedway in Roseville, CA. I'll be posting racing dates and results in the days to come, in hopes that those
interested can come out and help cheer me on. ******* Well Folks, I have some goods news and some bad news! The bad news is I had the worst car I've ever driven all year long. This car was
seriously underpowered and had no straightaway speed. It became apparent what I was up against during practice, when I kept getting passed by other cars and there was nothing I could do to keep
up. During qualifying, I felt I laid down a fairly decent lap, however, it was only good enough for a 7th place starting position. That seem strange because I'm usually qualifying within the top
four. What's up with that! At the drop of the rag, I did what I could to get around the 6th place car. I tried him low for a few laps, but I couldn't make the pass. I tried him high with the same
results. And there was a point, while going around on the outside that my car got real sideways and the inside car luckily knocked my front end hard enough to straighten me up again and I avoided
a spin out and dropped back in line. I could pass his car in the corners, but he would retake me down the straights. My car's top-end speed would just flatten out allowing others to catch up.
Driving like this was becoming very frustrating and then I caught a little break when one of the front runners spun out in front of us...the 6th place car lifted before the caution came out and I
was able to beat him back to the start/finish line. For the rest of the race I was able to hold off everyone else behind me and then on the final lap, I was working hard to get underneath the 3rd
and 4th place cars as we came off of turn 4, however, with me lacking in the horsepower department they were able to out run me going down the main stretch. I have to settle for a 5th spot. I was
concentrating so hard on staying in the gas all the way down the main stretch, that when we got back down into turn 1 I was carrying way too much speed that I slid right into the side of the 3rd
place car sending both of us spinning out well after the race was over. LOL He was ok and we joked about it back in the pits. One highlight of the race was when a car behind me lost a rear wheel
and it hit me from behind. I was driving down the front stretch when I felt a thump from something behind me, just then I noticed a loose wheel pulling up next to me on my right side, so I slowed
down and let it pass. It was the weirdest thing, the wheel just came off due to stress, rotor and all. Good thing, no one was hurt. I bet that guy who lost the wheel was singing, "you picked a
fine time to leave me, loose wheel". This was my third 5th place finish of the year, as well as two 2nd place finishes and a DNF (did not finish). Now for the good news!!!!!!!! At the end of
the year only the top 5 point leaders go on to the championship race in Las Vegas and I was told I may have just sneaked my way into the championship, but we won't know for sure until the end of
next month (Sept). So, keep your fingers crossed and I'll let you know what happens. *******I want to thank all those who have come out to watch me race. That means a lot to me. Thanks again
Now, a little more about me: As you can see, I'm a big Robby Gordon fan. I currently live in Rancho Cordova, which is just outside of Sacramento. I've never been married and I have no kids (yeah
I know...means there must be something wrong, right? LOL) and I like to laugh and have fun too. So, if you don't respond, I'll just have to go back to collecting cats and being the neighborhood
spinster. ha ha. But seriously, I'm a very friendly guy and will always respond to your kind messages. So write me and let's chat some Nascar or whatever's on your mind. Thanks XhaustedGirl
for the videos and thanks to Sea-Era for my page layout.
My hobbies NASCAR, hiking, motorcycle riding, golfing, traveling and hanging out on Infield Parking. Races which I'll be attending this year: Sonoma.
Thanks Mike. Very good advice! I love your philosophy about 'having more to gain than lose'. I'll have to remember that next time! If you do plan a trip to the Glen, let me know. It's such a classic road course track, IMO. At least if you go...you'll know exactly where to hang out to get your shot to meet Boris. Who knows...maybe Marcos and Boris will have made up by then and you'll get to see them both together. Keep me posted on the championship! Have a great one!
I have put some new pic's.. from the MIS... It was great...I got to get go into the pits. it was the first time for me. that was fun.. But I couldn't take any pic's of the race be cause my
batters die..... we sat in sect 33 row 11 seat 3. I could feel the cars go by to bad my batter die...you have a great week. hugs. Katie
That's Mz. Rita Racer! Hey, I used to beat the boys butts on Pershing Blvd in Playa del Rey. I've also used to race a Kawasaki KZ100 on the local 1/8 mile track at Terminal Island. I wouldn't mind doing some bommer dirt oval some where. Okay I'm bummed Jimmy Johnson crashed the 81 truck. I don't want KB to win. Have a great night! Annie
Hey Mike, good to hear from you. Hope things are going well. It sounds like your doing a great job in the racing career, and it will get better with many wins. Yes, I was at MIS last weekend, was hoping Junior would do alot better, but hey you cant win them all. I'm looking forward to Bristol this weekend, should be a good race. Enjoy your week, talk to you soon
I've been as far north to Sanoma (Infenion) I had a friend who raced superbikes there. I've also been to the Santa Maria Speedway several times. I love that track. They were thinking of closing
that track so I'm not even sure if it's still open. I love any kind of motorsports. I've been a motorhead since I was 14 yrs old. I wanted to be Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney. I used to street race
on Friday & Saturday night. I had a 72 Chevelle SS. I also used to go to Saugus Raceway & Ascot Raceway. Well have a good one!
Everytime Boris does a Glen interview, he plugs the "Seneca Lodge". http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=302572&FS=NASCAR-CUP http://www.theglen.com/chat/boris_said_2008/
We never checked it out in the past because we stay at my sister's house in Corning for race weekends. So, we have never really had any reason to go into the town of Watkins Glen. But, this
year, we extended our stay and got a hotel in town for Sunday night. Seneca Lodge was two minutes from our hotel, so we figured we'd check it out for dinner. I really assumed all the drivers
headed home Sunday night after the last race, so I NEVER DREAMED I'd actually see Boris at the Lodge. We went in, the hostess said, "Follow me" and she wedged us at a tiny table for two in
between two big parties. As I squeezed past the one chair to get to our table, I looked up and it was Boris sitting at the table! I sat down and couldn't resist looking up one more time to make
sure I wasn't imagining it. He looked at me for a split second and then I just died. I thought for sure he thought I was stalking him or something. LOL I never looked up again. My friend said,
"Did you see who's sitting right behind me?" And, I said, "Yes I did." And just kept looking at the menu and trying to act like I never noticed. LOL So..needless to say, I did NOT take any
pictures. I wasn't sitting in a position where it would have been discreet at all. We literally were facing each other. He was only sitting there about 10-15 minutes before getting up and going
to the bar. I wasn't wearing my Boris attire, because we stopped at the hotel to shower and change before going out. I looked like a slob. I threw my hair in a ponytail, no makeup, and figured
we'd just grab a quick burger. Had I known he'd be there, I would have put some more effort in. LOL Anyway, our waiter later told us Boris visits the lodge every year after Sunday's race. It's
a tradition. So, maybe I'll get some nerve up for next year. Sounds like something was definitely up with your car for the race. Maybe you should get to know that mechanic and see if he can
'adjust' your car like he did his own.(I don't supposed they do any post-race checks to make sure there's no cheating, huh?) Keep me posted on the Vegas situation. I really hope you get in!!!
Take care. Donna
******* Well Folks, I have some goods news and some bad news! The bad news is I had the worst car I've ever driven all year long. This car was
seriously underpowered and had no straightaway speed. It became apparent what I was up against during practice, when I kept getting passed by other cars and there was nothing I could do to keep
up. During qualifying, I felt I laid down a fairly decent lap, however, it was only good enough for a 7th place starting position. That seem strange because I'm usually qualifying within the top
four. What's up with that! At the drop of the rag, I did what I could to get around the 6th place car. I tried him low for a few laps, but I couldn't make the pass. I tried him high with the same
results. And there was a point, while going around on the outside that my car got real sideways and the inside car luckily knocked my front end hard enough to straighten me up again and I avoided
a spin out and dropped back in line. I could pass his car in the corners, but he would retake me down the straights. My car's top-end speed would just flatten out allowing others to catch up.
Driving like this was becoming very frustrating and then I caught a little break when one of the front runners spun out in front of us...the 6th place car lifted before the caution came out and I
was able to beat him back to the start/finish line. For the rest of the race I was able to hold off everyone else behind me and then on the final lap, I was working hard to get underneath the 3rd
and 4th place cars as we came off of turn 4, however, with me lacking in the horsepower department they were able to out run me going down the main stretch. I have to settle for a 5th spot. I was
concentrating so hard on staying in the gas all the way down the main stretch, that when we got back down into turn 1 I was carrying way too much speed that I slid right into the side of the 3rd
place car sending both of us spinning out well after the race was over. LOL He was ok and we joked about it back in the pits. One highlight of the race was when a car behind me lost a rear wheel
and it hit me from behind. I was driving down the front stretch when I felt a thump from something behind me, just then I noticed a loose wheel pulling up next to me on my right side, so I slowed
down and let it pass. It was the weirdest thing, the wheel just came off due to stress, rotor and all. Good thing, no one was hurt. I bet that guy who lost the wheel was singing, "you picked a
fine time to leave me, loose wheel". 
.. we sat in sect 33 row 11 seat 3. I could feel the cars go by to bad my batter die...you have a great week. hugs. Katie
Sounds like something was definitely up with your car for the race. Maybe you should get to know that mechanic and see if he can
'adjust' your car like he did his own.(I don't supposed they do any post-race checks to make sure there's no cheating, huh?) Keep me posted on the Vegas situation. I really hope you get in!!!
Take care. Donna