Subway Fresh Fit 500 Phoenix Cheat Sheet

Ok, again Megan isnt here and she knows how to make the cheat sheet look cute. I, however, know how to do this...thanks to nascar.com. Sorry Kids, that is all I have! Way to go Reagan Smith and Scott Riggs....our picks for the good story of the week from the go or go homers. It will also be nice to have a Saturday race as these boys can go home and have a Sunday off!

Stuck in Race Traffic??

So you're at the track, there are 20 or so laps to go, and your thinking you want to head out a few minutes early to "beat the traffic", but guess what you ARE the traffic! Thank goodness for those of us who have Sirius Satellite Radio who can tune to channel 128 and listen to the end of the race. For those of you who do not subscribe to Sirius, and don't want to spend 20 minutes searching on the dial for the MRN/PRN affiliate, we are here to help! I cant tell you how many times we have traveled out of town for a race, and are stuck in a rental car scanning the dial for "THE RACE STATION"

So as we head out west to Phoenix this week if you dont have Sirius and you are stuck in the car, you have two choices: KGME-AM 910 in Phoenix and if you are heading north, you tune to 780 on your AM dial, you will find KAZM, located in Sedona, AZ (about 2 hrs north of Phoenix). These News/Talk/Sports station should keep you privy to all the Race fun on your way home.

We will keep you posted each week on where exactly you can find the race on your terrestrial radio dial! Next week we'll visit Good Ol' Sweet Home Alabama!!!!

Happy Happy Hour!

While Megan is sunning herself on her own happy hour on the way to the Bahamas, allow me to celebrate Happy Hour with you! I think if we are in Phoenix, there is no other way to celebrate but with a Tequila Sunrise, THE signature drink at the Wright Bar at the Arizona Biltmore. We like to learn something everyday, and if you click here you will read about how this drink came to be.

On with the recipe!

Tequila Sunrise
Served on the rocks; poured over ice
Standard garnish: orange slice and cherry

4.5 cl (3 parts) Tequila
9.0 cl (6 parts) Orange juice
1.5 cl (1 part) Grenadine syrup

Preparation
Pour the tequila and orange juice into a highball glass over ice. Add the grenadine, which will sink to the bottom. Do not stir. Garnish and serve. Enjoy!

Best Western and Michael Waltrip looks for the nations most devoted NASCAR couple...cue banjos

Best Western International, the official hotel of NASCAR, and two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip are looking for the nation’s most devoted NASCAR couple. This lucky "All-Star" couple will win a trip to the 25th Running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 16, 2009. Driver Michael Waltrip will preside over the renewal of the winning couple’s chosen vows, in true NASCAR fashion.

Through April 27, couples are encouraged to visit the Best Western Racing "All-Star" Couple promotional site and submit a brief story (1,000 words or less) about why they deserve to have their vows renewed during the All-Star Race weekend. Couples are encouraged to reflect on their devotion to NASCAR and each other—perhaps with anecdotes about how they met at the track, visited the races during their honeymoon, or watch the race together every weekend.

Entries submitted through the site will be judged by a Best Western panel of judges, including Waltrip. All entries will be judged on the compelling nature of their story, relevance of entry, and devotion to NASCAR. Once selected, the winning couple will receive round-trip airfare to Charlotte, lodging, tickets to the race and local transportation. As a bonus, Best Western will award the devoted couple with a travel card valued at $1,000 that can be used at any of the more than 4,000 Best Western properties worldwide—for a first, second, or tenth honeymoon, or to host incoming family and friends for that wedding on the horizon.

"NASCAR fans are some of the most passionate in sports and that passion extends to other areas of their lives, including travel and family," says Dorothy Dowling, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Best Western International.

Fans who join Best Western’s free Speed Rewards loyalty program for race fans earn points toward free nights and save an estimated 10 percent on every booking.

Source: Best Western International

God, I love days like this...you wake up and woohoo something hysterical to write about from the get go! This is a great idea, but is Best Western ready to shake its head at the entries? Can you imagine the stories that will come out of this?? I already hear the theme song from the movie Deliverance! I am also laughing at the 1000 words or less....how long does a story of this magnitude take? Im a little unnerved at the angle that they took, they would never try this in baseball would they? But, at the end of the day we do know how dediacated the Nascar nation can be-so this should be quite the contest. I also hope get to get some future coverage on this, Michael's input should be classic!

A Fast Lap with Jennifer Jo Cobb

Today, we would like to introduce you to NASCAR Camping World, Nationwide and ARCA driver Jennifer Jo Cobb. She also has her own clothing line called Driver Boutique which you can check out here.

Photo Courtesy of Nicholas Segura/www.spynstudio.com

1.What music have you recently put on your iPod?

I listen to everything from AC/DC to Beyonce to Chris Ledoux to Andre Bocelli! I have music for every mood and I rely on music to change my moods! (Chill on the plane, pumped up to go out, go racing or to work out… music is VERY important to me!) Last year, a music label sponsored me (Starr E) and their artist, RPM has some great songs (he recorded one about racing! I can’t wait until it’s released). Recently, though… I’ve added mostly top 40 music: Britney, Rihanna, T.I., etc.

2. What was the last movie you saw?

I saw Taken in Santa Monica, CA a couple of weeks ago

3. What are your favorite TV shows?

Greys Anatomy, Joyce Meyer: Enjoying Everyday Life (I wake up, pray, check my Blackberry, then watch Joyce on DVR, everyday that I am home in KC), Saving Grace, Life on Mars, Desperate Housewives

4. What other sporting teams/events do you follow?

Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Wizards and Kansas City T-bones (I’m very loyal to KC!)

5. What is one personal item you can not live without?

I know I can live without anything material, but the most important thing I don’t leave home without is my Blackberry

6. What are your favorite places to visit?

During the season Daytona and Miami are my faves. Off season, I went to Greece and Hawaii in the past year… pretty nice! I spend any spare weekends in either Chicago or Scottsdale when I’m not in KC.

7. What is your favorite clothing brand?

I’m developing very expensive tastes lately! True Religion jeans, William Rast jeans and any cute shirt (I wear my Driver Boutique brand a lot) and heels that’ll go with those!

8. What is your favorite book or publication?

The Bible – I really want to read it beginning to end and I’m getting there! I love reading Glamour magazine and Speedway Illustrated (a great combination!)

9. What is your favorite activity to do in your off time?

Work out; shop; have dinners with a view and wine

10. What is your favorite cuisine?

Seafood, pasta and Gibson’s Chocolate Mousse Pie (Gibson’s is in Chicago)

11. What advice would you give other females looking to get into the sporting world?

Be prepared to work hard, do it for free for a long time, thicken your skin, and be serious about your goals. As long as the dream is in your heart, never ever give up. Also, don’t make decisions when you are tired… the answer is always negative when you are tired. Make your decisions about your life after you are rested!

Next week, we present A Fast Lap with Robin Braig, President of Daytona International Speedway.

Phoenix or Milan?

Photo Courtesy of Phoenix International Raceway

Phoenix is one of the few racetracks that I have not been to and I really want to make it out there sometime. I came across many interesting fan experiences this weekend while doing some research. So, I am planning an imaginary trip to go to what I hear is one of the best tracks to visit.

Let's say I have zero budget for my imaginary trip. Well, I can't go alone so I promised Keri she could tag along since she rarely gets to travel with me.

In the far away land of "Zoomtown U.S.A.", I start off the trip by paying $2,327 to be the Grand Marshall of the Jimmie Johnson 15o. I have always wanted to say the most famous words of racing, Gentleman Start Your Engines....oh and I just lost a friend being this is Darlynn's goal in life and I stole her thunder.

Since I am spending pretend money, we may as well pay $79 per person to attend the Grand Opening of the Budweiser Roll-Bar. According to the PIR website, The Roll-Bar is a innovative hospitality environment that includes a special VIP section for Budweiser guests, featuring high-end furniture on a raised platform. A number of unique custom structures – including a bar to house the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne – will adorn the beer garden area to highlight the Budweiser branding seen throughout the club.

Now, the kicker. Instead of watching the race on pit road as I normally do, we will step it up Fashionista style. For $1,900 per person, we will enjoy VIP treatment at Phoenix International Raceways luxury lounge, Octane. We will enjoy a full-service concierge, feast at their sushi bar, watch a romantic sunset from a private veranda.....wait why am I getting all romantic w/ Keri? Back to dream world reality. This package includes unlimited food and beverage, live music, wine tasting and plush accommodations.

So far, we have spent:
$2,327 to be a Grand Marshall
$79 a person for the Roll-Bar grand opening
$1,900 a person for Octane
We haven't even discussed plane tickets or accommodations.
It's $400 a night to stay at the Wingham Resort and Spa which is located 10 miles from the track.
Flying coach from Daytona will be $700 per person. (Keri wanted to fly private but I had to remind her that we are under a recession and just because we had that lifestyle 2 years ago for Talladega, it doesn't mean we are doing so for Phoenix!).

So far, my imaginary 4 day trip to Phoenix has cost me $9,285!!

Sorry Phoenix but I would much prefer going to Milan for a week, staying at a 5 star hotel, with flight included for only $1,000 per person. We can go shopping in the Fashion Capitol of the World with the money we just saved. Buy a few designer bags, visit Leonardo DiVinci's Last Supper.....NOW WE'RE TALKING!

NASCAR drivers and their sunglasses

We have had quite a few people contact us regarding what brand of sunglasses NASCAR drivers wear. Most of the NASCAR market is covered by high-end brands, such as Oakley, Electric and Wiley X. One thing you must remember is that these drivers are paid to wear certain brands of sunglasses via high-dollar endorsements and free swag. The most common question we have received is: What kind of sunglasses does Joey Logano wear? As always, we would like to keep you up to tune with true NASCAR fashion!
Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, David Ragan and Aric Almirola are just a few of the drivers that are sponsored by WileyX.

Some drivers have their own signature specially-made Oakley branded frames. A few of them include: Kasey Kahne, Ricky Carmichael, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray, Brian Vickers, Elliot Sadler and J.J. Yelley.

Last year both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. were sponsored by Spy Optic Sunglasses but I couldn't find confirmation that it continued through 2009.

One of the most noticed pair of sunglasses in the NASCAR garage would be those of Kyle Busch. Kyle sports his oversize Electric frames by leaving the plastic sticker on the lens. He is also the only driver sponsored by Electric.If I were a NASCAR driver, I would hope that Chanel or Tom Ford would sponsor me. That would be heaven!

Former NY Giants Strahan to grand marshall Subway Fresh Fit 500

Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan will revisit Phoenix and be the grand marshal for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18.

Strahan is a Subway spokesperson and an NFL analyst for FOX. He retired from the Giants after their improbable 17-14 triumph over the unbeaten New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium.

"My old team won the big game in Phoenix back in 2008, so I am happy to be headed back to the desert for another great experience," Strahan said.

Big Machine Records recording artists Kate and Kacey Coppola will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500

Tune Up Tuesday. "I'm a loser baby....so why don't you kill me"

Slim pickings this week for Tune Up Tuesday! But I dug deep and picked Beck's "One Foot in the Grave" an expanded edition of the Pop/Rock uber-genius' 1994 album including 16 bonus tracks (13 of them previously unreleased).This 15th Anniversary edition comes housed in an expanded and collectible digipak.

Bonus tracks include cuts from the rare 'It's All In Your Mind' single. The original edition of the album has been out of print for over four years, making this collectible reissue a must-have for Beck fans, new and old. 2009.

Beck is one of those artists that even with some moderate radio success....you either get him or you don't.

Now that I have you singing "I'm a loser baby...so why don't you kill me" for the rest of the day (youre welcome) go check out some other Beck music from that era and enjoy!

Joey Lagano's Nationwide post race Interview

Photo Courtesy of NASCAR.com

This weekend, Nationwides Media Team twittered from the race in Nashville so make you you follow them since they will be at it again in Phoenix. They got quite a few twitpics from the weekend which can be viewed here.

See below for the official Joey Logano Nationwide Series Interview from this weekend.

Joey Logano NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Interview – Nashville Superspeedway
Eighteen-year-old Joey Logano captured his first Nationwide Series victory of the season and the second of his career in the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway.

Joey Logano: It’s big for me, you know it’s an awesome confidence booster for sure. You know, looking and saying hey I can do this, I am here for a reason, I can win races. That’s big, you know, just to reassure yourself that, and I’m sure this is all going to keep carrying on— you’ve got to build on this momentum and keep going.

Logano was able to hold off teammate Kyle Busch for the win.
Kyle Busch: He had a better car on the short run, we had a better long run car, and you know I want to thank Z-Line, NOS Energy Drink, Toyota, all the guys on this team they did a great job. It’s just a shame we weren’t able to get out there and win this thing. You know, it’s kind of frustrating but we finished second today.

Logano had a good feeling about the race from the start of the weekend.
Logano: You know the car was good right off the bat, we qualified great, we practiced great and you know it started going and Kyle got by us—the car just kept getting tighter and tighter on the long runs and Dave just kept adjusting it and adjusting it and we were really good on the short runs and then we kept tightening up as we kept going so. As you look at Kyle back there at the end of the race and you get that clean air back on my nose and I know he was tight so that kind of made it worse for him and it was good enough to hold him off. It’s cool to have Joe Gibbs race a one-two finish. That’s a big deal for all the guys at the shop too.

Third place-finisher Brad Keselowski was asked why he was happier than Busch, who finished a spot ahead of him.
Brad Keselowski: Highlight that as the question of the year. Do you have enough time for me today to answer that? Obviously you know he’s running two series so when you come to the Nationwide level as a driver like himself that’s you know as successful as he is, sometimes when you’re not winning you’re not happy.

The Nationwide Series will return this week to the Phoenix International Raceway. Look for the audio interview following the Basha’s Supermarkets 200 April 17.

Runway Monday

Today's edition of Runway Monday will be different from the previous posts. I came across Avelle.com which is the old bagborroworsteal.com. With my purse addiction, it may not surprise you that I have known about Bag Borrow for quite some time. What's shocking is that I have not used their services, My main reason being that I have separation anxiety from my possessions. The thought that I would fall in love with a bag that I was wasting money to "borrow" that I'd have to send back made me ill. Fear no more, they are offering a new service where now, a high percentage of your "rental" fees go towards the purchase of your bag.

It's freaking genius. I probably wouldn't be sitting here with my impractical Chanel bag (which I never carry and it cost more than my mortgage payment) if this option was available a few years ago. I wonder if the Aarons Dream Machine would like to pick Avelle up as a co-sponsor? I can see Michael Waltrip doing commercial spots for them now. Someone please stop me....

So now, I would like to introduce you to the Louis Vuitton Tivoli PM handbag, which I am considering to add to my purse collection. It's like high end layaway!