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!

Happy Easter!!

Try not to eat too much Ham or drink too many mimosas tomorrow! We wish you and your family a wonderful Easter weekend. xoxo, The Fashionistas

Move over Kyle and Kurt, Truex Brothers Join NASCAR Sibling Legacy

photo credit: nascar.com

The Pettys, the Allisons, the Buschs, now the Truex's!

Michael Waltrip Racing has signed the 17-year-old brother of NASCAR Sprint Cup Martin Truex Jr. as a development driver.

Ryan Truex will begin his new association this weekend in the NASCAR Camping World East series season-opener at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina.

Last season, Truex finished 11th at Stafford Speedway in his CW East debut and only career start while driving a car prepared by Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

"Pairing with a racing organization like Michael Waltrip Racing and having (sponsor) NAPA Auto Parts on my Toyota is a great opportunity for me," Truex said. "MWR is really coming on strong this year in the Cup Series and I hope to learn a lot from just being there each week."

"In essence, Ryan was ready to move to the next level," said Ty Norris, general manager for the Waltrip team. "The Truexes had the cars and the engines, but needed someone to house (them), employ the staff and operate the team. I've known the Truexes since we approached Truex Jr. about driving for DEI's Nationwide team in 2003.

"Ryan has the bloodline and needed the opportunity, so we partnered in this entry. We heard he was aggressive and fast and we can't wait to see him compete."

Truex started racing four years ago in a Bandolero at Wall Township Speedway in New Jersey. He graduated to Legends and won a speedway championship at the track in 2007. Last season, Truex raced a family owned Late Model at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va.

Ryan not only follows in his brother Martin Jr.'s footsteps, but his father Martin Sr.who is a former driver in the Busch North Series. He made fifteen starts in the Busch Series from 1989 to 1998.

As with any brothers with this sport, we imagine animated family dinners, and competition that rivals any childhood backyard game....we look forward to Ryans budding career and cant wait till we see these brothers in the same race!

"Hey, back'er down. You gotta turn around"

Just when I think I have seen it all, NASCAR partners up with another product that makes me giggle (not in a bad way, this is pretty funny). I was playing around on Twitter and came across a blog entry that NASCAR Nuts and Bolts did.

For $229, you can own a GPS navigation device featuring the voice of Dale Earnhardt Jr. RightWay GPS is releasing "The Spotter" in May and it will be available at Amazon.com, Best Buy and Radio Shack. Dale will guide you to your destination with key phrases such as "Hey, back'er down. You gotta turn around", “In one mile, hang a right.” and, “Park it. We’re here.”. It comes pre-loaded with NASCAR and Dale Jr. points of interest including: NASCAR tracks, NASCAR parks and a tour of NASCAR race shops/garages in Charlotte. You also have the ability to have a GPS pointer in the following images: Amp Energy car, National Guard car or the Team Hauler as the GPS pointer.

I wonder if Dale will go all crazy on you if you don't follow his directions. Or as RadicalBender stated below, he may threaten to hit you with a hammer if you turn the wrong way. Maybe you could sympathize with Tony Eury Jr. I must admit, I would love to get my hands on one of these. Hearing Juniors voice is much better than the computer animated ones all the other systems have. I personally yell at my GPS lady who I named Betty, whose voice I eventually turned off. I can see it now, driving down the highway and screaming "SHUT UP JUNE-BUG".

Photo Compliments from our friends over at LOL Drivers

A Fast Lap with Bruce Cook

We would like to introduce you to NNS driver Michael Annett's Crew Chief Bruce Cook.

Q. What music have you recently put on your iPod?
A. I pretty much just listen to country. I've been listening to a lot of Brooks and Dunn lately.

Q. What was the last movie you saw in a movie theatre?
A. Cars. I know it's been awhile, but I'm not really a big movie person.

Q. What are your favorite TV shows, or something you must have in your DVR/Tivo recorder to watch when you return home from the track?
A. How It's Made and anything on the History Channel

Q. What other sporting teams/events do you follow?
A. The only other sport I really follow is golf.

Q. What is one personal item you can not live without?
A. I always have to be wearing my watch.

Q. What are your favorite places to visit? (during the season, ie: race tracks and off season for vacation)
A. My favorite place the NASCAR circuit visits is Las Vegas because it's Vegas! I don't really get a chance to vacation.

Q. What is your favorite clothing brand?
A. Levi's

Q. What is your favorite book or publication?
A. The Richie Evans Story

Q. What is your favorite activity to do in your off time?
A. I love to play golf. If there's time while on the road, some guys from the team and I will go golfing.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?
A. My favorite food is spaghetti.

Jimmie Johnson loves your Mom

Nothing says "I love you Mom" like a personalized Mothers Day card from Jimmie Johnson. You can bid on your chance to win one of six personalized Happy Mothers Day cards from Jimmie, as part of Aprils #1 Fan Experience. Also up for grabs is a Die Cast signed by Jimmie and Chad Knaus, Jimmie's personal champagne bottle from his 2007 Texas win, a Phoenix Victory Lane hat and more. This auction ends on April 11th. You can view the items here. All proceeds go towards the Jimmie Johnson Foundation.

Happy Happy Hour

Pony up to the bar and grab yourself a Margarita in honor of today's Happy Hour practice at Texas Motor Speedway. Enjoy your margarita while following along with Happy Hour here. Yee-Haw.

Megan's Margarita
1 1/2 oz Patron
1/2 oz Cointreau
1 oz fresh lime juice
splash of Orange Juice

Mix the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and serve over ice

Cheers!!

Texas Cheat Sheet / Lineup

Congratulations to "The Franchise" David Reutimann for getting his 2nd career pole today. The lineup for the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway is as follows:

1 #00 David Reutimann Toyota, Aaron's Dream Machine
2 #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, National Guard GED Plus / DuPont
3 #17 Matt Kenseth Ford, Dewalt
4 #6 David Ragan Ford, UPS
5 #98 Paul Menard Ford, Quaker State / Menards
6 #9 Kasey Kahne Dodge, Budweiser
7 #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet, Old Spice / Office Depot
8 #18 Kyle Busch Toyota, Interstate Batteries
9 #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet, Lowe's / Kobalt "Tough Tools for Cool Schools"
10 #20 Joey Logano Toyota, The Home Depot
11 #47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota, Clorox / Kingsford / Little Debbie
12 #77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge, Mobil 1
13 #99 Carl Edwards Ford, Aflac
14 #16 Greg Biffle Ford, 3M
15 #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet, Caterpillar
16 #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet, Target
17 #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet, Shell / Pennzoil
18 #83 Brian Vickers Toyota, Red Bull
19 #33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet, Cheerios / Hamburger Helper
20 #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet, Amp Energy / National Guard
21 #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet, U.S. Army
22 #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota, FedEx Ground
23 #5 Mark Martin Chevrolet, Cheez-It / Carquest
24 #96 Bobby Labonte Ford, Ask.com
25 #44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge, Super 8
26 #34 John Andretti Chevrolet, MyAutoLoan.com
27 #09 Mike Bliss Dodge, Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
28 #2 Kurt Busch Dodge, Miller Lite
29 #7 Robby Gordon Toyota, Jim Beam
30 #71 David Gilliland Chevrolet, Capital Window
31 #1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet, Bass Pro Shops / Tracker
32 #12 David Stremme Dodge, Penske Racing
33 #78 Regan Smith Chevrolet, Furniture Row Companies
34 #55 Michael Waltrip Toyota, NAPA
35 #07 Casey Mears Chevrolet, Jack Daniel's
36 #26 Jamie McMurray Ford, Sears Auto Center / Valvoline
37 #21 Bill Elliott Ford, Motorcraft
38 #43 Reed Sorenson Dodge, McDonald's
39 #13 Max Papis Toyota, GEICO
40 #25 Brad Keselowski Chevrolet, GoDaddy.com
41 #8 Aric Almirola Chevrolet, Guitar Hero
42 #19 Elliott Sadler Dodge, Best Buy
43 #66 Dave Blaney Toyota, Prism Motorsports

Didn’t make the show:
#87 Joe Nemechek Toyota, Huckleberry's BBQ
#82 Scott Speed Toyota, Red Bull
#41 Jeremy Mayfield Toyota, All Sport
#64 Todd Bodine Toyota, Mambo Restaurant
#36 Scott Riggs Toyota, Tommy Baldwin Racing :(

One year ago today, the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine (which is sitting on the pole for this weekend's race) had a different ending at qualifying. While Michael McDowell was making his qualifying run last year, he got in a horrific wreck that many NASCAR fans will never forget.

NASCAR awards banquet moving to Vegas baby!!

It looks like Bruton Smith finally got his way. NASCAR is moving it's year end banquet to Las Vegas. Now boys and girls, this is exciting news. The NASCAR banquet isn't exactly the most entertaining events of the year. It always confused me a bit that it took place in Manhattan. Let's face it, NASCAR fans aren't as common as hot dog stands in the Big Apple.

Smith has been quoted saying "Maybe we could sell 10,000 tickets to the race fans and let them come and enjoy the festivities, that's what I'd like to see". Well Mr. Smith, that is what I would like to see too. Turn this once boring event into a fan filled weekend and maybe, just maybe more people would show interest in the awards ceremony, bringing more money to NASCAR.

The only thing that would make us happier than moving it to Vegas, would be moving it back to Daytona Beach (it was moved from DB to NYC in 1981). This is purely based off of selfish reasons!

Does anyone remember the 2006 awards banquet when Kyle Busch was giving his thank you speech and he called his then girlfriend Erica Dewey by his brothers wives name Eva? That was the entertainment of the night. I am looking forward to the awards show in Vegas for sure!

Nationwide Series to use Twitter in Nashville!

Nationwide is giving you the chance to interact with your favorite driver through Twitter. A Twitter Media team will be on site next weekend at the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway April 10th and 11th. They will provide real-time, behind-the-scenes access and want to know if our readers have any special requests. Is there a particular photo of your favorite Nationwide driver that you would like? Let us know and they will try to get it for you!

We love Twitter and have met hundreds of great NASCAR fans through it. If you haven't had the chance to become part of the Twitter universe, it is a great outlet to connect with other NASCAR fans and NASCAR teams throughout the country. Over the past few weeks, there have been multiple NASCAR twitter guides to surface on the net. Our 4 favorites are:
The Final Lap with Kerry Murphy's guide to twitter
NASCAR in my own words guide to racing
Answer this, twitter me this
Restrictor Plated "I'm a NASCAR fan and I'm new to Twitter"

Here is the Nationwide press release we received today. Again, let us know by midnight, April 9th if you have any special requests.

Nationwide To Use Twitter, Twitpic for real-time race access
Media Team takes requests for pics from Nashville NASCAR Nationwide Series Race

The Nationwide Media Team for the NASCAR Nationwide Series will be using Twitter (http://twitter.com/Nationwide) and Twitpic (http://www.twitpic.com/photos/nationwide) to provide real-time, behind-the-scenes access to the NASCAR Nationwide Series Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway April 10 and 11.

They will post updates and capture photos from the pre-race press conference, at a driver Easter Egg Toss, in the garage area and pretty much anywhere else interesting stuff is taking place.

Additionally, they are taking special requests you may have for pictures from pit row, the press conference, a particular driver, etc. They may not be able to fulfill all the requests, but they will certainly try.

You can follow the Nationwide Media Team’s whereabouts on the track those two days on Twitter/Nationwide. The pictures will be posted at http://www.twitpic.com/photos/nationwide

Wait a minute, did they go too far or do we take this sport so seriously?

Magazine's Obama-NASCAR hoax creates April Fool's stir
By Larry Marshak, USA TODAY

A Car and Driver April Fool's hoax on the Web, reporting President Obama had ordered Chevrolet and Dodge out of NASCAR after the 2009 season, turned into a sizzling Internet topic Wednesday.

"Just when we thought we could take a breather from Barack Obama's wacky policies, he reached across the Atlantic today to drop another one on us," wrote Sandra Rose at Rightfielders.com. "Naturally, NASCAR fans are outraged."

Car and Driver later pulled the fake story (which estimated savings of $250 million between the manufacturers) and apologized for "going too far" while noting the magazine " has a proud tradition of irreverent editorial and we amplify that each year with our April Fool's Day joke."

The mea culpa wasn't enough for Denny Darnell, who does public relations for Dodge's motor sports program. He wrote in an e-mail that "I've been in this business more than 30 years and I
have never seen a story so irresponsible."

Lighten up Francis! This isnt irresponsible! No innocent children or kittens were harmed in this April Fool's experient! Just think how far NASCAR could have gone with this American tradition:

This just In! Joey Lagano is really 38 with an incredible baby face (how earth does he get so tall otherwhise)!

Newsflash! Michael Waltrip leaves 09 season to go on a 12 week tour performing his comedic stylings-opening for Dane Cook coming to a city near you....

Breaking News! President Obama trades France and relocates the entire sport of NASCAR to its country in exchange for a Carla Bruni Vegas style show in to begin in early '10.

Just a reminder not to get too worked up on April Fools Day...and to not get had! Its all in good fun :)

Will this be the new colors of our sport?

Fast Lap with Claire B Lang

photo courtesy of nascar.com

We are really excited to present this week's Fast Lap! Claire B. Lang is a host on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio. Wednesday through Friday 7:00 – 10:00 pm ET, Claire B. hosts the show Dialed In since 2001 and has been a fixture in the NASCAR garage every weekend, providing her listeners with up-to-the-moment news and interviews. She also teams up with Steve Post and Alex Hayden for SIRIUS NASCAR Radio’s pre- and post race shows to give NASCAR fans a comprehensive view of everything on, inside and around the track every weekend.

SIRIUS NASCAR Radio is available nationwide on SIRIUS channel 128 and on XM channel 128 with the “Best of SIRIUS” programming package.

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

Claire B: I like all kinds of music and as a former public relations manager for a concert facility I have attended tons of concerts. Having worked in terrestrial radio in the classic rock and country music arenas and covering NASCAR and the pre race show artists for SIRIUS NASCAR Radio - I've interviewed almost every artist you can imagine so my tastes are quite wide ranging. I like everything from Jerry Jeff Walker, to the Rolling Stones, to Norah Jones to The Allman Brothers to B.B. King who threw me a guitar pick once when I was with a TV crew in the media pit at a concert. My tastes match up well with where I work because on SIRIUS XM there are literally dozens and dozens of music channels to suit my varied musical flavor of the moment.
Q. What are your favorite TV shows, or something you must have in your DVR/Tivo?

Claire B: I have an assortment of moods that I watch TV for. One, I'm a news junkie so I love CNN, CSPAN, MSNBC and FOX. After a stressful day - when news is too intense - I like shows that are less mind intensive. Extreme Home Makeover always tears me up, Jon and Kate Plus 8 makes me smile. Those kids’ faces and their thought processes are enjoyable. I am a surfer, so I'm always clicking till I find something that suits my mood and then I wind up on everything from fishing shows like The Deadliest Catch (I met those guys at the track) to Project Runway. I have a tendency to watch what's real versus sitcoms or drama shows.
Q. What other sporting teams/events do you follow?

Claire B: I went to grade school and high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin so I am a huge Green Bay Packers fan. I enjoy watching college basketball and am a fan of Marquette and Davidson College. Of course I like to watch NASCAR but my NASCAR coverage and travel doesn't leave me much time to watch other sports.
Q. What is one personal item you can not live without?

Claire B: My microphone. It sounds funny but I swear if I ended up on a sinking boat I swear I'd grab my recording equipment. LOL.
Q. What is your favorite place to visit?

Claire B: Home. I'm on the road all the time and I miss home and my parents and sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews. I miss a lot of family functions being on the road and so my favorite thing to do is go back home to Minnesota or Wisconsin and hang out.
Q. What is your favorite clothing brand?

Claire B: I like Lucky Brand. I don't really have a favorite brand…I have many. I'm totally into boots and jeans and belts. I dress up good but I prefer to wear a great pair of jeans, a kick butt pair of dusty boots and a great belt. I have a jean jacket collection that is huge. It almost takes up one closet. I love jean jackets. I collect belts too...belts that look great with jeans and boots. Climbing across pit road and leaning on tires all the time I've destroyed nice slacks and put tire marks across my back leaning on tires as if I got run over. I always go back to great jeans and a jacket of some sort.
Q. What is your favorite book or publication?

Claire B: “The Power of Positive Thinking” has been a good one throughout my life. "Failing Forward," (see below) is a great book and, of course being the news junkie that I am, Newsweek, Time and other assorted news mags on an airplane are always great reading. I read biographies but very little fiction.
Q. What is your favorite cuisine and/or restaurant?

Claire B: I grew up a healthy eater. I'm into salads and there's nothing better than a hunk of fresh Italian bread, a great salad and a glass of fine merlot. I love Italian food. I eat out a lot - almost every day when I am on the road - so my favorite meal is home cooked.
Q. We have had multiple experiences with men who assume because we are women, that we don't know the difference between a tire and the lug nut. Does this happen to you and if so, how do you handle it?

Claire B: I have never had that experience in the garage, ever. The drivers and crew members have always treated me with great respect and it has meant everything to me. I was asked once by a media member on stage for example what drivers are "hot" rather than about the nuts and bolts of racing or that race weekend. I simply replied, “I'm not sure. Funny you would ask that question,” with a knowing look towards the interviewer. I usually try to handle things with a sense of humor. I have not really had much of an issue with this and my main goal is to bring the fun and good times and interesting moments in the garage to life. I'm not a mechanic - but the show is not about me - it's about the guys who use the wrenches so I am telling their story.
Q. What advice would you give other females looking to get into the sporting world (which is usually dominated by men)?

Claire B: I joke when I say "man up" on the air. A race car driver said that phrase to me once in talking about restarts and I thought it was the funniest thing so I use that expression. Just "man up." But seriously, my advice for anyone looking to make their dreams come true is to "Fail Forward." I read a NY Times bestseller once called "Failing Forward”. It maintains that while your parents teach you how to succeed they don't teach you how to fail. Succeeding is easy. Failure is hard. Busting down a door or achieving what would seem the impossible is really about learning how to fail. When you get knocked down or fall or the wind sweeps you it's about getting up, working harder, finding solutions and never giving up. That "Failing Forward" advice makes such great sense to me. Anyone who has achieved has failed more than he or she has succeeded but it never stopped them. Fail forward.
Stay tuned next week for Fast Lap with Michael Annett crew chief Bruce Cook.

Which driver makes you hot blooded?

Photo Credit Texas Motor Speedway

Foreigner Kicks Off Pre-Race Show at Texas: Legendary rock bank Foreigner, known for its chart-topping hits during the 1970s and ‘80s, will headline the Amdro FireStrike Pre-Race show Sunday, April 5 prior to the Samsung 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The group is best known for hit songs, “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “Double Vision,” “Juke Box Hero” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.” This is the band's first NASCAR event experience and will be the largest expected crowd that the group has ever performed in front of for a concert. Isnt that surprising? You think with the stadium crowds from the 80's!

Foreigner has also teamed up with Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter to donate half of the sales from their CD, “No End In Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner” that will be sold leading up to the start of the Samsung 500 on Sunday, April 5.The CD features a vast assortment of their hit songs, many you will hear at the pre race concert. SCC volunteers will be selling the CDs for $20 at Gate 4 in the grandstands prior to the race. For every CD sold, Foreigner will donate $10 to the SCC-Texas Chapter.

This Monday, Foreigner’s Mick Jones and Kelly Hansen traded in their band gear for a couple of fire suits and helmets to experience NASCAR full throttle at Texas Motor Speedway. You can read more about it here.

Like last week, the National Anthem will be delivered with no potential harm to your eardrums. 12-year-old Pianist Lewis Warren Jr. will perform the National Anthem before the Samsung 500 at Texas on Sunday. Warren Jr. was featured last year on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”.

Yet, another contest that I forgot to enter was held by Samsung and ended this past weekend will determine the grand marshall for the race. We will release the winner when we have it.

The ButtKicker and NASCAR

I can think of plenty of jokes here but I will leave them embedded in my mind and to your imagination. NASCAR and The Guitammer Company have partnered to give fans the feeling of being in the driver's seat by using the "ButtKicker".

The Butttkicker is a silent subwoofer for home theatre and gaming. It will transform any piece of furniture to become part of a 4-D theater. Guitammer has worked with the NASCAR Media Group and NASCAR broadcast partners for this patent pending television broadcast technology, ButtKicker Live!(R). This product enables fans to feel that action on the track while they watch the race at home in a natural, integrated way.

You can pretend to be in the drivers seat, while sitting at home drinking a beer.

It's available on Amazon.com or visit www.shakemycouch.com for more reseller information. You can view the press release here.

A unique place to visit while in Texas this week

With Texas on the mind, I came across something I must share. As you all know, I love NASCAR. What you may not know is that I am a HUGE fan of The Food Network, which I watch every day. One of my top 5 favorite shows is Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri.

If you watch Guy's show, you are already aware that he finds great eats in hidden places. Luck be have it, the upcoming April 6th show is featuring The Chef Point Cafe which is a 5 star gas station (?!?!!) in Fort Worth Texas. They feature culinary creations as crab cakes topped with roasted bell pepper, lobster bisque, escargot and grilled sea scallops in garlic butter. So you can get your gas, lotto tickets and gourmet food to go.

Please, for the love of god, if you are attending the race this weekend, stop by The Chef Point Cafe and let me know the details. My culinary curiosity is driving me mad. I mean, escargot at a gas station, really??

The Chef Point Cafe is located at 5901 Watauga Rd, Watauga TX.