New race day tradition!

Happy Race Day!

I think I'm going to start a new tradition. Every race day, I am going to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCND2MM6DWw&NR=1 to serve as inspiration for every upcoming race.

The video is my favorite NASCAR moment -- the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008. Even for those who are not Ryan Newman fans, though I can barely believe anyone would fall into that category, this win was special on so many levels. It is my answer to why I am a NASCAR fan.

It was the first Daytona win for the Captain, Roger Penske, after so many victories seemed to elude him. There was a built in bias favoring whoever won this race because it was the 50th running on the historic racetrack, filled with pomp and ceremony for the entire week preceding it. Has there ever been a better feel-good moment as when Greg Newman, Ryan's father who also serves as his spotter, knew his son was going to win?

As a Ryan Newman fan, I recorded the moment on our Dish Network DVR. All of the interviews were there. I recorded the final laps. I watched often, just to relive that heart-stopping moment when I saw the #12 which I had coveted for several years, cross the finish line in the biggest race of the year. But, our DVR bit the dust. It was all lost. It had been a while since I was able to watch again, until this morning. I just happened to see it, even though I wasn't looking for it. That is when I decided -- for me, a tradition is born.

Good luck today on the road course, Ryan. May you have many more of these moments.