It’s Saturday, and the week long barrage of productivity, leadership and personal development take a backseat to one thing… relaxation. We all need a break from reality once in a while. I am offering up a primer on one of my favorite relaxation techniques… watching NASCAR. For some of you the thought of watching a NASCAR race brings up adjunct disdain.
How can you watch a bunch of cars go around in a circle for four hours?
I used to ask the same question… until I watched a race… and then I was hooked.
Here is a challenge: If you have never watched NASCAR before do it this weekend for Fathers Day. Invite your dad over to watch it with you.
Here is a quick overview to get the maximum enjoyment from this weekend’s race.
A. Go shopping on Saturday and pick up the following items
1 package Johnsonville Brats
1 Large Onion
1 Sixpack of your favorite beer (if you don’t drink, only two cans will be necessary)
1 package large hotdog buns
1 sixpack of Coke or Pepsi
1 Large bag of M&Ms
1 package Cheerios cereal
1 Lowes or Home Depot hat
Before returning home, please note the make and model of your car or truck.
B. Sunday morning checklist
7am; Have a nourishing breakfast of Cheerios. Put on your Lowes or Home Depot hat
7:30am: Go to church early. You might want to remove hat while in church
9am: Get a large bowl and pour in two cans of beer. Chop up the onion into small pieces and add to beer. Add Johnsonville brats to the mixture and let soak for 1 hour.
10:20am: Fire up the BBQ and set the flame to low. Put the Johnsonville brats on the grill
10:30am: Tune into FOX TV coverage of the Nextel Cup
10:30-11:00: Enjoy the NASCAR pre-race show. Familiarize yourself with the announcers. Take note of Darrell Waltrip.
11:20: Remove home improvement hat and participate in the singing of the National Anthem. Sing Loud! Cheer as the words “Gentlemen, start your engines” are announced. Put hat back on.
11:25: Grab a hot delicious Johnsonville Brat off of the grill, put it in a large oversized bun and add your favorite condiments. Put it on a plate but do not partake yet.
11:30: As the cars come around on the final pace lap, grab the delicious brat and take your first bite as the cars cross the starting line. Listen as Darrell Waltrip yells Boggity, Boogity, Boogity! Shake your fist in the air and jump up and down. Yell wildly.
11:35: Wash your brat down with your favorite beverage.
11:40-End of the race; Cheer for your favorite driver depending on the following criteria.
If you are wearing a Home depot hat, Cheer for Tony Stewart
If you are wearing a Lowes hat, Cheer for Jimmy Johnson
If you are enjoying M&Ms, cheer for Elliott Sadler
If you are drinking Pepsi, cheer for Jeff Gordon
If you are drinking Coke, cheer for Jeff Burton
If you are drinking a Miller Lite, cheer for Rusty Wallace
If you are drinking Budweiser, cheer for Dale Earnhart Junior
If you are drinking a Coors Lite, cheer for Sterling Marlin
If you drive a Dodge or Chrysler product, cheer for Kasey Khane
If you find yourself washing dishes using Rubbermaid products, cheer for Kurt Busch
If you take Viagra, cheer for Mark Martin
End of the race: Yell wildly if your driver wins, otherwise shake fist.
Post Race: Watch driver get out of car and celebrate. Watch for interviews of your driver
Post Post Race: Wish your dad a happy fathers day!
The following are some tips to help you participate in the fastest growing sporting event in the US second only to football in popularity.
Statistics: NASCAR is America’s fastest growing spectator sport, with annual revenues now estimated at more than $2 billion. More than 6 million fans attended Winston Cup races in 1997, and an additional 123 million watched on TV.
Websites: Nascar.com; ESPN; Fox
TV Coverage: Currently FOX and FX
Racing Series: Craftsman Truck, Busch, Nextel Cup with Nextel Cup being the premiere series
Enjoy your weekend!
