My Bucket List Gets A Big Checkmark This Weekend!

I couldn't leave the house without going over what I'd like to accomplish the next couple of days...

1. I'm going to attend the greatest race in NASCAR (and quite possibly in the world)!

2. Knowing all the people who will be there, I'm going to push the envelope and try to get a few autographs between races. Here's what I'm after:
a. Kyle Busch (just for me)...

b. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (for my good friend James and his wife Samantha)...

c. Darrell Waltrip (for our beloved Gene Haddock)...

If I can accomplish any of those three things I'll consider it an even greater event!

(To be straight up honest, if I can just get close enough to scrutinize these people, and I think I will, I'll be happy!)

3. Hope that everyone, and I mean everyone, makes it through the weekend without mishap.

4. Get some free psychological help from Kristen! Like why I'm a Kyle Busch fan and yet I'm picking his older brother in the Trifecta...

Finally (I gotta go), here's a list of who Gene's favorite NASCAR color commentator, Darrell Waltrip, thinks will challenge for the Daytona 500 championship on Sunday courtesy of an interview with the Nashville Tennessean's Mike Organ (I could say something about that guy's name... But I won't!)...

The first number after each name is where the driver finished last year's 500...

Jamie McMurray, 1 — No. 1, Chevrolet, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing: "Last year, just out of nowhere, McMurray pops up there and wins the race. You have to keep on eye on him. He and Juan Montoya have the same engine package (with team owner Chip Ganassi), and that's a big deal at Daytona and at Talladega, to have a little extra horsepower. And they've also had a pretty good go of it on the restrictor plate tracks."

Kevin Harvick, 7 — No. 29, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing: "He always runs good at Daytona. He's won two Bud Shootouts in a row, and he had the car to beat in the Daytona 500 last year. Circumstances just kind of kept him from winning. A Richard Childress-owned car is going to be in the mix."

Jeff Gordon, 26 — No. 24, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports: "The crew chief change (Alan Gustafson replacing Steve Letarte) will be a good thing for Gordon. Gustafson was Mark Martin's crew chief the past couple of years, and that's going to make for a good combination. A Hendrick (owned) car has to be considered — Gordon or (Dale Earnhardt Jr.). Those cars also seem to have a little of an advantage when it comes to the restrictor plates."

Kyle Busch, 14 — No. 18, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing: "Kyle runs really good at Daytona. Or pick any one of the Toyotas of (Joe) Gibbs (Racing) — Kyle, Denny Hamlin or Kurt Busch."

Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2 — No. 88, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports: "It's hard to say about Junior. He runs good at Daytona, and if they can give him a car that's anywhere near like it needs to be, if the thing will handle like it's supposed to for
him, Junior's always a threat there and at Talladega. He likes those two tracks."

Well, I'm off! Type with y'all later!