The day is January 7, 2012, the first Saturday of the new year where most of the East Coast feels more like early spring more than a mid winter afternoon.
Snow's melting on the ground which can only give racing fans optimism that the NASCAR season is almost here. In less than a week, the Sprint Cup series will hit up the 31 degree-banked Daytona International Speedway for preseason testing, a prelude to the grand overture that is called Speedweeks in February.
All of this plus the silly season shuffling has made me find that desire to write articles once more. Real life can get in the way with things here and there, which is why you haven't seen much updates on The Podium Finish in a month. That's not to say we forgot about you, the racing fans.
A lot of time is given to "The World's Fastest Blog" along with its sister podcast series, which goes by the nickname of "The World's Fastest Half Hour Racing Show." What started as a dream and an offer by Michael Hirschbein and my friend Samantha Bunten back in the summer of 2010 has become a huge success in my eyes.
We may not be the big time website that has exclusive news all the time nor the trophy girls or bells and whistles that some major independent sources tout on a consistent basis. Instead, it's a place where a racing fan and journalist gets to share his thoughts and perspectives alongside two motorsports friends who know a thing or two about wheeling cars at over 160 mph.
It's also a getaway from real life when work and worries can consume us during the daily rat race. I'm not just talking about us, but you, the fans, who probably read our works from all the social media promotions posted by us. Perhaps you even grab a sip of your favorite cup of tea or coffee, or in some cases, a Crunchie, to make the most of your day.
Wherever you are and whoever you may be, I know that we have a lot to be thankful for with the past year and for what's in store in 2012.
Personally, I'd like to thank my family which includes my parents in Virgil and Beth, who've given everything they've had growing up and constantly remind me to pursue my dreams as a writer. Without their love and support, the core, the nucleus to who I am would be bare and empty. They'd do anything for me to be happy and in return, though not completely a payback to them, these articles are my way of conversing with them even if they're half a world away.
Of course, I have two amazing older sisters in Cristina and Tess, who keep me grounded, focused, and most of all, determined with all that I do. Both of them helped me find my passion in writing, which has thus been retooled and rebranded into sportswriting. Funny how growing up, I absolutely despised writing an essay, poem, much less, an article in high school. Now I find it to be as wonderful as playing music, and it's thanks to the world's best sisters any man could have!
I also wanted to say thanks to friends like Kerstin, Tiff, Cortney, Kaitlyn, Andy, Sal, Garrett Beisheim and Garrett Marchant, Lindsey, Corey, Vicki, Marcy, Larry as well as the whole racing community who've been awesome to me since joining the social media ranks back in late 2008. Who'd knew that just visiting Bleacher Report back on a lonely school day would have me surrounded by such awesome company along with so much avenues to talk racing with the best audience ever?
Behind every great man are great parents, friends, and of course, a wonderful better half. Whether it's a best friend, a familial figure, or a special someone, they're that individual who sees things about you that even you couldn't recognize in yourself. In my case, she's been that reminder of why I see the world as it is, which is a place that's beautiful, even if it's a little darker some days.
I'm a very lucky man in that I've got a wonderful girlfriend in Jen, who takes me as I am and with everything I do, along with the people I've loved all my life, she's right there too, on my mind and in my heart constantly looking for the edge to be a better man and writer. She legit makes me smile and laugh and all I know is I look forward to the ride we have to grow and support each other as one. I love you and all the wonderful people who mean so much to me!
There's so much to be optimistic and positive moving forward with this year. It's day seven of 2012, and much like the long 36 race season for the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams, take it one at a time, see it for what it's worth, and cherish the people who make the race of life truly amazing!
Till' next time, look for new articles to appear on a regular basis starting this coming week!
Written by:
