My ear drums are in recovery mode this rainy Sunday morning. I took a break from NASCAR and MIS last night and accepted and invite to attend the National Tractor Pulling Championship in nearby Bowling Green, Ohio. The NTA Championship is a big event around here and I had never been to one. Never, really had any interest. New things are cool though and I had been goaded into this for weeks. I had a blast.
The crowd was huge and enthusiastic - reminded me of an infield crowd at a Cup race - and the announcers were terrific. All night there were challenges to hear from the Green fans (the predominant, John Deere crowd) and calls of support to the Red Nation (Case - International, I think). It was pretty wild. Most of the fans sported clothing relating to tractor pulling and their favored brands - but many of the Red Nation wore hats with the soon to be scorned #8 of the Budweiser Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
We know for sure now, what we have expected all along. Dale Jr will not drive the #8 in 2008 for Hendrick Motorsports. The number shall remain with DEI and the evil step mom.
I don't think it matters that much. The number gets it's significance from the driver - not the other way around. Mark Martin was #6 for much longer than Junior has been the #8. Martin is the #01 now. Wasn't that hard either.
In a matter of weeks - maybe days - the most popular driver in the Nextel Cup Series (take that Jeffy) will begin to build value in a new number. It won't take long for his fans to adapt. Unless your a Red Nation tractor pull fan and the new sponsor's colors are green! Another vote for Mountain Dew.
Tractor pulls are always amazing events, much better than the monster truck events that turn into a parade of breakdowns.
But alas, you should have wondered over to Detroit and taken in the Woodward Dream Cruise.
40,000 classics, muscle cars, sports cars, etc plus a million people!
It can't be beat.
Posted by: marcm | August 19, 2007 at 08:02 PM
Yeah Marc, the dream cruise is cool. But I really had no choice this time. I enjoyed myself completely though. I live in the car business so getting out of it for a night was a good thing.
Posted by: Charlie | August 19, 2007 at 10:07 PM