Did you hear it last night?  You know that sound that start with a low rumbling and turns into the most beautiful sound in the world…a NASCAR engine.  To hear those most famous words in motersports, “Gentlemen state your engines”, to see those 28 cars coming out of Turn 4 racing towards the green flag and DW saying in the background, “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, let’s go racin’ boys”…I was in my own little heaven last night.

It has been a long off season for us NASCAR fans especially since there was a ban a testing.  Perhaps this is why I have been a little extra cranky since November.  No NASCAR makes Trixie a little cranky, but that’s all over folks, NASCAR season is here!  

If last night’s race is any indication of how the Daytona 500 will be next Sunday, it’s going to be awesome.  I have to say I was very excited to watch the Bud Shootout this year.  For one, this would be the first time any of us would see the #14 out on the track racing with the other boys.  It was a little strange to see “Lagano” beside the #20, but once the race got going I settled in.  Of course it didn’t take long before there was some action on the track.  The first casualties of the night…Lagano and Speed.  Strange how that works out.  All I have to say is…”Welcome to NASCAR!”

I am listening to the scanner on NASCAR.com and chatting, we I look up and see a red car leading the pack.  That’s right…#14 was leading the charge.  The #14 looked might pretty with all those other cars following in behind Tony.  I was pumped.  But as well all know this is Daytona and the lead can change in the blink of an eye.  And this was certainly the case last night.  There was definitely some three wide driving, beating and banging…my kind of NASCAR.  There were are some g

ood saves…Denny Hamlin comes to mind.  There was a loud roar last night in case you didn’t hear it…that was all those Junior fans shouting out at once when Junior took the lead, but it wasn’t meant to be.  During the second segment, Junior crashed and yes…that was me you heard cheering as he drove his mangled car to the pits.  (Note…I am one of those people who really doesn’t like Junior…liked his father, but I have never really cared for Junior..there I said it.) .  

We all know Daytona racing doesn’t get exciting until the last 10-15 laps and last night didn’t disappoint us race fans.  I think we all need to remind Jeff Gordan, you can’t go four wide into a turn at Daytona and expect to come out unscathed.   All I have to say is, too many cars, not enough real estate.  This late crash was going to set up a race to the finish.  And if just like an action pa

cked movie, there was one last twist to the story…a late crash with a few laps left put the Shootout into overtime.  That’s right…it was green white checker time baby.  At to quote, Peyton Manning from those Oreo commercials…”it was on like Donkey Kong”.

It was crazy.  I truly thought Jamie was going to hold off the pack, but in the blink of an eye, out shot Kevin Harvick.  There was also that red #14 nipping at the heels. It was everything we as race fans wanted…a FANTASTIC finish.  Congratulations to Kevin Harvick for winning the 2009 Bud Shootout! And where was that #14 when all the smoke cleared (no pun intended), that would be third!   

Here are the rest of the results from last night.

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Jamie McMurray
3. Tony Stewart
4. Jeff Gordon
5. A.J. Allmendinger
6. Kasey Kahne
7. Carl Edwards 
8. Matt Kenseth
9. Kurt Busch
10. Kyle Busch
11. Brian Vickers
12. Paul Menard
13. Denny Hamlin
14. Jimmie Johnson
15. Casey Mears
16. David Stremme
17. Greg Biffle
18. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
19. Bobby Labonte
20. David Reutiman
21. Elliott Sadler
22. Michael Waltrip
23. Reed Sorenson
24. Jeff Burton
25. Scott Speed
26. David Ragan
27. Robby Gordon
28. Joey Lagano

Last night’s race was a great start to the NASCAR season.  Today is qualifying for the Daytona 500.  I will be watching to see if that #14 will be heading towards that front row.