February 5, 2003

The owner of Texas Motor Speedway, Bruton Smith, has decided he wasn't going to purchase another track date for the Texas Motor Speedway. Mr. Smith has stated that if he is going to purchase another date for a race it would be for the one in Las Vegas.

Mr. Smith has stated he is in a "buying mood". For those of you that live in the northwestern states, you may just get that chance to see a race that will fit into your schedule. That would be very cool I think, but that is just my opinion.

As I was thinking about Mr. Smith and the Texas Motor Speedway, my thoughts turned to what is happening in that area of the country at the time.

As the residence of Texas and Louisianna are helping NASA collect debris by making phone calls to their police department, from the Columbia tragedy, NASCAR is going on, and it must go on.

Many NASCAR fans related this tragedy to the loss of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and many the other NASCAR drivers that have lost their lives doing what they love.

The flowers and a make shift memorial site for those to say a prayer, a place to cry with somebody else that felt the pain to a great loss, a place to say goodbye.

As NASCAR and the drivers begin this week preparing for the Bud Shootout, NASA will be collecting the debris from the Columbia tragedy.

I have heard NASCAR fans wondering what if there is anything NASCAR and the drivers will be doing as a special in remembrance for the crew of the Columbia shuttle. We know if NASCAR, owners of the cars, and the drivers do something in remembrance, it will be something the fans of NASCAR will not want to miss. Just as they did for the tragedy of 9-11.

I too am hoping they will. Like those NASCAR drivers that died doing what they enjoy, they did bring the fans of NASCAR many great races and gave us a sport in which we have come to love. The crew on the Columbia Shuttle had men and women that were fighting for us in the U.S.A., to have the freedoms that we have, so we Americans can have the luxury of having hobbies such as NASCAR.

We Americans are very lucky to have a freedom that we have. And we have this because of the men and women like those on the Columbia Shuttle.

So as the wind blows in Texas and Louisianna and as NASA is searching and collecting the debris, lets keep the families of the crew in our prayers. As well as all the NASCAR drivers that they have a safe but an exciting season.

Until Next time... God Bless Everyone

You can contact Denise at: Insider Racing News