Welcome, gay NASCAR fans! If you've checked the site these last two weeks, it's pretty obvious I've been slacking off. But wait! I have a great excuse! I've been on vacation at my beautiful Daytona Beach estate, Monkey Island! Yes, after years of hoping and months of actual planning, Dixie and I have finally gotten to enjoy our new place here. Honey, let me tell you, Daytona Beach RULES!
This week, we watched the race from one of the best places imaginable: the delightful bar and restaurant Racing's North Turn, located on the oceanfront in Wilbur by the Sea. This joint is built on the very spot where, back in the day of beach racing, the race cars made the transition from the beach side of the racetrack to the road side of the racetrack. The place is loaded with autographed photos and all kinds of cool memorabilia. There's nothing like watching the race with a barfull of NASCAR fanatics on a fabuous deck overlooking the azure Atlantic! Thanks to the nice staff there for a delicious lunch (try those steamed clams) and refreshing cocktails.
Things initially looked great for our team, as we had Brian Vickers on the pole, Kasey Khane on the outside, and Elliott Sadler and Ryan Newman on the second row. As there had been some rain, the race started late under yellow and green. The first caution came when Jeff Green spun by himself. The next caution really, really hacked me off: Matt Kenseth got into Jamie and spun him -- Jamie wrecked and had a fire under the car! Jamie suspected he got wrecked out on purpose, and, shockingly, Matt admitted he had been mad at Jamie. Trash!
Next, there was a caution for a spin by defending Cup champ Kurt Busch, followed by a caution for some rain. When green flag racing resumed, Tony Stewart zipped from 4th to 1st in one lap. Around lap 100, Jamie was back out, many laps down. Long about this part, I missed some things, as we were driving out to Racing's North Turn.
There were some cautions debris. After a restart at lap 221, the #9 was running 8th, and the #8 was running 9th. At lap 225, Kyle Busch got a good run on Tony but couldn't make it stick. After a while, we had an unfortunate tangle as Mark Martin got into Elliott and sent him spinning, ass-first, hard into the wall. Later, Mark was very contrite. Mark Martin = class act.
With 11 to go, Jeff Gordon was off the pace but did not come in. After Tony won, he again hauled his chunky self up the fence. But, as numerous fans at the bar pointed out, he obviously remembered his near-fall off the fence at Daytona on July 2nd and came down, much more carefully, on the stairway on the inside. Tony's win generated no detectable joy at the bar; a waiter was overheard declaring the #20 driver "arrogant."
FABULOUS DAYTONA BEACH!
Friends, I can't write much more this week because of all the fun that beckons me here in Daytona Beach! Thanks to everyone here for all their hospitality. We've visited all three gay bars: Rumors, with its wacky drag show; Groove Lounge, where the handsome and hilarious bartender (we only caught his nickname, Papi) kept us laughing and got us way tipsy; and the Streamline, the famous beachside landmark in whose penthouse Big Bill France and associates developed the scoring system that's still the basis for Cup racing to this very day. The Streaming has low, low rates on rooms, and the guy at the desk looked like the love child of Iggy Pop and Oscar Wilde. Fun!
Really, y'all, if you're looking for a home in Florida, check out Daytona Beach. There are still some bargains to be had here, but don't delay! Though home prices are soaring, but we got a good deal on our place, which is just about two miles from the Atlantic and two miles from the speedway! We can hear the racecars in our backyard! Baby, that's living!
That's all for this week, friends. We'll see you Sunday for the race at Pocono! Let's' all meet up down at the Track Bar!
Love,
Betty Jack DeVine
E ME at Bettyjack@gaytona.com
