Dirt Track Racing

We've discovered a new favorite past time of David's - well, really and of mine too. We went to the Shelby County race track for the second time this past weekend to watch the races. The first time, we got sprayed with mud and David cried all night because it was too loud. This time we learned - we sat in the straight away and got over-the-ear earplugs for David. It worked beautifully.

The final race of the night didn't start until after midnight. Someone accidently turned off the lights and it took them about 25 minutes to come back up. I thought about leaving since it was so late, but since we were already there this late - what was another hour? The last race was a no-holds barred, crash up derby style race. They started with 20 cars, ranging from a Volkswagon Rabbit, to a Ford Thunderbird, to a mid-seventies Caddy. The winner is determined by the first one to complete 50 laps, or the last car standing. Each time a car would crash they would put out the caution flag and the tractor would go drag or push the cars off the track into the middle of the field. It looked like it was going to be a quick finish, but ended up going the entire race with 5 cars still 'running' at the end of 50 laps. We didn't even leave until 1:20 a.m. It was a super late night - but David was a trooper and stayed awake the entire night.

I had never even heard of dirt track races growing up in Florida and had never even thought about going to a race until the past month. We are thinking about going to Talladega in a few weeks. We're so rednecks now....afterall we live in Alabama, so it's okay.