I tivo’d CMT’s premiere of DALE: The Movie and I finally got to watch it this past weekend. As we all know I’m planning on spending all of next year following NASCAR around the country. Putting this project together is no easy feat and I think about it every single day. One way or another it’s going to happen, but every now and again I get discouraged.

I came away from watching DALE with this super peaceful feeling like anything was possible and that this was really going to happen for me. I felt good. Which I know isn’t the normal response you’d think you’d have after watching a documentary about the life of a NASCAR legend who died way too soon. It was truly touching and very honest. I think you get a good sense of Dale Earnhardt and the man that he was. I liked the fact that there were interviews with people from pretty much every part of his life. It was very emotional to me, and I loved how they framed the movie around his Daytona 500 win.

All in all it’s a great piece of filmmaking and I encourage anyone that hasn’t seen it yet to do so. I believe that you can take something useful away from anyone’s story. My mom always told me when I was in school to read everything even if, at first glance, it had nothing to do with me. So if I learned one thing from Dale Earnhardt’s story it was that you should never stop working towards your dreams. Never, ever stop. Sometimes it takes a lot longer to get there than you think it should but you have to keep trying.

Oh and one more thing… after seeing this documentary my mind is still boggled over why Teresa Earnhardt couldn’t give up the 8 to Dale Jr. It’s just sad and just plain wrong. Forget about the money, it should be about family and that’s why he should get to keep the number. But whatever, what’s done is done and I’ll leave it at that. I know a number isn’t everything, and that Dale Jr. has a ton of talent to take him far.

Welcome to The Fast and the Fabulous! This is a blog based on one woman's thoughts, opinions and experiences involving NASCAR and IndyCar.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my feedwith your favorite feed reader or have the latest posts sent directly to your email address.

Thanks for visiting!

I’ve never seen Dale Earnhardt Jr. like that, at least not that I can remember right now. He looked so absolutely defeated (or was that bewilderment?); it was not a pretty sight.

You could have knocked me over with a feather when Junior’s engine blew up on Saturday night. I could not believe it; I couldn’t believe it was happening again. That’s five engines now… five. How does this happen? It’s just insane. I think my exact words were “Are you f***ing kidding me?!”

Well, at least this whole “Race to the Chase” is over and we can just get on with it. All the focus can be shifted to the 12 dudes that have a real chance of winning the Championship. I’m pulling for Clint Bowyer even though has yet to win a race, but wouldn’t it be so much fun if he just came out of nowhere and blew everyone away? I would love that. It’s just boring to think it could be Jimmie Johnson again. I am kind of ok with a Jeff Gordon Championship, since it hasn’t happened for him in some time now.

Anyway…

Aside from Junior not making it into the Chase it was a pretty cool race. Johnny Sauter and rookie David Ragan both took home top-5 finishes. How cool is that? It’s huge for Sauter — I’m sure it’s a big boost to the ego for him. I love it ’cause it’s totally unexpected and it wasn’t just the usual suspects running up front.

I have to stop here for now, but tomorrow I hope to put down my thoughts on DALE: The Movie — I finally got to watch it yesterday.

Photos from the race at Richmond:

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane with his wife, Chandra, after winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2007 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Dale was right, that white car looked awesome under the lights.

Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. battle for position at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Chris Daughtry performs prior to the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo Credit: Marc Serota/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes a break following practice at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo Credit: Marc Serota/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I have some serious homework to do this weekend. I feel like I’ve been neglecting this blog when there are a lot of things that I could be talking about. So this weekend I’m going to get caught up.

That being said, I still wanted to post something before the week was over. So here are some photos that I think are cute and cool.

This kid is just adorable!

Mike Wallace and Eric McClure pose for a photo with a young fan. (Photo Credit: Richmond International Raceway)

Read more about Cortney and her quest to meet Dale Jr. It’s great that she got the opportunity.

Cortney Wickard of Mt. Holly Springs, Pa., gets to visit with her favorite driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Friday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

I don’t have much to say in regards to the race at California this past weekend. It didn’t seem to be that interesting, either that or my lack of excitement about the race could be the result of being back at work, after having 4 luxurious days off.

I have thoughts about the third episode of NASCAR in Primetime which I finally watched (thanks to Tivo) on Friday. The fan commentary that they feature on the show is just ok. It’s more relevant to me when they talk about fan things, like the camping area at Talladega. I know that I shouldn’t be, but I’m shocked that women are showing their boobs to random strangers for plastic beads. It looked like a weird mash-up of Mardi Gras and Woodstock.

Previously I wrote about California Speedway’s marketing attempts to get more butts in the seat for the race this weekend. Their party at Hollywood club Avalon did get attention, but I don’t know if it was the kind they wanted? There were a couple mentions in some celebrity gossip blogs. The mentions were about the pop/r&b singer Rihanna. You know her, or at the least her song “Shut up & Drive” that ESPN loved to play all the freaking time. Anyway, she was the only celeb of note because she was the only one that the Associated Press took the time to photograph coming down the red carpet and she was the only one that garnered these small mentions in the blogs IDon’tLikeUThatWay and PerezHilton.com.

I’ve heard that NASCAR drivers besides Jeff Gordon attended this party but I have yet to see any photographic evidence suggesting proving that to be true. Next year California Speedway should step up their celebrity quotient for the party, because from what I can see they managed only D-list celebs, if you can even call them that.

In other news…

– I know this will surprise you, but Kurt Busch, and his wife Eva, got a new dog. A black & tan Norwich terrier named Lola. The only reason I’m posting this is because the dog is adorable.

– Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives the best quotes:

What do people expect me to say when they keep asking me about the point standings? I check the standings right after each race and then I forget about it. I know we’re a long way back (from 12th-place Kevin Harvick), and even though we have a mathematical chance to get into the Chase, we’re going to worry about things within our own control.

– For all you soap opera fans get your Tivos ready — Jamie McMurray will be on an episode of “Passions” airing September 26th on NBC. Jamie filmed his scene last week in L.A.

When the lights were up and the cameras were rolling, it only took McMurray one shot to nail his lines.

We only had to take the shot one time, which is typically how they shoot those soap operas. They practice once and take once. I guess when your show is on five days a week you really have to be quick in learning the lines and making sure you don’t mess up. Overall I had a great time and really enjoyed meeting the entire cast and crew of “Passions.”

And now for photo fun time…