But seriously, super huge congratulations to Jamie McMurray for winning the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday. Kudos to him and his team for winning a race that further cements a place for him in NASCARs history.

Now, can I talk about Victory Lane or Winner’s Circle at Indy? It’s really lame. It seems like a complete afterthought, like they finished making the hugh jass pagoda and then were all, “Ohh, where are we gonna do Victory Lane? Let’s wedge it over there since we made the stage for the anthem and the command to start engines needlessly large and round.”

It makes me feel squished and I’m not even there. It’s so awkward, why not just do everything on the track? Ok, just had to get that off of my chest it makes me mental every year for the Indy 500 and the Brickyard.

And speaking of Victory Lane how cute was Jamie when he kissed his wife’s stomach? Christy McMurray is pregnant with their first child who is due to arrive in December. So adorable. I’m going out on a limb and calling a set of twins for them. I have no proof, obviously, other than I think someone should have twins.

Jamie McMurray, winner of the Brickyard 400 kisses his wife Christy after kissing the bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, on July 25, 2010. (UPI /Edwin Joseph Locke Photo via Newscom)

The pit crew for Jamie McMurray’s No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet runs down pit road to celebrate their win at the Brickyard 400 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN.

Jamie McMurray, driver of the Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, and his team kiss the bricks after McMurray won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The beard is back and he brought along a friend this time. I dunno if I like this trend.

Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the Amp Energy Chevrolet with team owner Rick Hendrick before the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, on July 25, 2010, in Indianapolis on July 25, 2010. (UPI/Thomas E. Hayden Photo via Newscom)

(R-L) Dallas Clark of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts poses with brother Dan Clark in the flag stand before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Cuute!

Travis Kvapil, driver of the Long John Silver’s Ford, stands by his car during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Ryan Newman, driver of the Haas Automation Chevrolet, stands with his wife Krissie Newman on the grid before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

So, if ESPN has Carl joining them after every race in the studio, do they really need Rusty to stick around?

Carl Edwards, driver of the Aflac Ford, reaches in his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)

(R) David Stremme, driver of the Air Guard/gtwgps.com Chevrolet, looks on from pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)

Fans hold up signs outside the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

County music star Luke Bryan walks around in the garage area during the final practice session for the Brickyard 400 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN.

(L-R) Jimmie Johnson, driver of the Lowe’s Chevrolet, poses with singer Jack Johnson in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 23, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)

Anyway, I thought it’d be fun to brainstorm some other activities you could partake in in the regular, non-racing world while you wait for Sprint Cup Series action to return:

1.) Write a screenplay for a NASCAR drama starring your favorite actors and actresses. I started thinking about a film with Ben Affleck as the super hot and cocky veteran driver on a losing streak and Robert Pattinson as the super hot and young rookie who’s made the jump from Formula 1 to NASCAR and is on a hot winning streak. There would of course be their love interests, Ben’s wife played by me Angelina Jolie, is super supportive but has grown tired of his ego and is on a mission to show him what it means to be a winner on and off the track. Robert’s character will be single (of course!) but will nurse a crush on the hottest female driver in NASCAR, whose already won one Nationwide Series title and is looking to score big in the Cup series, played by Blake Lively.

Clearly I’ve got the synopsis ready all someone needs to do is pay to me to finish it and we can start filming! Yee!! Actually, now that I just wrote that out I really want to see this film happen. I’d be particularly interested in the casting process. Maybe we could get George Clooney to play a team owner?? Hmm.

2.) Read a book. I’ve been reading “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. I’m trying to get it done before the movie comes out and I’ve been dodging all those commercials showing the trailer. I love Julia Roberts, but she needs to go away until I finish the book. I’m loving it so far. I honestly believe that books come in to your life when you need them to and I couldn’t be more ready to take this book in, it’s crazy how many parallels I can draw to my own life. No, I didn’t get a messy divorce or have the money to travel to Italy, India and Indonesia but the core is there for sure.

3.) Become a paparazzo. So, Andrew Giangola, the author of the book “The Weekend Starts on Wednesday,” works for NASCAR in their New York offices. Today he happened to see Lady GaGa on the street and took photos of her in a classic Lady GaGa outfit.

(All Lady GaGa photos courtesy of Andrew Giangola)

The details straight from Andrew:

The NASCAR NY office is on Park and 55th. A few blocks north on Park, I’m running an errand and next to me materializes Lady G. It was her people and me, snapping shots, then within a minute, swarms of NYers swooped in with their camera phones.

I was able to snap these off before she was whisked away…and before I was able to ask the Lady if she’s ga ga for NASCAR and would like to be featured on THE WEEKEND STARTS ON WEDNESDAY facebook page.

I’m sure Lady GaGa is a NASCAR fan ‘cause she’s so accepting of, like, everything! Can you imagine what she would wear if she was a Grand Marshal at a race?? Holy crapy that’d be awesome. See you could spend the entire weekend just dreaming up crazy racing-themed outfits for her to wear. And since those are Diet Coke cans in her hair maybe it should be the Diet Coke 500?

Come to NASCAR GaGa!!

Can we get Kevin James out to every race to do that little dance? Freaking hilarious. If you missed it, video of Sandler and James giving the command is below. They’re promoting their new movie “Grown Ups” which, of course, looks very funny.

My only question about this race is why didn’t Denny Hamlin pick up the giant fake tub of Heluva Good! Sour Cream dip that was sitting on top of his car in Victory Lane? That would of been great, especially if they’d had a giant bag of chips to go with it.

And now this is the point in the year where I talk about how much I love the racing commentary we get from Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach on TNT. I seriously love those guys. They’re always my favorite. It just feels like you’re not getting schtick from them, you’re getting their real opinions and reactions.

Can’t wait to see them in action at Infineon this week! Yay!

Jack Hanna of the Columbus Zoo and Justin “lil gator” Allgaier, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge, holds an alligator in the Nationwide fan area. (Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

After the rain stopped on Friday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., 23 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers — including Austin Dillon (foreground) — signed autographs for 400 fans in the Truck garage. (Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Drivers Justin Allgaier, Jason Leffler, Steve Wallace and Brian Scott answer questions in the media center on Friday at Kentucky Speedway. (Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

(Left to right) Jamie McMurray and his NASCAR Nationwide Series owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. talk during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer signs autographs for fans on the way to his car during practice Friday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. (Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Left to right) Kevin James and Adam Sandler, stars of the upcoming movie “Grown Ups,” give the command to start engines for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Sunday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. (Credit: Kevin Wakefield/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Left to right) Crew chief Mike Ford sprays his driver Denny Hamlin in Michigan International Speedway’s Victory Lane after winning the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Sunday in Brooklyn, Mich. (Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Sunday was of course the Coca-Cola 600 and on my drive in to the track I couldn’t get over the amount of tailgating that was going on seemingly EVERYWHERE. Every blade of grass surrounding the track was filled with trucks, tents and people with barbecues. Even the parking lots of commercial office buildings had groups of people crowded together. It was so neat to see. There’s tailgating at the California races but nothing to the degree of what I saw outside of Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s something that you have to witness for yourself.

I got to the track in time to attend a tweetup organized by SBNation’s Jeff Gluck. I went to meet up with ‘Fabulous’ readers Tara S. and Penni. It was really cool finally getting to meet them in person. I seriously adore the women that read my blog, you guys are the bestest! This is the perfect time to thank you all for the sweet comments about my interview with Tony Stewart. I really appreciate the encouragement.

As I alluded to in the title of this post, the Coca-Cola 600 was really all about Bradley Cooper and his hotness visiting a NASCAR race for the first time. He was there with three of his other cast-mates to promote their new movie “The A-Team.” I thought Brendan Fraser’s presence at Chicagoland a couple of years ago was a big deal but Bradley really brought out the ladies. Media and PR people alike make it a point to be in the media center for the cast’s press conference. As soon as Bradley walked into the media center people were requesting to have their photo taken with him (as you can see at right, that’s not me, unfortunately), which he happily obliged.

That guy is JUST as hot in person as he is on TV. I can’t say any of those usual oh he’s not as this or that in person. He’s exactly the same, everything you’d want him to be. Gah, I should really stop because you don’t want me to start going on and on about his eyes. OK, OK, his eyes are super freaking dreamy. There was even this one guy who just said, to no one in particular, “Okay, he IS really good looking!”

I tried to take photos but they didn’t come out that great. Once the race started I went down to Ryan Newman’s pit box where “The A-Team” was going to watch the festivities. I watched them as they watched the Sprint Cup drivers take the green flag and noticed Bradley mouth the words “This is awesome!” Which, as far as I’m concerned, means that Auto Club Speedway should invite Bradley out for their next race ‘cause I’ll be at that race and it seemed like he was having a good enough time that he might be willing to come out to another one. hehehe.

Okay, so let’s talk about driver introductions and how much I adore my hard card. I love, love, love my hard card. I was able to stand behind the stage in the same area that the drivers and their “people” stand before they’re called on stage. It was extra helpful because it was hot and the sun was beating down on everyone, there was an area behind the stage that was totally shaded and I made that my spot. While I was standing there Michael Waltrip arrived and I just stood there like a stooge and said nothing. Then to my astonishment Ingrid Vandebosch appeared with another woman who I’m assuming was a nanny, but I could be totally wrong and if I am I apologize. She was standing literally, like, right NEXT to me and I said NOTHING. I was thinking of a ton of stuff to ask her like “Hi, have you picked a name yet?” “When are you due?” Not like I don’t already know when she’s due, but ya know just something about her pregnancy and whatever. But no, I totally chickened out because I’m just like that. Had she stuck around long enough I probably would have said something, it takes me too much time to work up the nerve, but she left as soon as Jeff Gordon was announced.

Even still I was so grateful to have the opportunity to clam up like that.

After the driver intros I hung out with the Office Depot PR people at the No. 14 Office Depot Chevy’s spot on pit road. I inadvertently met Tony Stewart’s girlfriend, but it wasn’t an official introduction it was more of one of those “oh my gosh it’s so hot” mutual agreement type things. Anyway, she seems nice enough. I don’t know anything else, but she’s got a hard card so it must be serious. Whatever gets us to ‘lil smokies running around, all the better right?

So pit road was insanely crowded which made me excited for Infineon in a couple weeks because I know there won’t be as many people around for it. Not that I don’t want people to attend, of course I do, but ya know Charlotte races just bring out a buttload of people because it’s equivalent to a “home game” for NASCAR folks.

During the race when the incident happened with Jimmie Johnson and he had to go to the garage I went out there too. It was amazing to watch the Lowe’s crew go to work on that car. They’re so fast and efficient. It’s very cool and it’s fun to witness Chad Knaus cool as a cucumber through it all. It also reminded me that I hadn’t taken my Obligatory Ron Malec photo, but I couldn’t ‘cause my battery died.

So the race was the race, Kurt Busch won. Nothing that remarkable happened post-race. The next day I went home to the Bay Area and proceeded to have dinner at 3pm in the afternoon and then went straight to bed. I didn’t wake up until the next day.

An up-close look at the one trophy I’d actually want in my home. It was pretty cool.

The Coca-Cola Family Drivers had to wait on the side of the stage until after driver intros to take a group photo. (left to right) Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte (back to the camera), Michael Waltrip, and David Ragan.

Marcos Ambrose was sorting out who was going to take his two daughters once they exited the stage and he took his parade lap.

Jimmie Johnson

David Reutimann

Darian Grubb, crew chief for the No. 14 Office Depot Chevy, holding his son Gavin who happens to be ADORE-UH-BUL!

Tony Stewart gets ready for the Coca-Cola 600

This was my view of the track from the top of the steps inside Victory Lane towards the end of the race. Good view.

– Carl Edwards will make his 200th Cup start with Roush Fenway Racing this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. He’s just the fifth driver in the 23-year history of Roush Fenway to do so.

– Did you know that Dale Earnhardt Jr. opened another Whisky River location? Well he did and it’s in Jacksonville, Florida. Kelly Bires will be driving a special Whisky River Jacksonville paint scheme on the No. 88 for the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at PIR this weekend.

– And since I’m already talking about JR Motorsports, you should know that Landon Cassill will be taking over the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series for four races starting with Phoenix. It’s a good thing PIR is one of Landon’s favorite tracks:

“I have family out in Phoenix, so I enjoy going there. It’s also the home to Go Daddy, and it seems teams always do well in their sponsor’s hometowns. It’s a good track for me. I finished sixth last time I raced there. It’s a tricky track. It’s technical, slick and doesn’t offer a lot of grip. It will be a tough race, but overall, Phoenix is one of my top-five favorite places to go in the Nationwide Series schedule.”

– Ya know, it’s really easy to be green. I don’t know what Kermit The Frog was yelping about. J/K, I know what he meant, he obviously wasn’t talking about helping reduce waste and save the planet, I think he was referencing personal issues. Anyway, enough about Kermie, and more about Tony Stewart and his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy and it’s new paint scheme for this weekend’s Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway.

(credit: Action Sports Photography)

Office Depot® has teamed up with EarthEra®, a program created by NextEra™ Energy Resources, North America’s largest producer of wind and solar power, to launch a new Office Depot Greener Shipping Program that we can all benefit from.

The deets!:

The new Office Depot Greener Shipping Program encourages eligible Office Depot customers to “grow greener” by changing how they buy office supplies. When eligible customers eliminate small orders, increase average order size and help reduce delivery frequency, Office Depot will provide rebates on certain green products and purchase EarthEra products on the customer’s behalf.

“I love spending time outdoors, especially when I’m at home, and taking care of the environment is important to me,” said Stewart, who lives near his hometown of Columbus, Indiana, and functions in the dual role of driver and team owner at Stewart-Haas Racing. “As a business owner myself, I am always trying to find better and more efficient ways of doing things to cut down on waste, and I’m proud to help get the word out about the partnership between Office Depot and EarthEra.”

Check out the greener office products Office Depot has to offer and learn more about Office Depot’s Earth Day Grow Greener campaign.

It all begins at 9am and is completely free to the public. So if your schedule is open that day you should come out to Sonoma and check it out. There will also be riders from Supermoto USA and TTXGP electric motorcycle demonstrations.

This is all in advance of the West Coast Moto Jam taking place at Infineon on May 14-16. If you purchase a ticket for the West Coast Moto Jam during Two-Wheel Thunder you’ll get to take a lap around the the raceway’s road course on your motorcycle. For more info go to infineonraceway.com

In other news…

– ESPN’s Jamie Little became engaged to Cody Selman, Kyle Busch’s former go-to guy. Congrats to Jamie & Cody! Check out her ring, it’s spectacular! I saw her interviewing Danica Patrick with it on over the weekend and I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Good job, Cody!

– Brian Vickers participated in a special NASCAR Tweetup at Martinsville where he competed against fans in an simulated racing challenge at the Sprint Experience.

Brian Vickers races Miss Sprint Cup and six fans from Twitter during a pre-race tweet-up at the Sprint Experience. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Brian Vickers congratulates Matt Dettelbach (@mdbach on Twitter) for beating him in the simulator race at the Sprint Experience. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

– JR Motorsports has joined forces with Lifetime Television for this weekend’s Nationwide Series race at Nashville. Be on the lookout for Scott Wimmer in the No. 7 car wrapped in a special Army Wives paint scheme.

I have to applaud this effort by Lifetime to recognize NASCAR’s huge female audience and the benefit of sponsorship. I WISH more brands and companies would realize the untapped power of female racing fans. Just email NASCAR, they’ve got all the stats (or ask for a ‘Fabulous’ media kit).

Oh and one request I have for Lifetime… Why not a Project Runway car? OMG! I would LOVE that… I would buy every piece of merchandise that existed, and Michael Kors could design the car and the firesuit! Heidi Klum could be the Grand Marshal for the race. Dude, it’d be so amazingly awesome on about a million different levels. Seriously, think about it.

More details, including info on a special sweepstakes where you can win an all-expenses paid trip for four people to a NASCAR race, from the press release:

Lifetime Television, NASCAR and JR Motorsports have entered into a multi-faceted partnership involving on-car branding and talent appearances during the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Nashville 300 on April 3, 2010, airing at 3:30pm (ET) on ESPN, as well as a major online sweepstakes to promote the season four premiere of the hit drama Army Wives. Cable’s highest-rated original drama series among Women 18-49, Army Wives will return for its fourth season with 18 all-new episodes at 10:00pm (ET/PT) on Sunday, April 11, 2010, on Lifetime, television’s number one women’s network.

Under terms of the partnership, Army Wives will serve as the official sponsor of JR Motorsports’ No. 7 car, driven by Scott Wimmer, which will be completely wrapped with Army Wives branding during the race in Nashville. Additionally, Lifetime will bring the Army Wives Experience to NASCAR’s Fan Zone at the Nashville Superspeedway, where the program’s stars Brigid Brannagh and Wendy Davis will join Wimmer and fellow JR Motorsports driver Kelly Bires for an autograph session with attendees.

“This promotion uniquely ties Lifetime in with NASCAR and JR Motorsports, reflects auto racing’s long-time support of the armed forces and strategically reaches the Army Wives audience,” said Alex Ignon, Vice President of Media and Consumer Promotions for Lifetime Networks. “Through the NASCAR and JR Motorsports sponsorship, we will be able to capitalize on one of America’s most popular sports to effectively market Army Wives and inform its fans about the new season in an immersive, exciting and targeted way.”

Moreover, Lifetime will launch the Army Wives Race of a Lifetime Sweepstakes on myLifetime.com, where visitors can enter to win an all-expenses paid trip for four people to a future NASCAR event this summer. Winners will meet-and-greet with a JR Motorsports driver or executive and be given a ride in the race’s official pace car, an exclusive tour of the speedway’s pit, garage and hauler areas, and complementary tickets for the entire weekend.

The eyes, the lips, the general skin tone and coloring are all very similar. See for yourself.

Dale Earnhardt Jr (left) and Colin Firth (right)

And then when I was watching the Oscars on Sunday night I thought that Jake Gyllenhaal, who is starring in the upcoming Prince of Persia film and whom I really, really hope will be at a race that I am at sometime this year, looks kinda similar to Red Bull Racing driver Brian Vickers.

Maybe it’s the beard and the eyebrows?

Brian Vickers (left) and Jake Gyllenhaal (right)

Oh! I would like to take this moment to say that I am loving Clint Bowyer’s hair these days. It seems, to me at least, to be reminiscent of Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s look circa 1991 on the TV show Saved by the Bell. Clint, please don’t cut your hair.

I’m not joking, I really like it.

(Left to right) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Clint Bowyer and Marcos Ambrose answer questions in the James H. Hunter Media Center Tuesday during a Goodyear Tire test at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. (Credit: MotorRacingNetwork.com)

Here’s my comparison of Kasey Kahne to Twilight hottie Robert Pattinson, again, because who wouldn’t want to look at these two guys?

Kasey Kahne (left) and Robert Pattinson (right)

How is this possible? What are the 42 other drivers, and their teams, doing?? I mean, really? This cannot keep happening. It’s not like it’s 5 dudes out there running around. There are FORTY-THREE cars!! Nobody should be winning anything in a row!

Grrr… Step it up please! Frankly, I was very sad that Jeff Gordon couldn’t get the win over Jimmie Johnson. Not because I wanted Jimmie to lose, so much as I just wanted Jeff to win.

Anyway, I have to talk about Amy of Amy’s Bad Groove. She got the chance to interview Tony Stewart, her favorite driver, in person over the Las Vegas race weekend. I am sooooo excited that she got the opportunity, and I cannot WAIT to read her interview with Tony. I have to put you guys on notice that she’s working on it so you should subscribe to her RSS feed so you can get it as soon as she posts it. I’m sure it’ll be awesome. This would be equivalent to me getting the chance to interview Dale Earnhardt Jr. one-on-one, so the fact that she didn’t pass out or forget all of her questions (which could totally happen if I was confronted with Dale Jr.) is awesome. Congrats Amy!

Fans watch Friday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series practice action from above in Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Neon Garage. (Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, started eighth and finished fourth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Feb. 28. (Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports)

Television personality Kim Kardashian (R) greets Jimmie Johnson (L), driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet on stage prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on February 28, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson signs autographs for fans during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images)

Jeff and Mark Martin should grow beards too, it’ll even everything out.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson talk during driver introductions on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Brian Vickers prepares to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday.(Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

And really, not that much happened in the race, I mean, aside from Carl Edwards still calling his soon to be born baby daughter “it” (which I’m sure is just a symptom of being a first time parent and the reality hasn’t set in yet), Ella Gordon continuing to be one of the most adorable kids on the planet, and Kevin Harvick giving the greatest post-race quote in NASCAR history — everything else was just “eh.”

I won’t be at Las Vegas this weekend, which sucks, but I know there’ll be more races in my future. More to come about that later.

So without further adieu I give you photo fun time from Auto Club Speedway:

During Friday’s qualifying Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Ford, listens to crew chief Kenny Francis at Auto Club Speedway. Kahne will start Sunday’s Auto Club 500 in fourth position. (Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after getting his first win of the season at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Stater Bros. 300 on Saturday in Fontana, Calif. (Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images for NASCAR)

FYI, I really love Katharine’s new CD “Unbroken.” It’s good stuff, I recommend it!

Former “American Idol” runner-up and actress Katharine McPhee sings the national anthem Sunday before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. (Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Actor and race Grand Marshall Andy Garcia talks with Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Aflac Ford, in the garage area before Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway. (Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Former star of MTV’s “The Hills” Lauren Conrad looks on from Kasey Kahne’s pit during Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway. (Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet, and wife DeLana look on from pit road before the start of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway. (Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

I am so incredibly happy for Jamie McMurray. That was such an amazing ending to a crazy, long race. He leads just two laps and takes his place in history as a Daytona 500 winner in his first race with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing! Talk about redemption. From odd man out to freaking Daytona 500 winner. I love it, those are the best stories. And as if all of that wasn’t good enough, he was emotional in Victory Lane. I’m all for real, true emotion and it didn’t get any better than Jamie’s tears and his hugging of the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 Trophy.

And then Dale Earnhardt Jr. *sigh* I love that guy. He kicked butt and drove from tenth to finish second. I’m so proud! I know he was disappointed that he came so close but he has nothing to feel bad about, he proved that he’s a racer and that he wants to win just as much as the next guy. BTW, I loved his interview with Marty Smith on ESPN, they showed it during the Nationwide race on Saturday. He doesn’t have to explain or justify himself to anyone!

I think it was in his interview with Jeff Hammond on FOX that he talked about marriage and how maybe it wasn’t for him and he wondered if fans could handle him having children without being married. I would like to go on record as saying that Dale has my permission to procreate with whomever he wants in wedlock or not. Again, he should live his life on his terms and everybody else can suck it.

Photos after the jump!

AKA The Adorables!

The 2010 Raybestos Rookie of the Year contenders Colin Braun, James Buescher, Parker Kllgerman, Brian Scott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. pose in the media center before Thursday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series practice at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow waves to fans in the stands before giving drivers the command to start their engines Thursday to start the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, and his wife Chandra stand next to his car during the national anthem before the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. (Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR)

(Left to right) Tony Stewart stands in Daytona International Speedway's Victory Lane with car owners DeLana Harvick and Kevin Harvick. Kevin also finished third in the DRIVE4COPD 300 on Saturday. (Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Ladies, Nelson Piquet Jr. Hello!

Nelson Piquet Jr. prepares for his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Piquet finished sixth in his first series start. (Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne signs autographs for fans during Daytona 500 final practice Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.(Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick, who was second-fastest behind fellow Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton in final practice, talks with MMA fighter Brock Lesnar in the garage during Daytona 500 final practice. (Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Tim McGraw performed a pre-race concert for the fans during his first trip to Daytona International Speedway.(Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Jamie McMurray crosses the finish line .119 seconds ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.(Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team of Jamie McMurray celebrates their Daytona 500 win in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway. (Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)