Joey Logano rolls into Victory Lane for the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)I swear you guys, I’m trying to write-up my weekend at the Pepsi 500 as fast as possible, but between flying to Vegas and feeling sickly, I’m going as fast as I can. So bear with me, ’cause I want you to read this stuff! 🙂

Saturday at Auto Club Speedway was qualifying for the Nationwide Series race the Copart 300 that was taking place in the afternoon.

For qualifying I took the same tack I used for the Pepsi 500 quals and stood in the garage in the area where the top 3 cars would park. I used the opportunity to take a bunch of photos.

It never ceases to amaze me how fans walk by drivers without noticing them. I mean, hello, that’s Justin Allgaier you just passed up! Justin spent a lot of time just hanging out next to his car, waiting to see if his number would hold up. He ended up qualifying 3rd.

Ohhh! I should tell you guys. I talked to Kyle Busch’s PR rep, and found out that I was wrong when I called Cody his PR guy. He’s more of a personal assistant to Kyle. Do with that information what you will. I actually had an awesome conversation with Kyle’s real PR dude about him. It was pretty eye opening.

Later on in the day I hung around in the garage during Sprint Cup practice. I discovered that it’s advantageous to walk towards the garage entrance right when the practice session ends as the cars are still coming in, but they’re coming in without the engine on, so it’s way easier to get better photos.

Driver intros were different for the Copart 300. They didn’t have the stage right in front of the stands like they usually do. They had ’em far back on Victory Lane. I don’t know if that’s why you could hear a pin drop, but it couldn’t have helped.

After driver intros I walked down pit road trying to figure out a place to stand for the National Anthem. Maybe it’s just me, ok, I’m sure it’s just me, but it’s so awkward trying to pick a spot, especially with people looking at you. And for the Nationwide race there are far, far less people on pit road, it’s almost empty.

I always stand next to the garage entrance because it’s close to the stairs that lead up to the press box. So this meant I was standing behind and faaaaaaar to the right of Carl Edwards and his wife Kate. I hear they’re expecting their first child, which is awesome. Congrats to them! That kid is going to be adorable. Ella Gordon is gonna have some stiff competition in the cute kid department when the Edwards baby is born.

The race itself was deliciously awesome. I found myself remarking to myself in my head that the racing was freaking amazing and we were at Auto Club Speedway. Color me surprised!

Post-race I went to the drivers meeting room in the garage for the press conference with the top-3 finishers and the top finishing rookie. The top rookie was Michael Annett who you all need to keep an eye out for. The guy is hot. I feel kinda weird saying that considering he’s 6 years younger than me, but whatever. 🙂

Joey Logano and his crew chief were highly pissed off about Greg Biffle’s actions on the track and on the radio. I thought that Joey Logano’s dad’s shenanigans were funny and yet sad. It’s as if you want to say “Dude, calm down.” It would have made more sense to just pull Biffle aside later on and deal with it that way.


Jason Keller chats with Sirius Satellite Radio's Claire B. Lang after his qualifying run for the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Jason Keller chats with Sirius Satellite Radio’s Claire B. Lang after his qualifying run for the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Justin Allgaier was all smiles after his qualifying run for the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Justin Allgaier was all smiles after his qualifying run for the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Scott Speed checks out his qualifying run for the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Scott Speed checks out his qualifying run for the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Pit road before the start of the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Pit road before the start of the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Carl Edwards takes a group photo with his new sponsor in the Nationwide Series for 16 races in 2010 the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

I wasn’t supposed to take this photo ’cause it was something for Copart, but whatever. It’s Carl! 🙂

Carl Edwards takes a group photo with his new sponsor in the Nationwide Series for 16 races in 2010 the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Carl Edwards and his wife, Kate, before the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Carl Edwards and his wife, Kate, before the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

The No. 32 Dollar General pit crew get pumped up before the start of the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

The No. 32 Dollar General pit crew get pumped up before the start of the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Joey Logano celebrates winning the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)

Joey Logano celebrates winning the Copart 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)