Daytona 500, Monday Feb 27

Last week, one of my friends invited me to go see the Daytona 500 yesterday.  I was planning to go, but some setbacks prevented me from going, which worked out for me anyway because the Daytona 500 was postponed to Monday for the first time in its 54 year history.

My brother called me this afternoon to let me know that they had a free ticket for me.  Dang!!  Now I have an opportunity to go again...and for free.  But I couldn't go because of work.

I didn't watch the Daytona 500 on TV, except for the unusual and fiery spectacle when Juan Montoya had mechanical issues coming out of pit-row, all during a caution flag, and when he was trying to catch up to the field, sparks flew from beneath his car and he proceeded to skid into the back of the track-drying vehicle.  You can watch it here.  This year's 500 was very unique.  I wish I had a chance to watch it in person.  

So I'm not a huge NASCAR fan.  I would like to watch a race live at least once in my life, just so that I can check it off of my bucket list.  

I'm thankful that people can choose a profession that they have a passion in, and that they have the freedom to so, and to strive to be the best that they can be.  

I'm thankful that people that choose to be NASCAR fans, and that they can rally around their favorite drivers and/or teams, just like all the other sports 

I know that the title is misleading.  The underlying theme is that we live in a country where these freedoms are protected by government, although it seems like that these freedoms are slowing being taken away by socialistic ideas.

  

How fitting though, that it was NASCAR, a popular American sports entity, that made me appreciate this country.  I hope that we still have many more years to exercise the freedoms she provides for us.