You guys are way too kind (AND I think some of you are cheating!). A couple of blogs ago I mentioned voting would determine the starting grid for this Saturday’s Bristol NHRA racers-in-stock-cars race, and little did I know how many of you would get manic with your keyboards. Thanks. Though it may just make it easier to get spun out, I know I will be leading at some point in that race.

Our Valvoline commercial shoot went great. Steve Earwood and his entire staff went out of their way for us, and the production crew was on their game. Though I have done many spots — both in and out of the car — during my tenure at the Hawley School, this was definitely the most interesting. Imagine staging a nitro Funny Car amidst so much smoke that you couldn’t see more than 30 feet down track and then having to launch through it. Good thing we only had to make two short blasts plus some idling time for the guys to get all the footage they needed. All of the shots were done under the lights, and we went until midnight. I had to do the burnout directly underneath a boom camera, and the side and front lighting cast some very unusual shadows inside the cockpit. The glare made it difficult to see, but I think the finished product will prove it was worth it. Never have I felt compelled to pull the chutes after lifting at 100 feet, but I did on both runs, utilizing our “studio” chutes — one red and one white — to give that top-end look to our Dodge Charger. The crew had a 15-hour day when all was said and done and even had to set up camp in the rain that morning. They truly are the best in the business.

My day was pretty long as well. Originally scheduled to land in Charlotte around midnight on Thursday, my flight was cancelled, and I didn’t land until 10:30 in the morning. That two and a half hours of sleep sure didn’t feel like much. Since my flight came in about the same time as that of DSR VP Mike Lewis, I followed him over to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a tour of the dragstrip construction. Mike also is the President of Maple Grove Raceway, so he and I got the gold-tour of all things Charlotte. I am told they actually are one month ahead of schedule, but you cannot believe the logistics it’s going to take to get a track ready for September. The facility probably will be the finest in the country, as they are implementing several “firsts” for drag racing fan accommodations. Bruton Smith and his staff have again raised the bar for straight line stadiums. I drove the two-hour trip over to Rockingham, did the commercial shoot, and headed for the hotel about 1:40 a.m. The alarm going off a little more than four hours later seemed more like a cruel joke, but I did want to get back home. The commercial is slated to begin airing June 2, and I hope it gets Valvoline, Mail Terminal Services, and drag racing some much needed exposure.

Once home and recovered, it was time for the “honey-do” list. After installing new front and back porch lights and power washing all of the rugs from the motorhome, I figured it was union break time for me. Jenna reminded me that, since Jason doesn’t grant her any “couch time” when she feels the whim, I had better get that screen door hung while my tools (and ambition) were still available. Our house is looking better all the time.

Mother’s Day we both did things around the house and took turns entertaining the little man. I also got to repaint one of our front shutters in the elusive search for the perfect pigment. Jason is learning so much, and he speaks wonderfully … or not. He points at everything that he sees and calls it by name: dadada apparently is Latin for “every single thing on the planet”. I’m not gonna be the one to burst Jason’s bubble, I just humor him. If you don’t respond with an affirmative description of whatever he is looking at, hold on. Things can get rough in a hurry, and he sure can test mommy’s patience. Not only is Jenna the best mom on the planet, she is the greatest wife I have ever had (she’s also the only wife I’ve ever had). Sunday evening she let me drive down to L.A. and be a guest on the Speed Freaks radio show, which featured Mopar drivers for the two-hour duration. Some days it’s like being a rockstar … just livin’ the dream.

Monday I figured I had better get a start on the clutch in the Nissan pickup. I managed to get the transmission out before dinner, which I took as a huge moral victory. Brent and Staci Cannon drove out, and we all had dinner at the house so Staci could play with Jason. One of the drawbacks of not racing my sportsman car much any longer is that I don’t get to see so many of our good friends. The Cannons made the 170-mile round trip just to see their godson, which I thought was pretty cool.

What’s up with all of these shark attacks lately? Seemed like a good time to get back into the water and surf, if you ask me. It had been too long, and this time Jenna and Jason were able to come along. This was his first time ever at the beach, and unfortunately, we were only able to get 114 pictures of him. Thank God for digital cameras. Though it wasn’t the best day for waves, I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed it. I actually had four pretty good rides plus a bunch that weren’t worth writing home about. If anyone reading this sees buddy Rich (not to be confused with Buddy Rich), tell him I’m sorry for “snaking” him on that tasty right, but what a ride!

Hey, that’s not all! Throw in Jason’s Gymboree class, his swim class, taking the clutch and flywheel out of the truck, shipping some souvenirs off for a charity auction, and I’m starting to sound busy. But wait, there’s more: I just couldn’t bring myself to work on this filthy tranny that came out of the truck. So me, all of the greasy undercarriage parts (along with the trans), several cans of Pyroil Degreaser, and a pocket full of quarters headed over to the do-it-yourself car wash. And boy, did I do it myself! By the time I was done with the trans, it was so clean I hardly wanted to load it back into Cindy’s filthy duallie, so I washed it, too. I also got the flywheel surfaced and picked up the new clutch hardware. After unloading everything at home, I installed the new throwout bearing and input shaft pilot bushing. Just as I was ready to tackle bolting on the new clutch, Jenna said it was time to come in and spend some “quality time” together. Go figure … where was that quality time when I wanted to get out of hanging the screen door? The clutch will have to wait until I return from Bristol.

We are nearly done with our exterior improvement project. Except for some final detail work, the gates are really all that remain. One of my lifelong friends, Tony Murachanian, is doing the cleanest job that I have ever seen on any iron work in my life. He custom fabricated some amazing stuff, and it should finish the front off perfectly. Tony and I spent a lot of time hanging out when I was on leave in the Air Force and he likewise from the Navy. We actually surfed a bunch together back 20 years ago. I guess that would have been when we were about 9 or 10, at least that’s my math. Anyway, I have lots more to write about, but Jenna reminded me that I am a married man and don’t live in front of the computer. And that I shouldn’t bite my nails. Or walk too noisily when Jason’s sleeping. Or leave the toilet seat up. Or leave the Chapstick in my pocket when I put my pants in the laundry. Or throw away receipts from my trips. Or not qualify. Especially that last one. So, the crew and I are all walking softly, checking our pockets, and prepared to stick that DSR Charger in the winner’s circle!

Stay tuned.