If any of you saw the race coverage from Dallas, you’d understand the title of this entry. I did my best to steal some of Ashley’s limelight, though she did whoop up on me. Certainly that wasn’t the way we intended to end our trip to Texas, but our team still is very much in the hunt for the Championship. Congratulations to the DieHard team and Matt Hagan for getting their third win of the year and jumping back into second place in the standings. That’s okay with me, Matt can have second; I want first!

WHO AM I KIDDING? PLUS: I’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, MAN!

Yeah, I started the first part of this blog back in late September, but I just hadn’t had the opportunity (more like, “the ambition”) to finish. Between now and then, we’ve been racking up the mileage, adventures, races, and digital images to prove it. So, though I have no idea how to navigate you through the past couple of months, I’ll just dive right in and keep hitting the keys until I’ve got some semblance of a blog. It could be a mess, but isn’t that what blogs are all about: showing a genuine side of the author? Okay, here we go:

I was back in Indy last I wrote, and we did LOTS during that week. It was great spending time in the shop before and after the race. It’s one of the few times where I can hang out with my guys without any of the pressures and demands of the racetrack. I also participated in an amazing “adventure” with Scott Garwood, who has been coaching several of the NHRA drivers in various mental disciplines. Cory Mac, Danny and Ashley Force Hood, Scott and I did something that I won’t soon forget…we climbed a telephone pole! No, we didn’t have to hook up anybody’s cable TV, nor were we repairing high voltage lines, but what we did do was such a microcosm for life and the fears that you face (and overcome, or turn away from). The gist of the “exercise” is to climb up the spikes to the top of the pole, stand up, turn about 100 degrees to the right, and jump over and grab a hanging flag. We were all equipped with harnesses and helmets (like I would have done that without a lifeline), and it sure looked easy from the bottom. With a pretty good fear of heights (not Hight’s), things get progressively more interesting with every step up. However, that’s still cake compared to what all of us found to be the most difficult step: that final motion up to stand on top of the pole! The pivot and jump weren’t all that tough for me after being able to stand up. Scott then had me go and do it again to speed things up. Here's a link for you guys to watch attempt #1 on YouTube. It was fascinating to me, experiencing such a range of emotions in a short period of time. ..kind of like a run in a funny car! (Apparently it REALLY worked for Ashley, as she was able to take home the gold on Labor Day).

I had lots of company in Indy. My dad, Jenna’s mom, and Brent and Staci Cannon all flew out. Two of my close friends from the Air Force, Tim Morris and Ron Deering, also came out. It’s the first time all three of us had been together since 1988!

I again participated in the Army YES (Youth and Education Services) Program, talking with area high school and vocational students about smart choices, their futures, and good decisions. One of the great things about being a part of this program is that I meet many interesting Army soldiers (I usually speak in the same tent as Tony Schumacher, and there is always a recruiter that speaks on our panel and shares their military experiences). This event Sgt. John Adams (no relation to either president) was our partner, and he is a Bronze Star recipient for bravery in combat. Wow! He even has an action figure (one in a series of “American Heroes”) of him, though I’m not sure why I can’t call it a “doll”? We zip-tied one on our roll cage, and he has ridden with me ever since. I told him he now can put in for a Purple Heart, as his left foot fell off somewhere on the track!

Though our Indy didn’t end with the trophy at the end of the day, it wasn’t a bad outing for our team.  However, there was plenty more that we did before and after the race:

DSR had their annual open house, raising another $20,000 for the Riley’s Children’s Hospital. All of us DSR drivers also visited the hospital to spend time with as many kids as we could.

Each of the Countdown drivers had to film a couple of segments for NHRA and ESPN that could be used in the year-end DVD, or (hopefully) at the awards banquet.

LuAnn Bishop took the three of us to Conner’s Prairie in Indy, a historic village with actors who portray life in the early 1800’s. I kept asking them how the Colts were doing this year, but all I got were blank stares. I learned some cool facts about spinning wheels (Not to be confused with “Spinning your wheels”…these are the kind that make threads out of cotton or wool. They have been around since the 1200’s, but a simple device called the “Miner’s head” [Inventor Amos patented this in 1803] increased its’ productivity several fold in the later years of its use), I learned that a “bit” is 1/8 of a silver dollar (literally…they would cut it into sections and use the value of the silver for currency), which equals 12 ½ cents. I also learned that women don’t look very hot in 19th century work clothes.

We went out with Rahn and Ellen Tobler in their pontoon boat and had a great time floating, eating, drinking, and swimming with Jason. I didn’t mean to infer that we were drinking with Jason, but I think you get the idea. They have a raft to tow behind the boat, and Jason liked riding in that. Rahn and I took turns with him, while Jenna and Ellen took turns with the wine. Yes, I did mean to infer that they were drinking!

We took Jason to the Indy Zoo, which is probably his fifth different one.

Cindy and Jenna took him to the Children’s Museum (He’s also bagged about five of those across the country, including three times just at Indy).

We all had dinner at Cory Mac and Debbie’s house.

EJ and Kelly Veenstra babysat the little man while Jenna and I saw a movie.

Hey, this blog hasn’t even left Indy yet…I think I’ll need to send this one in to get you guys started, and perhaps try not to procrastinate as much on the next one. I really need to break it up into two or three segments, or I’ll bore you to tears.

For now, have a taste of this, and I’ll try to get back to the keyboard soon.

Please…stay tuned.