Greetings, blog readers! It’s LP again, with an update from yet another week flown by during the off season. If you remember from our last blog entry, we were headed to the Stocks for Tots event in Mooresville. I followed Dave, Brownie and Brad over to check everything out. They had parked the show car right on the end of the street, so everyone coming to the event got to check out the lone Top Fuel dragster amidst all the stock cars! There were a couple other straight line rides on hand, including a Funny Car and a couple of pro stockers, but we had the honor of being the only Top Fueler at the event.

Doug spent his evening in a huge autograph session with so many other famous people I don’t even know where to start. Let’s see, off the top of my head, I remember seeing Kurt Busch, Mike and Rusty Wallace, Jason Line, Greg Anderson, Bob Gilbertson, Larry McReynolds, and all other kinds of cool racing people. I snapped this picture of Doug with David Poole, one of the most influential journalists in the racing business. He writes for the Charlotte Observer, as well as ThatsRacin.com and contributes his work to all other kinds of media outlets. We got to spend a few minutes bending his ear about drag racing, and hearing his perspective on a drag strip coming to Charlotte was fantastic.

Fast forward a few days, and it was time for the much anticipated Doug Herbert Performance Parts Christmas Party. All the festivities took place right at the shop in one of the show rooms. The evening began with fine food from our friends at Bennett’s Pit Bar-B Que from over in Conover. Kevin really took care of us, bringing enough scrumptious food to feed an entire army. We had so much left over that I don’t think anyone at the shop will have to go out for lunch until maybe next Wednesday! But, I digress. Let me get back to the party.

After everyone had their fill of tasty desserts, Doug got to work presenting some awards to people that really made a difference for the parts business and the race team in 2007. Kudos to Maria, Larry, Mike and Brian for everything they do! Next, it was time to get on with the funky gift exchange. Everyone brought a gift, no more than $10 value, and set it on a table. We drew numbers, and picked gift. The catch? If you liked a gift someone else had already picked, you could take it and make them pick something else. For some reason, the hot gifts of the evening included a dancing and singing penguin, a couple pounds of Hershey bars, and a one-cup coffeemaker with cup. Being a huge coffee fan, I had my hands on the coffee cup (after I stole it from Brent), only to have it ripped away from Kevin, our new crew chief. Karma came around and got him, though, as it was taken from him by the next person! When all was said and done, Kevin ended up with the dancing and singing penguin, Doug ended up with a 2007 holiday bear, and I ended up with a package of men’s socks, a baseball card holder, a little ceramic pitcher, and sides that hurt from laughing so hard. Everyone went home with a little something, a plate of leftovers, and I’m pretty sure everyone had on a smile.

A few blogs ago, I asked you faithful readers to send in photos you might have of Doug and the race team. Danny Reece, Doug’s numero uno North Carolina fan, sent a few in from a visit he paid to the race shop from four or five years ago. The shop was in Cherryville back then, and Doug gave him, Nikki Braswell and Kaye Farmer, all of National Textiles, LLC. Danny has been keeping up with Doug since the 1980s, and I know Doug appreciates all his support. Thank you, Danny, and hopefully we will win that championship for you this year!

Doug has been running around like crazy attending all sorts of holiday parties, including one coming up this week at Lowes Motor Speedway, not to mention all the work going on here at the shop. Kai and Rick from Snap-on were in this week, and let me tell you, keep watching for exciting things from the Snap-on team. We are more excited than ever to get back to racing!

For now, though, I had better get back to work. I have a few more invitations to send out for our media dinner, a spreadsheet to tackle with Allison, and some peanut butter fudge to eat.

Until next time, be good,

LP