It was so good to be back in Bristol with all four wheels on the ground. The usual great conditions on Friday night allowed the FRAM Tough Guard team to realize their potential and thunder to the No. 1 qualifying spot. The temperature warmed up a bit on Saturday and was a factor in the FRAM team hanging on to the pole.

Race day brought much cooler temperatures (30 degrees cooler) and the track had teeth! In spite of it getting a bit warm in the seat at the top end, we hung on for the victory and the thrash was on for round two. Doug Kalitta, in true gentleman fashion, came over to me in the staging lanes and after smiling and expressing his satisfaction about winning his first-round match, wished me luck and then suited up. Well, round two didn’t go our way as you probably know so I wished Doug the best as he went on to the final round.

The next runs for the FRAM Tough Guard dragster came during testing sessions the next day. We made several successful runs down the track throughout the day and gathered lots of useful data. Hopefully that information will serve to load our nitro shotgun and blast our way into the winner’s circle as we head into three in a row: Topeka, Chicago and Englishtown.

We had to get back to Indy right away after testing, so me, Debi and Tori (aka, the Torinator) fired up the motor coach and headed back. A big bowling event to benefit Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis was next on the agenda. Several drivers showed up and we all had a great time as we were cheered on by about a hundred NHRA fans. About $9,000 was raised for the hospital via silent auction and a good time was had to boot (more southern talk from Atlanta).

Several of you have been asking about Tori; she is doing fine and has no idea that she has been fixed! Healed nicely, she is back to her old self and acting like she is “all that.” Many people who were parked in the vicinity of my motor coach in Bristol can attest to that! When I let her out, she would go and visit people by her own invitation. What can I say, she is the Torinator!

Isn’t it funny how you can always tell what your dog is thinking by the way they look at you? The two top “looks” have to be “feed me" and "I have to go outside.” She is giving me a different kind of look right now. I think that she is reminding me to say “Thank you” to our veterans.

Memorial Day is always the beginning of summer and also celebrates the end of long winter seasons for people who live in the north. Racing, baseball, biking, traveling and enjoying the outdoors easily clouds our minds on this particular day. The truth of the matter is, we wouldn’t be able to be so care-free and able to enjoy our lives and freedom is if wasn’t for the sacrifices made by our service men and women. Not just those who unselfishly gave their lives, but the ones who still serve, especially during the holidays and times that we enjoy the most.

Somebody is always “watching the wall” while we work, sleep, relax or play. So, without writing a long and somber tribute to those in uniform, I would just like to extend a very heartfelt “Thank you” to all of our military members, past, present, and future. I, for one, immensely enjoy my freedom and realize that it came at a price. I encourage everyone who reads this to give pause and think about our military people this weekend. If you see someone in uniform, take a minute to shake their hand and say thank you. I have inside information that a gesture like that, makes all of their hard work worth it. Veterans, I sincerely thank you. God bless every one of you.

Never forget; All gave some, and some gave all...