Good day to all of you Cory Mac fans. My name is Billy Knight and I am writing to you from my warm, cozy office in frigid, Eagle, Wis. The snow is gently falling as I write this note and it’s hard to believe that racing will begin in less than two weeks.

As exciting as that may be, I didn’t sit down to my trusty Mac to write about racing today. I am writing to wish Cory a Happy Birthday!

Did I just do it, or does that only count as telling you that I am about to do it, and I still have to do it...? Better to operate on the side of caution, Happy Birthday Cory!

I have posted a couple of photos for you all to see. First, a photo of what it looks like outside right now. Yes, I guess I am looking for sympathy, hehehe.

Not really, I love to photograph the snow and winter scenery. Also posted are a couple of shots of what we photographers call “environmental photos.” These usually make the most interesting photographs, as they are shots of people doing whatever it is that they do without posing.

I’m sure that you will agree that Christmas Eve would be a most “target rich” environment for a guy like me with a camera! As many shots as I took that night, almost every one has Cory with a mug of java in one hand, and petting Tori with the other. That’s what I call multi-tasking!

I don’t have any secrets to reveal, nor am I here to post embarrassing photos, or poke fun at Cory (although, if he ever ticks me off...), I just want to post a birthday wish. So Cory, how does it feel to be @# years old?

If my calculations are correct, Cory is the only active Top Fuel driver out there who has 19 years in the seat! Even more interesting than that, I believe that John Force raced for nearly 20 years before he really started winning everything in sight; that is exciting to know.

That said, this could be Cory’s best season yet. Frankly, I think that he has another decade of racing in him if he wants it to happen.

First thing first, this season is going to be a good one. At the age of @#, he has more experience and wisdom than he has ever had. Think you would be a bit nervous if he was in the other lane?

I remember when he raced Pat Dakin in round one at Indy a couple of years ago. Pat took off before the Tree had even activated. Cory didn’t move an inch. He was controlled enough to wait for the light even though he saw Pat screaming down the track—not something that a racer wants to see. It’s that kind of cool-headed control that is going to make the difference this year — you just watch. I digress ... I tend to get out of the groove when I write.

So Cory, may this year bring you good fortune in the form of, many Wallys, dry race tracks, mechanical perfection, stayin’ in the groove, fan adoration, more Wallys, lane choice, No. 1 qualifiers, many round victories, sticky Goodyears, running on all eight, six-foot header flames, low ET’s, top speeds, and your competition watching as you pull away.

Happy Birthday, my friend!