I’m so glad to be back at the race track. I’m writing to you from the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. We completed one day of qualifying yesterday. We have had the last two weekends with no races and it is the only time in the 2007 season that we will have to go that long with no racing. Thank goodness because I am glad to be back in the race car. I managed to stay pretty busy over the last few weeks.

As you know, my job as a driver keeps me doing different things. My latest venture is definitely something I would have never imagined doing. I found myself in a Hollywood studio, standing in bright lights on a neon platform, surrounded by actors and actresses, in front of a clapping and cheering studio audience. Last Sunday, I flew to Hollywood to be on the hit NBC game show Identity. Emmy Award-winning comedian-magician Penn Jillette ("Penn & Teller") hosts the show which airs on Friday evenings at 8 p.m. The way the game works is, one contestant faces 12 strangers and a list of 12 traits to identify them. The contestant picks a trait -- ranging anywhere from a profession to a shoe size -- and tries to match it with one of the 12 strangers. I was one of the 12 strangers and my identity was a “professional race car driver.” They aren’t sure when my show will air yet, but I will let you know when I find out.

The producers from Identity heard about me when I gave my speech at the North American International Auto Show. They contacted me and asked if I would be on their show. I figured it will give our sport some good exposure. It was a pretty cool experience, too. They wouldn’t allow me to take a lot of pictures but I got some.

I spent nearly 10 hours on set on Monday the day we filmed. I was really nervous about what they were going to have me wear so I brought a whole suitcase full of clothes. However, they had their own ideas. I had to go to their wardrobe department and they dressed me in couple different outfits and then the producers picked what I had to wear. It was kind of fun trying on different things. I got a photo in the wardrobe room in one of the outfits that they didn’t choose for me to wear on the show. What I ended up wearing was nothing that I would ever choose myself. It included shiny, high boots up to my knees that I could barely walk in and some short shorts. The worst part about wearing that was the set was seriously like 40 degrees. We would wrap up in blankets whenever the cameras were off.

I got to meet a lot of really cool people. Some of the other “strangers” on my show were Lance Burton, the magician of Las Vegas; Chewbacca of Star Wars, and the most downloaded woman on the Internet. I also met a woman who holds the world record for sword swallowing. I met and got a photo with actor Felix Silla, who was an Ewok in one of the Star Wars movies. I had to laugh when we were on stage and Lance Burton reminded me in the middle of the show from his neon platform not to lock my knees or I would pass out.

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of aspiring actors, producers, fashion consultants, and screen writers. There are a lot of people my age who come to Hollywood chasing their dreams. I think it’s really cool to see people take a chance, follow their passions, and try to make a living doing what they love. It’s got to be very tough to “make it” in the film industry. I give them a lot of credit for trying.

Now I’m here in Florida this weekend chasing my dream of becoming a winning top fuel driver. It was almost two years ago to the day that I left my office job because I was an aspiring race car driver. I didn’t know how I was going to make it happen or if I was going to make it happen but I had to take a chance and give it my all. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now. Wish us luck this weekend and hopefully my next blog will be about the KB Racing Top Fuel being in the winner’s circle.