NASCAR RACING AT MARTINSVILLE 1/2 MILE TRACK -- "If the right side of your car is banged up, you're racing. If the left side of your car is banged up, you're in the way."

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I'm Putting a NASCAR Decal on My Truck

April 7, 2013
By: O. J. Cunningham

I'm in a quandry.

By the end of this month, I've decided to add a NASCAR sticker (with number) to the back window of my truck.

I've only been a "real" NASCAR fan since the 2013 Daytona 500 -- That's like 5 weeks of racing. The thing is . . . I'm hooked . . . It's "Man Soaps" at its finest.

The only sport environment that could possibly be better would be if golfers got into fist-fights on the course every once in awhile.

I mean . . . let's think about it . . . Where else in sport do the SAME 50 ELITE athletes battle one another every week. And while they fight it out, they sit strapped behind the wheel of a race-car, driving anywhere from 100mph to 200mph per hour. And . . . they get paid -- win or lose.

I used to think Bull Riders had it "made." But now, NASCAR drivers are my heroes.

Obviously, I don't want to make a "rookie mistake" with my decal pick. You see, I'm gonna have to peel away a set of Tim Roller's Whitetail Journey deer antlers to make room for my soon-to-be-displayed NASCAR logo.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm more involved with NASCAR right now than I really ever expected to be. Most of you, who read this column on a regular basis, might remember that in previous rantings, I actually suggested that CNNSI - Sports Illustrated -- remove the NASCAR button from their INTERNET front page.

But things have changed for me since Daytona 2013.

One thing . . . I'm driving differently.

On the Interstate, now, I always "drop down" . . . diving for the inside lower lane anytime I go head-to-head around a curve with another car within "tapping" distance. I know I have the tires to command the position and I know I can gain valuable seconds and claim the lead.

I also know my gas mileage has improved because of my new love of NASCAR. These days, I never miss an opportunity to crawl up close behind the car in front of me and ride the draft for as long as I can.

The other day, I actually tucked in behind an 18-Wheeler near Midland (US-10) and drafted all the way to Clare . . . Gotta love it . . . and good gas mileage too.

BACK TO THE DECAL -- Right now, I'm leaning toward Carl Edwards as my NASCAR decal . . . Love the "back-flip" and kinda like the #99 . . . However, the recent flap between Logano and Hamlin has me fixated . . . and Tony Stewart's "attitude" always gets my vote.

Then there are the obvious picks of either Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, Danica or even Kahne and maybe Kenseth or Hammlin. The list goes on and on.

Maybe after Martinsville (or Texas), my choice will become more obvious.