Howdy Everyone!

This is a test blog. I've missed everyone!

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Luis’ Engine is still “Revved” after Meeting his NASCAR Hero, Ricky Carmichael

One of eight-year-old Luis’ favorite things to do is to watch motorcycles and NASCAR races on television. When a Kids Wish Network professional fundraiser called Luis’ mother, Miryam, she had no idea that this one phone call would bring the excitement of racing right to her amazing little boy.

At eighteen months old, Luis was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy. SMA is a motor neuron disease that affects all of the muscles in the body. Just last year, Luis suffered through two surgeries for muscle weakness. He is also confined to a wheelchair, needs constant assistance and must endure frequent breathing treatments.

Once Miryam told the Kids Wish Network representative about her little boy and his situation, it didn’t take long for them to get Wish Coordinator, Jen, and Wish Funding Specialist, Doris, on the case. While Luis told Jen about his wish to meet his racing hero, Ricky Carmichael, Doris was speaking to some very special sponsors about making the little boy’s dream come true.

When it came time for his wish to be granted, Jen arranged not just the meeting with his favorite NASCAR driver, but also an entire weekend of “high-octane” racing fun for Luis and his family!

The timing for Luis’ wish couldn’t have been better; only a week following his eighth birthday, Luis got to meet his hero, Ricky Carmichael prior to watching him compete in a race at the Texas Motor Speedway! “It was the perfect birthday present,” said Miryam. “He was very excited and really happy.”

Once Luis and his family arrived at the track, they were escorted all around the garage areas where Luis marveled at all of the cars, drivers and pit crews. He was truly thrilled but even this excitement was overshadowed when he finally met Ricky Carmichael.

The famous driver spent some quality one-on-one time with the little boy, talking to him, signing autographs and just enjoying Luis’ company. They even exchanged gifts! Ricky presented a very special cap and t-shirt to Luis, who, in turn, gave the driver a mini digital picture frame with a few pictures to remember him by and some handmade beaded gifts with both of their names on them.

It was the handmade gifts that pleased the famous driver the most. “It’s a good day for me,” Ricky exclaimed as he was given his present. No one had done anything like that for him before!

Luis met up with Ricky again before attending the exclusive pre-race drivers’ meeting, where Luis witnessed all the ins and outs of getting ready for a big race. It was a really special addition to an already fantastic weekend, and it wasn’t even over yet!

During the big NCWTS Winstar World Casino 400 race, Luis cheered the hardest he had ever cheered for Ricky Carmichael. It was almost as though Ricky was racing just for him. “I was so happy because he was SO happy,” said Miryam of her little boy. “He [Luis] was just amazed to see him in the race.”

At the end of the weekend, after yet another day at the track watching Indy Car racing, Luis did not want to leave. “He didn’t want to come back,” said Miryam. “He said, ‘Mom, can we stay just one more day?’”

Now that they’re home, Luis has been telling as many people as he can about his wish trip. Miryam said that Luis “told one of the doctors and was showing off his [signed] hat…he’s still excited!” Luis’ meeting with his NASCAR idol is something that will keep him in high spirits for years to come, and that’s all Jen and everyone else at Kids Wish Network could ask for.

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My Pics from Martinsville

Being the geek that I am, I wanted to try out a new photo browser with my pics, so they took a lot longer to get up than I wanted. Click the picture below to launch the player in a new window. If we like it, we will integrate this into the site.

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• Martinsville, Black Sheep, Rowdy

New Widget Look

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My Favorite Music from Our Friends at CMT!

• 7 Comments

Rowdy 2009

Howdy folks,

It’s been a tough winter here at Rowdy. For awhile we weren’t even sure we were going to be here in 2009. Times are tough all over the media business and we were not spared. We have lost some personnel, had to put a lot of changes and improvements to the site on ice while we tried to keep this thing on life support, and as a result we’re starting the season a little behind the curve.

The good news is that it looks like we’re gonna make it, but we are still behind on a lot of stuff. We have to get Driver Zone up and running. We have to get our Fantasy offering back up to speed and get all the driver data current. We need to grow Rowdy like 1000% this year. I have a list of features people want that is literally 300 items long. It’s going to be a bit before all that stuff is done, but we are VERY excited to be here in 2009 and can’t thank you all enough for not only sticking with us but also growing over on Facebook with us, spreading our content all over the web (keep it up!), and coming back to see us during the offseason.

Here’s the thing. My door is always open. If you don’t like something about the site, speak up. Don’t snipe to the other members about it—they can’t do anything. If there are features you need or want, tell me. I can’t make something available I don’t know about, but I can make things happen that I DO know about. Also, remember that everyone has a different reason for being here. Some of you care about racing more than others, but the main thing is that you all about each other and that NASCAR is a starting point for a lot of great friendships here at Rowdy. I like the fact that you all self-regulate—that is really rare in social environments. It works because everyone respects one another lets different opinions surface without getting all petty (and I don’t mean Richard).

Thanks for everything, and remember we really DO want your opinion.

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Driver Zone

I know a lot of folks are wondering when we are going to make Driver Zone available for 2009. It's been a rough winter and we've been a bit short-handed, but we plan to have the game back up this week or next. It will probably look a little different, but we'll still have the different zones and you'll be able to make picks just like last year, as well as compare your scores. Prizes are still TBD as well.

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Denny Hamlin to give race tickets to NASCAR fans

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing has decided to give something back to the fans that have made NASCAR one of America’s most popular sports. Hamlin will purchase four tickets to every race on this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. Fans will have an opportunity to share with Hamlin why they want to sit in his seats. All of the entries will be considered and the individual, couple or family that resides near that weekend’s race and who has submitted the best entry will win four tickets to that weekend’s race. Fans can find more information, including instructions how to submit an entry, at www.dennyhamlin.com.

• 1 Comment
• Denny Hamlin, race tickets, NASCAR, Sprint Cup

Wow, what do you think of THIS??

http://vyous.com/sports//nascar/2008/12/16/time-for-nascar-to-just-go-away---thatsracincom

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New Template is Available

In honor of fall, we just set up a new autumn leaves template. Have at it!

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