Role of Kansas in Union Culture

I find it funny that so much of our discourse about the race in Kansas revolves around a movie that was based on a book that was set there.

Which is great. I've always been a big Wizard of Oz devotee, not only when I was a little tyke but also since my niece has started watching it. Also there is a special place in my heart for Return to Oz, the creepy mid-80s sequel that featured Fairuza Balk as Dorothy.

But really, if one thinks about it, Kansas is a very important puzzle piece in our Union. Historically, its place in the great conflict that defined our 19th century is fascinating, when it was known as Bleeding Kansas for its violent interactions between Border Ruffians and Free-Staters.

Also, it's home to Dodge City, a vital point in our westward expansion and the origin of the phrase "Get out of Dodge."

Which is not to mention all the interesting Kansans we know of. Other than Clint Bowyer and R. Lee Ermey, I'm thinking of Dennis Hopper (here's to your ****!), Melissa Etheridge and Amelia Earhart.

Plus, it's the Sunflower State. So tomorrow when the Cup broadcast will undoubtedly contain innumerable references to twisters and slippers of the ruby variety, think of the State of Kansas and all the contributions its' made to our Union, and rejoice.

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My Conversion Story

I come from a NASCAR family. My parents and many of their siblings have always been big race fans. The phenomenon, however, had never found a home in my bloodstream. It was exposed to me incessantly growing up, which led to the absorption of a great deal of subliminal knowledge. Mark Martin and restrictor plates and chassis adjustments were terms I fuzzily understood, but they had no real meaning. Whenever a race was on or someone was talking about it, I would zone out and think of bunnies or something.

My mom and dad have a habit of going to Cup races at Phoenix. I always found it kind of silly, but didn't complain because it afforded me the opportunity to invite my friends over for theme parties.

Since moving away from home and to a new city, I've found myself often missing their company. So when this year's Spring Phoenix race came around, they were in attendance, and I arrived at the decision that I would watch it from cover to cover as an homage to them. It was the first time I had actually given the sport a chance.

The conversion was intense and precipitous, a horsepower epiphany. And because I already had such an odd, subliminal familiarity with the sport, it felt so right. Like deja vu or falling in love. The following week I realized how much of a change had occurred when I woke up with one of the worst tequila hangovers of the year just to watch the Busch race at Talladega. The next day I changed my work schedule to have Sundays off and haven't since missed a race.

My friends and roommates look down on stock car racing to varying degrees and for a multitude of reasons, though I talk about it quite often. One roommate became enamored with Matt Kenseth when he learned he was sponsored by Arby's, though he calls him 'Mike Zenneth.' Which I suppose is only slightly worse than Rusty Wallace's pronunciation(s).

Anyway, I'd love to hear other similar stories from fellow late-bloomers.

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Blue and Green

So, with Jr.'s schedule of running a roughly even number of races in the National Guard and AMP cars, will our color choices fluctuate depending on the race?

I'm kind of hoping that it will just be green. But that's for selfish reasons, because my costume for that would be almost complete. Swanky green jacket, and a kilt with a green background. Add a fancy hat, shirt and a pair of green Chuck Taylor high-tops to complete the ensemble. Plus I'm part Irish, and that would sync well with St. Patrick's Day.

But of course, would be totally willing to do blue as well, and alternate each weekend. It's also my favorite color. And an interesting word. Just look at it. BLUE.

Speaking of which, been narrowing down some blue songs, to complement the green ones I posted the other day.

Blue Jay Way - The Beatles
Blue Skies - BT feat. Tori Amos
Cool Blue Reason - Cake
Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin
Perfect Blue Buildings - Counting Crows
Blue Rondo a la Turk - Dave Brubeck Quartet
Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra
Baby Blue - Emiliana Torrini
Into the Blue - Moby feat Mimi Goese
Baby Blue Sedan - Modest Mouse
Blue Nylon Shirts - Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
Blue Orchid - The White Stripes

And, of course, a very appropriate addition, 'Counting Blue Cars' by Dishwalla.

For all those They Might Be Giants fans out there (and I know they are as numerous as the stars), here's a musical question we Dale Jr. fans hope the other drivers will be asking often next year:

"What's that blue thing doing here?"

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New Jr. Playlist

Okay, so some green songs in my music collection.

Green Onions - Booker T. & The M.G.'s
Green Flower Street - Donald Fagen
Little Green Bag - George Baker Selection
Greensleeves - Loreena McKennitt
Green Grow The Rushes - R.E.M.
Green Book - Steely Dan
Green Earrings - Steely Dan

Would love to see any other submissions to the green list, it's certain that mine is very incomplete.

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Some Personal Nostalgia Regarding Jr.'s Announcement

The thought occurs, wouldn't it be great if R.E.M. would re-record their song 'Driver 8', with one slight modification? After all, Michael Stipe, it's only two more syllables, and it would make me very happy. And if not that, how about 'What's The Frequency, Tony Jr.?'

Okay, I'll take a break from bad jokes and broach a more serious subject, that of Jr.'s new sponsorship.

Growing up in rural Utah, Mountain Dew and I developed quite an interesting relationship. Many of the friends with whom I associated and video gamed in high school were members of the LDS Church, and to them, drinking such a caffeine-heavy beverage was pretty edgy. Right on the cusp of being forbidden altogether. And it was a staple of our youth.

We had an entire vernacular for it. If a can was spent, the words 'Dew me' would request a new one. When our supply became exhausted by hours of carousing and gaming, a 'Dew run' was necessary. To procure more Dewbage.

I've since fallen away from the Dew faith. On the rare occasions that I need a soft drink, other choices usually come first. Tried AMP for the first time this week, and it's not bad. Sure, I'll pick one up every now and then to support Jr. And occasionally, maybe even a case of Dew proper.

But the main point I want to make here, with all the talk of how big an image shift it is from Budweiser to AMP/Mountain Dew, is just that here in my corner of the world, where caffeine-free versions of most popular sodas are as plentiful in many grocery stores as the real thing, the difference between a beer and an energy drink is much narrower in a lot of people's eyes.

And that brings me back to the early days of stock car racing and the bootleggers. Except instead of moonshine it's a caffeine-laden Dewshine. And Dale Jr. is speeding around my beloved hometown that I now only visit twice a year or so, trying to avoid capture with his citrusy cargo.

Boy howdy, I can't wait until Daytona.

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