It might surprise you that . .

I am a Nascar fan at heart. Does that surprise you?! It does most people that meet and get to know me. I guess I just don't give off that vibe! However, I come from a family of generational (is that even a word?!) fans. Every Sunday afternoon when my brother and I were little my daddy would make no bones about it- "I am watching the race, go find something else to do." He meant that in a loving way, really :) So anyway, after daddy had kicked back and gotten comfortable (AKA fast asleep!) my bro and I would slip back in there in an attempt to change the channel to what we wanted to watch. About the time we got our hands on the remote the one eye would open, followed by "I told you I was watching the race!" Childhood memories of Nascar. I have also been told by my dad that when he was younger Sunday afternoon lunch was not complete at my grandparents house without the radio on listening to the race. Great stuff.

It had to rub off at some point! Actually, I became a real fan when I met my husband. Not only did he like fairs, but Nascar too?! Oh boy. What's a girl to do? I'll tell you what this girl did- went to the race! And, fell in love with racing and even more in love with my amazing husband. We love races . . and try to go whenever we can. I have been to Charlotte Motor Speedway more times than I can count (every year for the AllStar race), Bristol and Talladega (my all time favorite). When you actually know what's happening on the track it is so much fun to watch- and to get to know the drivers!

So, flash forward to present day. A few months back my boss and I went to list a property in a neighboring county. It was around lunch time when we finished up and of course we were looking for somewhere to eat! We decided on an Italian restaurant that neither of us had ever been to. Went in, got seated, got ordered.

My boss says, "Emily, I believe we just sat down behind David Pearson."

Me: "David who? Who is that?"

Boss: "Pearson. David Pearson."

Mentally I go back to a conversation my dad and I have had about who is favorite race car driver is. I am certain he has told me David Pearson. Absolutely certain. I began to get really excited at the thought that I am eating behind my daddy's all time favorite racer. Remember we are generational fans!!! I need to text daddy.

Me: Daddy, who is your all time favorite racer? Isn't it David Pearson?

Daddy: He is the king.

I know now that I am on a mission. The only thing that stands between me and a pic of myself with David Pearson is me being to shy to ask. Thankfully, my boss was not.




That is me, and my dad's racing hero.

This week, David Pearson was inducted into the Nascar Hall of Fame. I am proud to have had my picture taken with him. My dad, even prouder!