Once in a Lifetime...Part One

NASCAR weekend at LVMS was a smashing success!

Day One: Purpose.

The "Stalk" was finally on, NASCAR weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The plan was to meet up with my good friends, Nicholle and Lori, at the Neon Garage first thing Friday morning and discuss "The Game's" strategy. Once I entered the Neon Garage, I went straight to the garage window #19 where the #10 GoDaddy Chevy team would be for the weekend to take a quick look before heading to the restricted garage area on the other side. Right then and there through the window, I see Nicholle hugging Danica. I take out my phone to try and catch the moment, but caught the aftermath instead:

It was the first photo of a ton of photos and video I took over the weekend. The relevance of this photo will come later. I hurried to the restricted garage area to meet up with Nicholle and Lori, and I see Nicholle and Lori just "beaming" with joy. They tell me the story of how Nicholle made a gift bag for Danica's dog, Dallas, and that Danica also signed a banner for their fan club. At the end of the moment, Danica hugged Nicholle in gratitude. The hug I witnessed through the window. NASCAR media also had a video and photo crew there at the moment, and told Lori and Nicholle they will be in NASCAR Monthly magazine next month. And "the hug" was featured on national TV where members of Nicholle and Lori's fan club for Danica viewed on Fox Sports 1! Nicholle's Twitter account was blowing up.

After we somewhat "absorbed" that moment, we laid out the main goals of what we, as individuals, wanted to accomplish during this weekend. Nicholle's was the gift bag and the signing of the banner. Mine, of course, was the "DanicAl" photo. And Lori's goal, which was much more meaningful, was to have Danica sign a "Get Well" card for a very young member of their Danica fan club named Zoey.

Zoey is 10 year old girl from Canada suffering from cancer, and is about to go through radioactive treatments this month. As a token of well wishing, Lori thought since we were so good at "The Game", we should be able to accomplish Danica signing the card. 

After standing in the garage area throughout the first Practice Session, we knew Danica had to go to the Neon Garage for a live interview with Tony Stewart. During the wait, we met with the #10 GoDaddy Chevy team Crew Chief, Daniel Knost:

Nicholle, Lori and Fanboy with Crew Chief, Daniel Knost!

After the practice session, we caught Danica at the team hauler, and I got my "DanicAl" photo. With all the media and "hounds" surrounding her at the moment, it was a difficult photo to take even though she recognized me by greeting me with a big smile. She had no problem with my arm around her as she answered media questions and signed some autographs. I felt bad for Lori since she was fumbling with my phone and took a few photos of Danica's and my shoes. Eventually she got straightened out and took a shot. It came out kinda blurry...but it still accomplished the goal:

Geronimo!

Because of the "cluster-fudge" of the moment, Danica scurried into the trailer where she hid for about just over 2 hours. We didn't get the chance for her to sign Zoey's card. Determined and inspired, we stood there at that hauler door during those 2+ hours. We had a purpose. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't that bad of a wait. We met and shook hands with many a driver from Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, and Brad Keselowski to Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin, of which, we joked around with considering what had happened at Daytona between Hamlin and Danica.

We finally caught up with Danica heading to the Neon Garage, and Lori gave the card to Nicholle to get signed. I chased Nicholle and Danica taking this video:

I really enjoyed Nicholle's "pass on the outside" to get into position to explain what the card was for. Danica asked if she should write a message for Zoey, and Nicole replied to her, "Only if you feel you want to...". She did:

Get well, Zoey!

It was an incredible start to a once-in-a-lifetime weekend. And even though the "DanicAl" photo wasn't the greatest shot taken (and it wasn't Lori's fault at all, but mine using a phone as a camera...duh!), I believe that day had more meaning and purpose than just me getting my photo with Danica and "The Stalk". It was a chance for me to legitimize my understanding of "The Game", and use this understanding to help others feel what I feel when I get to meet my heroes. It is something very few people get the opportunity to do, and I truly know now I'm very fortunate that I can make those opportunities happen.

Once in a Lifetime...Part Two
Once in a Lifetime...Part Three