It was great until the 'event' started

For me, the best part of Saturday's NASCAR Nextel Cup event at Lowe's Motor Speedway had little to do with the track surface. It involved some good people.

No, not Larry Hagman, although "J.R" did just fine as honorary race director, even if always liked him better in "I Dream of Jeanie."

The grand prize winners of ThatsRacin.com's Race Date contest were in town, hoping to see a race, of course, and we're sorry that didn't work out so well. It was kind of like inviting friends over to grill some steaks and finding nothing but ground beef in the fridge. Or having bragged about your football team for weeks, getting tickets and taking those friends, then watching the offense just mail it in and get shut out.

Brooke Pinkston and Ramona Thomas were here with their guests and we got to spend a little time together visiting the Sam Bass Gallery and getting them over to the Speedway Club for the evening's main event.

Sam Bass, Susan Russo and the rest of 'em were super and we've got some images of that visit to share with you soon. Scott Cooper and Susan Pare', among others at Lowe's Motor Speedway, likewise,  were the most gracious of hosts.

R.J. Perry, Michelle Putnam, Brian Wilder and the rest of the Premiere Sports Travel team also pitched in to help get our winners to town and put them up for a couple of nights. We couldn't have done it without them.

And, again, thanks to everyone who entered, 'cuz we dang sure couldn't have done it without you.

We'll keep you posted on promotions for next spring's event here in Charlotte and hope when it's all over but the shouting that we'll be able to call it a race instead of having to use one of those other words.

Maybe then we'll even have some positives to talk about after the green flag waves.