Last night was the 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. It was fast and, well it was a bit furious. The last few years, NASCAR racing at Daytona and Talladega has been less than stellar. Two car tandem drafts were kinda boring. There was no big wreck. There was no excitement. But, NASCAR has changed things around, again, and the boys are back to needing to think and drive in pack mentality.
Last night’s race was a lesson leading up to the Daytona 500 next Sunday. There will be wrecks. A lot of them. We have to hope for the best, that no one gets hurt, that one loses their life. We have to hope all drivers walk away after the race and after a wreck, just as Jeff Gordon did in the Shootout when he flipped over multiple times, when Kevin Harvick’s car was on fire, when several drivers ended up slammed into the wall.
But there will be wrecks. There will be tempers. There will sparks flying. And it’ll be a hell of race to watch.
This is me. This is how I was dressed yesterday. The important part was the hat. It was sent to me by my brother for Christmas, along with a limited edition Toyota t-shit from one of Kyle’s biggest wins. I didn’t wear that one. I’ll put it on next weekend. But, I sent this to picture to my brother and if any of you know anything about the last year for me, my half-brother has come into my life after 32 years apart. We share a lot of similar things and one of them happens to be racing. We can talk racing. We laugh about it. We discuss heatedly about it.
Last night we texted throughout the race. It was incredibly fun. We seemed to have the same opinions about almost everything. Our sense of humor is identical in most cases. So, yesterday, I took this for him and sent. Upon receipt, he took one of him and his new hat…
This was also my first piece of camo gear…grins
Kyle Busch, won the Budweiser Shootout for 2012. I couldn’t be more thrilled. He’s got a lot of haters, and well, that’s fine. Hate him. It just motivates him and his fans. Me included.
There were inches separating Kyle and Tony Stewart when they came across the Start/Finish Line. There were cheers and there were boos when Kyle got out and stood on the window cut-out of his car and took his signature victory bow for the crowd.
Now during races, I scream at the drivers, at NASCAR, at the television. I get as amped about it as I do college football. The adrenaline rush is amazing… The way the yelling relieves stress is too. Grins…
Once the race was over and I was so stoked that I couldn’t sit my ass down, I decided that in honor of this win by Kyle, I needed to have a giveway. Besides, it is my birthday this week and what better way to start off the celebration than this! Damn, I wish I’d been there!
As for what I’m going to give away?
1 copy of any of my backlist or 1 copy of my upcoming release, Forever In Blue Jeans (due out Wednesday 2/22/2012) and $10 in eBook Bucks from All Romance eBooks. (International)
1 Personalized Bag of M/M’s (your choice of color) with the #18 on them because well, that was the winning car number and winning car sponsor from the Budweiser Shootout. (US only)
What do you have to do to win? Leave me a comment here on my blog telling me your favorite color M&M. If you don’t like M&M’s…well, then tell me what your favorite candy is. Please remember to leave your email address along with your comment.
I’m not requiring you to follow my blog or my Facebook Fan Page, or sign up for my newsletter, but if you’d like to do any or all of those, that would be awesome.
So, congratulations to Kyle Busch and the #18 team and Joe Gibbs Racing on their victory last night and best of luck to all 43 drivers who will start the Daytona 500 on February 26, 2012.
I’ll choose a winner from the comments by 6pm EST on Monday, the 20th and post them on the blog.
Have a great Sunday!
~lissa
(Images, other than myself, obtained from Nascar.com)
Congrats on team#18!!! I have never been a NASCAR fan but I do relate to the fun n adrenalin I’m a motorcross fan as well as other sports. Now as far as m&ms mmmmm I love em coconut, peanuts, plain, almond, peanut butter, but colors??? Don’t think I have a preference but I do a weird thing where I match my colors when I eat then reds with red, yellows w yellow don’t know why I just do. Green is my fav color though so if I chose a color it’d be green. Best of luck watching the next race n congrats on reconnecting with family, I found my sister 6 yrs ago after 30 years- best thing ever xoxoxo thanks for the giveaway
Hi
We were watching last night! Great start to the season. I have become a NASCAR fan because my husband has always been one. Congrats on finding your brother – nothing like family.
Thanks for the giveaway. I have read several of your books and I love them.
Pam
Sounds like you had a great day Lissa and a great start to the NASCAR season. I’m really excited about the upcoming release. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Being a huge Neil Diamond fan back in my teens, I love the titles to these books. Favorite color of M&M would have to be GREEN, of course!
Have a super week!!
I’m the only auto racing fan in a house full of men but I will be watching Daytona is next weekend. My favorite M&M’s are the blue ones. Can’t wait for the release of Forever in Blue Jeans!
Chris
cdkros (at) gmail (dot) com
My favorite M&M color is red. Because I’m from Indiana, I tend to scream for Smoke alot. I would love to go to the Dayona race. I’ve went to the Michigan 500 years and years ago. One place I have never been in the Indy 500….I only live 30 minutes North of Indy, so I guess I have no excuse for that! lol
Can’t wait for your new book to come out….Always look forward to your new releases.
RobinV
Happy early birthday! My favorite color is blue.
amysmith98 @ gmail.com
I love the hat!!! **Gasp to find out that is your first piece of Camo gear!** If I would have only known! =)
Yayayayay on your winning! And I love the picture!
And I saw on the home page… Oh gosh, that damn cover is making me want some Forever In Blue Jeans of my own… Oh wait… I have some hahahaah!!!!
Anyway, what color… My favorite color is the Red, he is so yummy, tasty and delicious.. And not to mention he is kinda cut on tv! Ha! It is a toss up between him and Red… I mean, she is sexy after all!
Good luck to everyone! Lissa’s book rock freaking apples… or in this case.. Jeans!
Hugs
Happy Birthday Week!! Though I no longer can eat M&M’s, my fav color was always green. 🙂
Can’t wait forForever in Blue Jeans!
While I’m not a NASCAR fan, I do know how much you love it. Congrats on your team & driver winning!
I’m SUPER excited to read Forever in Blue Jeans! My fave M&Ms are the blue one (I even voted for em when they were picking the new color…lol)
aunt_cori(at)yahoo.com
Congrats on the big win for you team!! I’m not a huge nascar fan, but it sure does look like a fun thing to do!
My favorite color M&M is brown. Always has been. I already follow you everywhere. 🙂
TLC84@Yahoo.com
I watched the race with my hubby last night, and after that amazing finish, I knew you would be totally jazzed.
We revere Mark Martin around here, and are looking forward to watching him race next Sunday.
As for favorite m&m’s, I am currently hooked on the peanut butter variety, and like the regular year round colors better than the Valentine’s Day colors currently out. There shouldn’t taste different, but I swear that they do, lol.
I have all your books, and would love to read Forever In Blue Jeans.
Happy Birthday week, Lissa.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Happy (early) Birthday!
I used to watch racing all the time.But for some reason I haven’t in a while.
Love the pic 🙂
My favorite color M&m is red.
Hey, Lissa! Your hair has gotten longer since RAW. Looks good. I actually watched a lot of the Shootout yesterday. My hubby is a fan. I don’t really get it but the crashes are spectacular! I love the odd color M&Ms. I think the lilac is great and the neon color. Have you ever been to the M&M store in NYC? I am going to visit in a few weeks. I can hardly wait.
You are adorable in that hat, Lissa! I have to say that I am out of touch with the world of racing, but it is so awesome that you and your brother have that in common. 🙂
As for my favorite color of M&Ms….hmm. I’d probably say orange.
Happy early birthday! I don’t really watch any type of sporting or racing events. I have been known to catch some bull riding now and again. 🙂 I do tape the Superbowl to watch the commercials and the half time show.
My favorite M&M color I guess would be green.
Thanks for the giveaway!
beckerjo at verizon dot net