I have heard that of late the word "flabbergasted" has made a small come back. Now, you are all probably wondering what this had to do with NASCAR. Well I've decided to help it's comeback (flabbergasted, not NASCAR) by working it into my article.
As you can see the title of this article is: The NASCAR Experience, however, this experience does not involve a NASCAR "pro" being anywhere nearby.
Just recently I was on my way to Washington Dulles Airport to fly out west and visit family members when I saw the 495 BELTWAY sign. For those who don't live in Virginia...the beltway is a monster road, probably matched only by "The 405" in LA.
People with
Tony Stewart's mentality and the fearlessness of the naive rookies weave in and out of traffic at speeds roughly equal to Daytona (that includes the semis). Accidents make Talladega's look like fender benders.
After a few minutes on the Beltway, one begins to think like a NASCAR driver. Sure there are moments when everyone else is gone and there is peace. Yes! I'm leading the pack, ahead on the front stretch.
Then, all of a sudden out of nowhere, a
Jeff Gordon lookalike is three inches off my bumper. Hmmm...Drafting are we? We'll see about that! Drat, he did a slingshot maneuver to take the lead and disappears. What's he have under that hood, an F-22 Raptor engine? Encountering traffic (obviously people we have lapped) we continued along, weaving in and out of the pack, moving up, inching ever closer to the finish line (our exit). Will we be able to catch Gordon?
Yes, there he is, on the side of the road. He's run out of gas. Tried to stretch it too far did you? Skipped a scheduled pit stop eh? No, I wasn't flabbergasted (see, I told you I'd get it in here somewhere), given the likely fuel consumption of his engine. Wait, the exit, the checkered flag. Alright!!!! 180 points (plus bonus). Only one problem....can't do any doughnuts here to celebrate.
