I love racing. And when I say that, I mean I LOVE racing. There aren’t too many things that make me as happy as I am when I’m at the track. I look forward all week to the weekends and getting back to competition. And I know how lucky I am to be able to do something I truly enjoy. But something I’ve learned along the way that I think is an important lesson, is I can’t devote 100% of my time to racing.
Between the weekly commitment it takes from me to be a tire changer and the demands of running this blog, I spend a lot of time with NASCAR on the brain. I sometimes feel like all I do is talk about it, read about it, write about it, and live it. But, as with anything else, too much of a good thing is bad. It becomes very important that I don’t let myself get caught up in the sport on a 24 hour basis. If I did, I would certainly become burned out in a hurry.
I will give you a few examples of some outlets and breaks from racing I personally have.
First, I’ve always been an athletic person. I may not necessarily be a skilled athlete, but I enjoy being active and competing. So one break is to participate in other sports. Since I graduated high school I’ve rarely turned down opportunities to jump into a pickup game with friends or join a rec league.
On top of that, racing isn’t the only sport I’m a fan of. Not only do I like to compete in other sports, but I also enjoy being a spectator. I’ve been to everything from NFL games to Thirsty Thursdays at Kannapolis Intimidators games. I also try and catch as much sports on TV as my time allows.
A third outlet is just enjoying some time with friends and family. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a BBQ or bar hopping. It’s always good to spend time just relaxing and maybe enjoying a few adult beverages with some good company.
The last thing I will mention might be shocking or sound bad to some of you, but it is vitally important to the health and future of this website. Once it’s the weekend, I rarely spend time on the blog. I normally don’t check my email or even open the site up until at least Sunday night (if it’s my turn to post). If Journo is busy, I may jump in and moderate comments, but that is about it. Doing this allows me to not only re-energize, but also focus on the racing.
The NASCAR season is one of the longest in sports. It’s a grueling trip that starts in February and can go on for weeks at a time without many breaks, until November. It’s easy to get caught up in it and forget that sometimes we need to step away and just take a little break.
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on Jun 26th, 2009 at 7:12 am
hey tc! great blog. being a tire changer extraordinaire, you understand the importance of having physical balance as part of your job but the understanding of having personal balance is something that often eludes folks, regardless of profession. i hit NI daily, partly b/c of the information you and journo provide. but i also stop b/c it’s clear to me that you both “have a life” outside our shared sport and your blogs and responses indicate an ability to separate nascar from other parts of your lives. it’s the life experience coupled with the passion for the sport that make NI interesting — and keeps me coming back daily.
no need to imply an apology for ignoring NI on the weekends, tc. life goes on and i’m suspecting both you and journo are just a bit busy until late sunday/early monday mornings! keep sliding around that car on the weekends and making time for yourself to enjoy the balance of your life the rest of the time. if that means we don’t hear from you for a bit, so be it: life will go on.
on Jun 26th, 2009 at 7:55 am
For a minute there I thought you were going to divulge too much personal information. Stay anonymous my friend, as it “is” the key ingredient for the success of TNI.
on Jun 26th, 2009 at 8:44 am
an off the wall question…ESPN shows a picture of Richard Petty celebrating with Kasey Kahne in California…DRINKING what looks to be wine…what happened to the Petty anti-alcohol stand…no Busch stickers of cars…no beer or liquor sponsors, etc….and no shootout for Busch pole award…hmmmm…
on Jun 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Hey TC. I enjoyed your backgrounder but have decided that we need to get you a woman.
Next spring, when you’re out here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, look for the tall executive type wearing a UNLV polo shirt. I’ll be the one with the red head and a big smile, Budweiser in hand – hanging around the Neon Garage.
I’ll hook you up with some serious local talent. The most beautiful women in the world live in Fabulous Las Vegas. Yep, what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.
Ok, that’ll get this blog fired up today.
on Jun 26th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Haha, thanks Greg! But what makes you think I don’t have a woman?
on Jun 26th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
@stanley byrd: a popular misconception in re: petty and alcohol, to be sure. the promise made to his grandmother (or was it his mother?) was that he would neither promote alcohol on the side of his cars nor take alcohol-related sponsor dollars. he said nothing about drinking alcohol.
as for the budwesier sponsorship: that came with kasey lahne when evernham became gillett evernham became petty motorsports — or however that fiasco ran!