Computer drama prevented us from updating at yesterday's races, so forgive, please. But maybe that was for the best as we spent our first time at the NASCAR race having a lot of fun.

Upon entry, we were too much in awe to remember we had fish-out-of water jitters; almost any time you see people barbequing, tailgating and passing around fried chicken you can't help but chill. We couldn't help but be envious, either, of the guys so at ease with their bodies that they had no shame in letting beer belly pooches and all-out guts flop out.

Outside of the actual races, there were booths set up by companies including Sprint, Red Bull and the Army; some of them played music that included 50 Cent, Timbaland and Soulja Boy.

I was so totally comfortable and into it that when a small crowd was gathered at one booth and this drunk dude yelled, "I'm proud to be a redneck!" I almost said, "Me too!" Everyone was pretty friendly. Every so often a few (drunk) people within arms length would try and shake my hand. You know me. I'm thinking, 'Uh, no thanks. I'm not sure where your hands have been. And anyway, who am I, Barack Obama?'

Before the race I had no understanding at all of what was going on. (What do those numbers that people are wearing on their hats mean?) As it started, I randomly decided I would root for #11, Denny Hamlin, because he is from Chesterfield County, like me. So then I sat back and watched my magnificient random-car picking skills at work as Denny shut everyone down for the entire race. He was unstoppable; I was totally into it. Well, mostly. By lap 287 (of 400) all the walking and heat and beer and fried food had caught up with me and I wanted to stretch out for a nap.

Then, the craziest thing happened, Denny got a flat tire, effectively shutting him out! Unbelievable. Then #88 took the lead, and then his car messed up and then....well, you can read the sports coverage. By this point I was so disgusted that Dennty was robbed - robbed! -- that I took off my headphones and returned them.

It was a great day. I learned to remember some important lessons: never make assumptions, and you really never know what you'll like until you give it a try.

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