Amy Marbach's blog

Ever since I caught parts of the Sprint Cup testing at Daytona International Speedway last week, I’ve been getting excited about the new season.  Actually, excited doesn’t begin to even cover it; raring to go would be more accurate.  Like “Gentlemen Start Your Engines,” let’s go, racing ready. BRING IT ON!

Christmas and New Years are holidays spent with family, but admittedly, by the time Christmas Eve rolls around I am really really missing my NASCAR fix.  Some of my fondest holiday memories revolve around motorsports.

It's hard enough being a NASCAR fan on the west coast, but the 2011 NASCAR schedule is making my life even harder. 

I have a secret: While watching the last race of the NASCAR season at Homestead-Miami, I was actually pulling for Jimmie Johnson to win his fifth championship.  While I duck and cover under my virtual desk (because technically I am sitting on a couch), you may gasp in horror and hurl virtual tomatoes and empty beer cans in my direction. There, do you feel better?

USAC racer (and former NASCAR driver) Shane Hmiel was involved in a violent qualifying accident for the SUMAR Classic at Terre Haute in early October.

The season isn't even over yet and I am already going through the withdrawals, knowing that by the end of the month the 2010 season will be over. There will be no more NASCAR racing until February. It is already making me restless.

While watching the race at Charlotte, I was genuinely concerned for Kasey Kahne's health after the race announcers stated that he was feeling too ill to continue on in the race Saturday night. I am not really even a Kasey Kahne fan and I was concerned. I can't even imagine how worried his fans actually were.

I decided last year during the chase that I was going to keep track of points without the seeding emphasis (the bonus points that NASCAR awards for regular season wins).

At one race away from the ten race Chase for the Sprint Cup Series Championship, I feel I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. My driver, along with the top 10 series drivers, is pretty much locked into the Chase for the Cup.  However, just like last season, I am left wondering if the Chase doesn’t need to be changed slightly.