iNSIDE SCOOP: Happy Holidays!

It’s that time of year again, y’all. When the clock strikes midnight tonight, you’ll be officially inside the line for the Happiest Time of the Year.

Christmas is, as Francis X. Cross once famously said, “the one day of the year when we’re all a little bit nicer.” It is that, and more. It’s the time when you get to stop for a minute and reflect on the year just passed and start thinking of the year yet to come, with all that passed between a referendum on what you’ve accomplished and what you hoped would take place.

For us, it’s part of the down time that NASCAR fans sometimes can’t wait to be over. You know who you are. It’s long enough since Homestead, and too long to Daytona. Happens every year, doesn’t it?

It’s also time to appreciate what you have, hold what you got and be thankful. For me, I appreciate my wife and daughters (and you’ve heard all about them in the past 10 years, haven’t you?). Appreciating the people I’ve worked with for that time comes in a close second.

Working at the ONMC has given me a lot of new friends, a sense of purpose and anticipation and a lot of time to spend among you. I’ve been a racing fan since birth, practically, and I’m in the same boat you are: it’s been too long since the roar faded out and too long until it starts again.

Before you know it, we’ll shake off the winter blues and gather the tools we need to make another foray into the world of sound and speed. You know the drill. Gather the tailgating gear. Pack it all up. Gas up the vehicle and hit the road to north Florida.

We’ll come alive again down there, next to the blue Atlantic, hitting our favorite spots, trekking to and from the hotel or camp site to the World Center of Speed. It’s like spring training for baseball nuts. There’s another season to become part of, and we live for the day when we roll through the tunnel to see what’s there.

We’ll be investigating the new driver/team combinations, seeing what the cars look like this year, buying our yearly apparel. Hopefully, you’ll be stopping past the Racing Electronics kiosk to rent your scanners again too. That’s a great program for you, and you should take advantage.

So, since the next time you hear from us will be in 2015, I’d just like to say thanks to all our Members, for being Members. You’re the reason we do what we do, and there isn’t a better group of fans in any sport anywhere.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. Or Happy Hannukah, as the case may be. Enjoy your family, take a minute to let it all sink in and appreciate your crew. Laugh a little, love a lot, and we’ll see you in Daytona.