Hello JB Fans,

The Atlanta weekend is coming to a close ...

Saturday

I tried to change my flight and head to GR on Sunday - no such luck. So Glenda and I decided to be tourists and I got a better attitude about being in Atlanta!

Russ called us to let us know that he was on the road with the motorhome towards Charlotte. Not always an easy thing to do with the wind blowing so hard ..

Before I start - did I mention that I confiscated some lugnuts from JB's tires? I thought it would make a great prize for the JBFC contests ...

We headed to downtown Atlanta to the CNN center and took the tour. Had our photo taken so it looks we are CNN anchors. I check CNN.com daily, so it was very informative for me to see how they produce the show and actually see the showroom.

Next it was on to the World of Coke. It was just as interesting. The best part was to taste the COKE at the end of the tour.

My cell phone was ringing with our dinner plans. So it was a rush back to the hotel to get ready. You never want to be late!

We went to Outback - very crowded with race fans. They said it would take an hour, but we decided to head to the bar where it's first come, first served. So - we took over some seats and ended up sitting in the bar area. When I returned the buzzer to the hostess, I bumped into a guy - who just turned out to be David Gilland - will wonders ever cease!

At the end of the night - there was a debate on the perfect time to leave the hotels. All I know is that I came out on the winning end - because I got a the team parking pass!


Sunday

As you well know, we all had to change our clocks on Sunday. We were up early at 5:45 am and out the door at 6:45 am. Then we made a pit stop to the Waffle house - the only time I eat there is when we are in Atlanta.

On the way in, I saw a couple of crew guys from the #20 and #11 teams who must have been walking from the Tara airport. I stopped in the middle lane of traffic and asked them if they needed a ride into the garage area - they did and were so grateful. I informed them we were practically family since JB tested for JGR. I have been on the receiving end of having to walk miles to get to my destination so I was glad to do a good deed for the day.

We got to the parking spot. It was 31 degrees. So we sat in the car (with the heat on) and watched the crews emerge once the garage opened at 8:00 am. Glenda thought one guy looked familiar - I laughed and said it's Robbie Reiser. Our car was surrounded by the Ganassi and Roush Racing teams. When I could finally hear the engines, I knew it had warmed up enough to head to the garage area.

The best part of strolling around the garage area is seeing my old friends and crew members who worked with JB. I saw Pat Tryson (#2 crew chief), Jerry from MBV days now the truck driver for the #11, Gary Putman (MBV) now on Martin Truex team, Mark Bierbach (Roush) now on Hornish team ...

Ran into Kyle Busch's mom. She and I became fast friends when Kyle raced in ASA. She gave me support when JB was injured at the Richmond Busch race and I was stuck at the ASA race in Florida. I will never forget her support and that is why I'm a Kyle fan. The good news for her is that after several years, she gets to score for him!

10:30 am - no driver sightings yet. The garage area has become congested with fan tours. The working space for the team is getting really tight. I stood at the back of the #20 garage between a stack of tires and the pit cart.

10:45 am - Roger Penske walks by. A SPEED camera man has parked himself next to me. I then realize that Rick Benjamin is talking to him. I was surprised to see him - but he was all decked out in Direct TV apparel - so he must have another gig

10:50 am - Bill Byrne shows me how he organizes the inspector tool box. Just a handy box that holds all the tools they need if they have to make adjustments going through the tech line. Wedge, shocks, fuel lines, etc.

10:55 am - Dario Franchitti walks by - Ashley Judd is no where in sight.

11:00 am - Wendy Venturni stops by to check on her husband - guess he is getting over the flu. There is quite a few people sick in the garage area these days ...

The #20 car is ready to go through Tech. I decided to also take the tour - because there is nothing else to do ... Had my picture taken with the #20 just as Richard Childress is walking by ...

The drivers are now coming out of the motorhome area to head to the driver's meeting. Robby Gordon walks by and says hi ... Brian Vickers gets mobbed and barely can walk to get to his destination ... Sam Hornish is on the move ...

Noon - still standing in Tech .. Tony Stewart walks right in front of me with his PR rep. I never muttered a word to him ... Learned about the splitter - they are only on the Trucks and the Cup cars ... Learned about the Carl Edwards penalty issue - was shown what the issue was.

I decided to look inside the #20 car. I was surprised to see that there was 2 cup holders for drinks and two fire extinghusers. I guess I never spend enough time looking at JB's truck - I mostly interested in the paint schemes and looking the decals over to see where the best place for a JBFC sticker would be!

Saw a couple of friends on Brian Vickers car - they said I could stand in their pit for the race. Thought that was nice, but I better stick with the #20 - who just happened to be parked by the #22.

There are six inspection stops. Shocks, body - all over templates, Front - nose spliter, height / weight and wheel base.

In the garage area when the pre show starts. Just happen to glance up and a see a car flying in the air.

Finally get a glimpse of JD Gibbs

For some reason, the drivers seem to be hidden today. I finally saw Jimmie Johnson sneaking on pit road for driver's introductions ...

Saw Delana Harvick, Krissie Newman and Katie Kenseth ...

1:45 pm - standing behind the #20 pit. Blaney is on left and Sadler is on the right.

The crowd roars when Junior is introduced.

1:55 pm - Glenda and I look up at the grandstands. There are a lot of empty seats. Sad.

2:05 pm - Bill Davis walks by. His pit is surrounded by fans that he can barely make it to the pit box.

Time for the national anthem. The #20 team lines up ... Afterwards they huddle for a pep talk.

2:10 pm - Joe Gibbs arrives and goes up on the pit box.

The race is getting ready to begin. I look over at Glenda and said, "You know, it's been fun - but it's just not the same without JB here."

She agrees ... The race is boring - I can't find Tony Stewarts car with the black paint scheme. After the 2nd pit stop near 100 laps, we decide to call it a day and leave. We couldn't see anything from the pits. We head to the hotel and finish watching the race. With only 12 cars on the lead lap we made the right decision!

In closing, there really wasn't a lot to celebrate this weekend, but in the end - there was a lot to do in Atlanta I love to be at the track. It's just a whole lot better when my favorite driver is there! I believe that writing the blog was theraputic and gave me a purpose for the rest of the weekend ...

Until next time ....

Go JB and the #23 team - Martinsville!