If you think stock car racing is just a redneck southern sport, I have news for you.

I sat up late last night watching the NASCAR boys in Richmond, Virgina. They were involved in two races at the same time. Kevin Harvick won one of them, but the other had ten winners.

Ten winners? In NASCAR, there is now a rule that provides a "playoff" where ten contenders race in the last ten races of the season to determine who is the champion. Last night's race was the last chance for drivers to make the top ten and have a chance to chase the championship. They have even named the playoffs "The Chase for the Championship."

But those top ten drivers are not southern rednecks. Matt Kenseth is from Cambridge, Wisconsin. Jimmie Johnson is from El Cajon, California. Kevin Harvick is from Bakersfield, California. Kyle Busch is from Las Vegas, Nevada. Denny Hamlin is from Chesterfield, Virginia. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is from Kannapolis, North Carolina. Mark Martin is from Batesville, Arkansas. Jeff Burton is from South Boston, Virginia. Jeff Gordon is from Vallejo, California. And Kasey Kahne is from Enumclaw, Washington. That's just the top ten.

So they seem to be from all over the U.S. In a few years, don't be surprised if they are from all over the world.
Howard