I’m finally writing again! I have so much stuff to post for you guys, please bear with me while I get everything up. There are new Inside the Actor’s Studio interviews coming too. I’m in Las Vegas this weekend for Blog World & New Media Expo, but I’m planning on getting a lot of writing done as well. So stay tuned…
Last Thursday I drove seven and half hours down to Southern California for the start of my Auto Club Speedway/Pepsi Max 400 race weekend.
As I was driving I tried to think of new & interesting questions for Tony Stewart. Tony was having an autograph session at the Office Depot in Rancho Cucamonga that day and he had an open media session before he starting signing things for fans. Yet again I found myself having a hard time thinking of more questions for Tony. I really loved how well my first interview went with him that I didn’t want to ruin it by asking more questions and having it be lame.
But still I came up with a couple questions and debated whether or not I would go to the session. Plus, I wasn’t sure if I’d get there in time. My original plan was to drive straight to the Office Depot store but, because I’m paranoid about not checking in on time, I went straight to my hotel to get that sorted out. I texted Lisa, a fabulous PR person who works with Office Depot, to tell her I wasn’t going to come out to the autograph session. I figured I was late anyhow but she said I should come and she wasn’t going to be at the race that weekend so this was my only time to see her. So I went to Office Depot. Don’t tell Tony that I really came there to chat with Lisa and not him. Ha.
🙂
Anyway, I got there but not before watching road rage unfold before my eyes in the PARKING LOT of the Office Depot shopping center. This guy stopped abruptly in front of the car that was directly in front of my car, he got out and started cursing the woman and she cursed right back. Meanwhile I’m yelling at both of them to knock it off ‘cause I don’t want to be even more late than I already was. Eventually the guy got back in his car and then the two of them had a mini drag race towards the Office Depot entrance. People are really amazing sometimes, and incredibly dangerous seeing as how there were people milling around checking out the No. 14 Office Depot Chevy show car.
So I got to the store and went inside and met Amy of Amy’s Bad Groove and her BFF Misty for the very first time. It’s always really fun to meet someone you’ve only ever interacted with online. Amy & Misty were prepared to ask Tony questions (the results of which you can read here) and I was still saying I wasn’t going to ask anything. Tony was busy with a local TV station’s news crew. Lisa convinced me I should talk to him and she was right. I mean, really, it’s not everyday that you get the opportunity to talk to Tony Stewart, especially now that he’s in The Chase. I’m posting my mini Q&A with Tony in another post.
Tony Stewart signs autographs for his fans at the Office Depot store in Rancho Cucamonga, California on Thursday, October 7, 2010 (photo credit: The Fast and the Fabulous)
Here’s the really fun part of this story. After the interviews were over, Tony sat down to start signing autographs. It was then, just before fans started to file in, that I got to witness Tony Stewart flirting, hard core flirting, with a woman. Upon reflection, now that I’ve had a week to think about this occurrence, I’m thinking it was all for show. Maybe he just did it because he could, not that she wasn’t really pretty (she really was and she was totally his type) but maybe it was more just to show whoever was around that he had game? I don’t know, but it was kind of awkward. Really, really, really interesting to witness but still awkward.
🙂
Later that night I went to the Stater Bros. Racefest presented by Pepsi event at Auto Club Speedway. Racefest was a free event and gave fans a chance to meet some of their favorite drivers in person. On hand was Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Scott Speed, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Burton, Rusty Wallace and others.
I met up with Heather, who is a David Gilliland fan, who brought her daughter and her friend Paula. I had such a fun time hanging out with them while they got autographs and took pictures with drivers. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again NASCAR does a ridiculously great job in engaging their fans. This event was free and you were able to get close to these guys that drive on Sunday. It’s just insanely cool how much access you have to these superstars. Yes, there were long lines for certain drivers but they all moved pretty fast.
Any trip to Auto Club Speedway isn’t complete without a trip to the concession stand for an official Sprinkles Cupcake. I had one that night at Racefest and it was delicious! Surprisingly enough that was the only cupcake I had that weekend. Tragic.