There are only two sports I watch. One, hockey, is just wrapping up with its season and playoff time is the best part of the season. ‘Tis an odd sport for a southern girl to be into. I mean when I was growing up, the Stars were still in Minnesota and I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a team south of the Mason/Dixon line. But I remember it like it was yesterday, the Miracle on Ice, when the U.S. David defeated the Soviet Goliath. That’s how a young southern girl from Fort Smith, AR became a hockey fan. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Having lived ten years in North Carolina, I was afforded the opportunity to attend my two favorite sporting events: hockey and NASCAR. I was even lucky enough to attend the Hurricanes first ever playoff game.

Now NASCAR seems a natural fit for a southern girl. I grew up attending stockcar races at the Tri-State Speedway just across the border in Oklahoma. I think I may have even seen Mark Martin or Rusty Wallace race there. Living in Charlotte, not only was Lowe’s Motor Speedway a scant 10 miles away from my house, but the majority of drivers are headquartered there.

So as hockey winds down, this last weekend was the premiere of NASCAR revving up, the big one, The Daytona 500, automotive performance parts and all. With Daytona Beach just two hours away, I think I’ll be saving my money. With any luck, come July, I’ll be sitting on the backstretch of one of the most famous tracks on the circuit.