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Saturday night's alright for racing in this...

Click here to join Darlington Raceway's Dodge Challenger 500 live blog and conversation beginning at 7pm ET.

All grown up on the cover of this...

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spent the seven years since his father's death learning how to live without him. In the cover story for ESPN The Magazine, "All Grown Up," Dale Jr. talks in depth publicly for the first time about the pain of losing his dad, who was killed in a crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001. Writer Marty Smith reveals that since Junior left the family business, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (and affiliation with Dale Sr.'s third wife Teresa Earnhardt), for NASCAR juggernaut Hendrick Motorsports this season, he’s finally feeling like himself again.

Quoting this...

On the loss of his father:

"When my dad died, I was numb, blind. I just kept moving. Going. Doing. It was horrible. The further away from it I get, the more I understand how I went through it."

"I didn't talk about it because it wasn't something I wanted to preach. 'Oh, I lost my Daddy, woe is me, and I gotta go through life without him.' I didn't want that message."

On his stepmother:

"I ain't got nothing against her. She might have something against me, I don't know."

On himself:

"I am striving to be the total package. A mature, dedicated, motivated racecar driver."

On finding a "bring-home-to-mama girl":

"I'm looking for that mental connection, somebody who sees and understands me like my sister and my mom do. I want somebody who can read me like a book and is okay with half of it. I'm particular, and I want to be particular. It hasn't struck me yet that I should relax my standards."

FULL STORY

NASCAR WAG doing her part for this...

Bruna Oliveira Named Candidate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Woman of the Year 2008

Bruna Oliveira, fianceé of NASCAR Championship Crew Chief Chad Knaus, has been nominated for Woman of the Year in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual fund-raising competition. Candidates are highly motivated, philanthropic individuals dedicated to raising awareness about blood cancers and raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Bruna is competing for the title in honor of Boy of the Year Michael Patrick Wren and Girl of the Year Eliza Bourg, leukemia survivors in her local community.

Quoting this...
"I have always said that I wanted to get involved with a great organization and help. I want to help people and, in return, I want people to see what I am doing and get inspired to do the same.

"So many people get involved in a cause after the fact.   want to be part of  preventing. I want to help in the research. I want to make sure that future generations don't have to deal with cancer. We are very far from that, but every little bit helps."

DONATE NOW

For more NASCAR charities and opportunities to support your favorite drivers and causes, please check out the Charitable Links to this... on the left.

Indy reporter legally wed to this...

Wedding of Raygan Swan and Matt Golitko
Indianapolis Museum of Art, April 20, 2008
Rich Miller Photography

Congratulations to NASCAR.com reporter and Indianapolis native Raygan Swan on her marriage to Indy area attorney Matt Golitko. Close friends and family witnessed the couple's exchange of wedding vows last Sunday at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

WEDDING ALBUM: MATT AND RAYGAN GOLITKO

Photos: Rich Miller Photography

All-American off-roader a celebrity pro in this...

Beccy Gordon - 32nd Annual Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race
Long Beach, Calif. © Chris Hatcher

Off-road racer Beccy Gordon is no stranger to being quick on the gas and hard on the brake as she tries to out-race her opponents.  But having pavement under her race car is a much different story as she prepares for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race April 19, one of six events to be run in conjunction with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Of course, the part owner and driver for All-American Girl Racing is following in familiar footsteps by getting her early pavement experience at Long Beach.  Beccy's older brother, Robby Gordon, finished second in the 1990 Long Beach IMSA GTO race in just his fourth-ever pavement start before heading to a career in Indy cars and now NASCAR.

Gordon will participate as one of six racers in the professional category that start the race 30 seconds behind the celebrity division.  She will compete against the likes of NFL Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, "That 70's Show" star Wilmer Valderrama, "Dancing With the Stars" winner Drew Lachey, former NBA star John Salley, ESPN NASCAR reporter Jamie Little and fellow pro's NASCAR SPRINT Cup driver Mike Skinner, Tony Pedregon and Whit Bazemore, both NHRA Funny Car champions, as well as former Olympic gold medal cyclist Marty Nothstein.

Quoting this...
Beccy: "Words can't express how thankful I am to Toyota for inviting me to be part of this incredible event. Toyota has been a part of my family for many years and I have attended this race since I was eight years-old.  I'm still in shock that I'm going to be racing on the streets of Long Beach and representing the off-road world!  It's totally surreal.

"I can't wait for the race!  The competition, not only in the pro category, but amongst the celebrities is stout.  I definitely have my work cut out for me, but I'm ready for the challenge.  If I can minimize my mistakes on the track, I should be in good shape.  This is such a different beast than I am used to in the dirt.  The Scion tC's that we are driving are awesome cars and handle like proper race cars on the streets. They are fast little machines.  Toyota's created a monster in me… I think I found a new love."

Racing For Kids
In addition to the on-track competition, Gordon also will be helping to raise money for "Racing For Kids," and in particular to raise money for local children's hospitals in Southern California.  To date, Toyota has donated more than $1.6 million to local children’s charities in conjunction with the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.

Quoting this...
"The best part about this race is giving back to the kids in our community. I'm a local So-Cal girl and I've been able to see firsthand the difference Toyota is making in the lives of some of these kids.  My race team and I have always supported local charities and I look forward to adding 'Racing for Kids' as one of our beneficiaries.  Anytime you can put a smile on a child's face, you know you’ve made a difference even if it's just for a moment."

PHOTO GALLERY

Should drivers be randomly tested for this...?

Click here to join the live blog and conversation beginning at 5:00PM ET.

Today's topic: Mandatory random drug testing

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Officially a devastating loss for this...

No official report has been made at this time, but a source tells TGOM that NASCAR official Brienne Davis was killed tonight in a tragic car accident. She was reportedly traveling on Interstate 77 in North Carolina when her car flipped and hit some trees.

Condolences and prayers to her family and friends on their devastating loss.

Update: The accident happened on the northbound 77 near Huntersville. A local news station reported that the truck bed was separated from the chassis and cab. Brienne was transported to Carolinas Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead.

NASCAR Statement
"We are deeply saddened at the loss of NASCAR Sprint Cup official Brienne Davis. She was a key member of our team of inspectors and will be missed by the NASCAR community."

More: Charlotte Observer

Big brother Ragan an inspiration to this...

ESPN feature on NASCAR driver David Ragan and his older brother Adam, who lives with Down Syndrome.

Spot the major drinking during this...

New NASCAR Drinking Game! School the Spotter

Listen to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s in-car audio during races and drink up every time he schools his spotter, TJ Majors.

Having his cake and eating it with this...

VIDEO: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the new and improved ingredients for success in the 2008 NASCAR season.

Thou shalt not live forever on this...

Charlton Heston, a fine actor and outspoken champion of the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution, dead at 83.

"I can't help thinking that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man. Has to be."

~ Charlton Heston as George Taylor, "Planet of the Apes"

R.I.P.

Living the three-wide life with this...

For years race fans have been asking for real behind the scenes content that they can't get anywhere else. Three Wide Life delivers informative and educational human interest stories about racers and racing in a way that can not be duplicated, cutting to the core of true racing fans, whether stock car, open wheel, dirt or anything in between.

Answer this... favorite Emily Maynard is the show's host.

Quoting this...
"We could not be more excited to have Emily Maynard as the new face of Three Wide Life.  When we began looking for a host we wanted someone who is a part of the motorsports community and not just a pretty face. Our show is about the people in the industry and Emily is one of those people. Her energy and excitement add a new element to the show."

~ Parker Williams, Vice President at Leverage Sports and co-producer of Three Wide Life.

Been wondering what former NASCAR fav Shane Hmiel has been up to? Want to go behind the camera with race photographer Streeter Lecka? Looking to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon of NASCAR sponsor loyalty? Visit www.threewidelife.com for all the latest interviews.

Is "Three Wide Life" airing in your living room? Check local listings here. If not, hit up your local affiliates and tell them you want more NASCAR!

TGOM and friends live blogging this...

Live blog today: Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway