Long before I began my career as a journalist, I was always a NASCAR enthusiast. Ok, I’m from Brazil (not the city located in Indiana...lol), but the “fatherland” of famous drivers like Nelson Piquet; Emmo Fittipaldi; Helio Castroneves and the late Senna. But trust me, some of my early racing heroes were Richard Petty; David Pearson; Ricky Rudd; Bill Elliott; and then Dale Jarrett. In another words, I know a thing or two regarding NASCAR, its drivers, teams, and races.

Talking about races, I am also proud of my knowledge of the “Motorsports Superbowl”, or the Daytona 500. Yes, I am aware that some of the most legendary drivers in the world have won the Daytona 500. And as I am also aware that when a driver adds that victory to his resume, he not only joins that elite group of champions but also gets loads of fame. Ok, who I am kidding? The readers of “Girls Garage” do not need me to teach them these things!

Actually, I decided to write a chronicle on which I could share my thoughts on the Daytona 500.  First, I chose to write a letter to a fictitious winner of the 2008 edition of the 500-mile race. But then I realized that when that season arrives, it might not work. I have serious doubts if the 2008 winner will receive my letter  even if I send it “Special B” or via UPS. The winner of a famous race like the Daytona 500 does not read letters from the fans. He doesn’t even open the front door to his mansion. He doesn’t read magazines; daily newspapers, Jayski or GirlsGarage. He can not go out to see a movie. He talks only about essential stuff. He eats two slices of Domino’s Pizza and drinks MUMM champagne. I’m sure that after winning the Daytona 500, “Beyond the Glory” will do a feature on him.

And during the feature, I am sure the viewers will see interesting things. First, they will see how the driver spent his first days after the 500: sitting in front of a big Sam Bass art poster, watching how Bass’s work captured the drama and excitement of his victory at the 2008 edition of the Daytona 500 race; a win that resulted in a ten million-dollar payoff from the series sponsor (Sprint). The poster includes a portrait of him gripping the trophy and three images of the car he drove that day. And every time he looks to the picture on the wall, you’ll a smile on his face.

Oh, that smile. The endless smile made his wife Eva, err, Erika pack up things and leave home. The silence, the non-chalant attitude, she could ignore, but not the smile.

So instead of writing a letter, I have imagined a conversation between the 2008 Daytona 500 winner and his spouse. Here’s how the scene may unfold:

-           Leone (let’s suppose that the winner’s name is Leone), aren’t you thinking about going to the race track?

Leone just smiles.

-           Leone, what’s goin’ on? Your boss called me and complained that you didn’t show at the shop on the last 7 weeks.

Leone just smiles.

-           Leone, your crew chief said that you still have a seat and that your place is still granted on the team. But the sponsors can’t continue to send the payment if you continue by not showing up.

Leone cracks another smile.

-           The children need new shoes. The mortgage payment has not been paid since February and neither has my Psychiatrist. We have a few bucks on our bank account. And it will finish next month... and thanks to the bottle box of MUMM you requested from your French friends.

Leone just smiles yet again.

-           You know something? I’ve read some interesting posts at GirlsGarage: ALL the readers – and I mean it – answered a topic posted by my good friend Sheree. The GG readers said that your victory at the Daytona 500 was nothing but luck. It was fine. You saved tires on the final laps but let’s face the truth: no one can do it again. Please, stand up, sit in your car and head to the shop. And show everybody that you can repeat that maneuver!  Please, do something. Do it!

-           Tomorrow, darling. Tomorrow...

-           There is no tomorrow! There is not tomorrow!

He smiled again and set his finger to the wall.

-           Just like the old Nextel sayin’... “Done!”

His wife leaves the room. And then, the house. The divorce papers are completed.. And when she came back home to say goodbye, Leone said not one word. He didn't even blink! He just... smiled.

Now...back to real life.
Perhaps some of you’ve read at Reader’s Digest that the same kind of issue happened when the first man climbed the EverestMountain. Word is that when he got to the peak of the famous tower, he picked from his bag a little seat and put it on the floor. And then, he climbed over the little chair. The native guide that helped him on that adventure did not understand anything.  And when the man returned home, he spent more than nine months without talking to anyone. All that he wanted was to look at the photograph of himself on the chair located at the peak of the Everest. Oh, and he had a smile on his face.

Anyway, what you and me gotta understand is that when you start to race in a ordinary Go-Kart – just like the writer of this article –, you always search for a victory at the Monaco Grand Prix…. or at the Indianapolis 500…. or at the Le Mans 24 Hours race…. or at the Daytona 500.

And what about Leone? Well, he has two things to do: one, to go back to the shop. Just to sit in a chair, sign some autographs and stand as a still statue on which visitors will look at him and ask the tour guide “That guy won the 2008 Daytona 500”?

-           Exactly!

The other thing? Start all over again, on another role. Like get married with a beautiful girl called Eva, err, Erika. Or he could become the owner of a vegetable market on the corner of the main street. He doesn’t have anything else to conquer; he is the man of the Century. He won “that race”.

But, for awhile, Leone keeps looking to the big poster art on the wall. Sometimes, he says to himself. “I won the Daytona 500”. He drinks another flute of champagne and adds another smile on his face.