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July 5, 2007

Surrounded by Memories
By Dennis Michelsen
How can Richard Petty be seventy years old? The face gazing down at me from the wall never changes! As the planet hurtles through the solar system at a break-neck speed of 67,000 miles per hour we all need to hang on to those memories. But living in the past will do nothing but make you bitter and old before your time. So as I sit here surrounded by memories it is time to reflect on those new ones that are being built all the time.

Classic Memories
Sometimes I find it amazing that I can remember details of races from twenty years ago better than I can last week's race. Perhaps that is just the joy of recollections of our youth. Gone are all the bad memories but those thrilling wins by your favorite driver remain strong! The cars looked cooler and the drivers tougher back in the day. But twenty years from now we will look back at the COT and think the same thing! So the world goes as we race through this life!

Race Talk Radio
A little over a year ago I started off on a new project with an old partner. The idea was to bring race fans some unique radio programming on a new Internet radio station called Race Talk Radio. Just six months ago the project evolved under the guidance of two close friends and business partners. Each week race fans are entertained by our silliness while the bond between us "Three Musketeers" grows stronger! (Or is that "Three Stooges?") We have gone from just a rag tag collection of shows to providing the official radio shows of ARCA and the ASALMS. We even have live race broadcasting too!

www.racetalkradio.com

Simple Things in Life
It doesn't take more stuff to make this a better world. All you need is to take each day to make new memories to cherish! Take a walk outside and enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face. If such a simple pleasure doesn't make your day special you need to re-examine your priorities! Many people talk about the simple things in life but very few live it and when you find a friend who does remind you of those things that indeed is a gift to savor every day!

Why So Sentimental?
Those that have read my wise-ass rantings over the years might wonder why I am so sentimental today. While there is always more than one reason for any reaction it was the King's seventieth birthday that gave my sentimentality a shove this week. Richard Petty simply is not supposed to age! Also my oldest daughter Heather is getting married in eleven short days to a wonderful man named Adam that I will be proud to call "son." So many things are changing in my life and the world at a crazy pace sometimes a person can't help but be sentimental.

Surrounded by memories. The walls in my office are covered with reminders of great happenings from the past and some from the present. Dale Earnhardt, Alan Kulwicki, and Davey Allison are gone but will never be forgotten. Kulwicki reminded us often that "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goal." Davey reminded us to always smile, even when you wish your race had gone better. The Intimidator taught us to be yourself and have that tenacious fight till the last lap! Drawings by a dear friend remind me to live life like an Australian Shepherd! Gifts from my kids remind me of how fast they grow up. Surrounded by memories but making new ones every day!

Thursday on Race Talk Radio
7pm Eastern- On Pit Row- For seven years "On Pit Row", hosted by Bill Clark, Steve Wronkowicz and Charlie Turner has been mid-America's live weekly connection to the spectacle that is the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. Every Thursday we feature an encore performance of their Tuesday show broadcast live on radio stations throughout the Midwest.

9pm Eastern- Carl Edwards and Kevin Hamlin Podcasts
Join us each week for the Podcasts for one of NASCAR's biggest stars and one of the sport's rising stars!

10pm Eastern- Burning Rubber With Captain Thunder- Captain Thunder is a NASCAR reporter who has been writing and reporting on the sport of NASCAR for more than 15 years. Captain Thunder covers the sport with an in depth perspective his fans have come to know and love. Hear the Captain every week on www.racetalkradio.com.