Full Throttle

As the snow flies in the East and Mid-West, you awaken to the realization that NASCAR shindig in New York is a colossal waste of airtime and the calender says no racing til Feb the potential for a pre-Christmas depression looms large for some racing fans.

Fear not I’m here to prevent, or mitigate the effects of your race car melancholia. It’s the first weekend of December there are races to be had and drivers to cheer for. What’s that old tagline from ABC’s Wide World of Sports? Not the “Thrill of Victory” part, the “Spanning the Globe” part contained in the familiar opening of the sports anthology series.

So, let’s go! If you should feel a bit “under the weather” there is a bag provided for you in the seatback pocket immediately in front of you.

Our world wide jaunt starts with Rusty Wallace. You can bet your bottom dollar - or your most valuable Dale Earnhardt bobblehead doll - he didn’t leave NYC’s rubber chicken and overdone roast beef soiree and head for home. Rest assured he had a “ticket to ride” to Pensacola, FL and Five Flags Speedway. Traditionally the Snowball Derby held at the track brings to a close the racing season throughout the United States for Late Model Stocks.

Rusty’s son Steven is back for the 38th annual event as defending champion of the event after becoming youngest winner in Snowball history in 2004. But he will have his work cutout for him. Due to a problem during technical inspection Wallace only attempted one qualifying lap. As a result he will have to race his way through the Last Chance event and into the Derby to repeat as this years Champ. Rusty Wallace, who asked car owner Ritchie Waters to change the car number from #5 to #66, the number that Rusty used when he raced at the Snowball Derby years ago. In addition to Rusty, Mark Martin, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison and the legendary Red Farmer have all competed in the Snowball in years past.

Our second stop while “Spanning the Globe” is Paris France and the Stade de France where this years Race of Champions