2010 Daytona 500

Yes, I returned safely from the Daytona 500. I’m a little late in posting about the race because I was greeted, on my return, with a contract for 7 books. In addition, I’m working to complete the final touches on a new series. It’s meant dealing with a lot of details, and I’ll comment on all of these developments as contracts are signed, and details can be made public.

Daytona was a lot of fun. This is the 5th year that my son and I have gone. I stayed at Jim’s home, in Chicago, on Friday night a week ago. Early Saturday morning, his wife Lindsay drove us to O’Hare where we took an American Airlines flight to Orlando. After renting a car, we drove to my daughter Sarah’s apartment in Lake Mary.

The race had a funny twist, however. Weather in Florida has been extremely cold, especially at night. Now, living in Illinois, we’re accustomed to the potholes that develop during the fall, winter, and spring. That’s due to the freezing, thawing, ice, rain, and snow. Well, the rains, followed by freezing temperatures that Florida has been experiencing, caused a large pothole to develop on the track, right in the middle of the race.

Technicians had a tough time fixing the hole. After trying several compounds and combinations, it was finally patched, only to break open again after a few laps. Isn’t that just like a pothole? It was fixed a second time, and the race was completed.

Unfortunately, my favorite driver, Jeff Gordon, even though he was out in front for a couple of laps, faded near the end of the race.

Even after the sun went down, there was still a lot of racing left.

But it’s good to be home, and to be back at work on my action-adventure & mystery books for boys.