Mike Szvetitz

Sports Editor

Sitting in Section “Junior Nation”

I was in Talladega this past Sunday for the Aaron’s 499. No, I wasn’t covering it. I was there as a spectator.

For the first time since, well, I can’t remember, I attended a sporting event with a ticket and not on a media credential. And it was fun.

My brother hooked my dad and I up with tickets ... actually, my brother’s fiance bought him three tickets for Christmas. Anyway, it was a boys weekend, and we took full advantage.

I took off Friday, and hung out with the guys on my back deck. Good times.
Saturday, we went golfing. Really good times. Although I couldn’t hit my driver to save my life, I still had a good time. And I didn’t walk, which is always, always a plus.

Sunday we went to Dega. We left out early to beat the traffic, and guess what ... we did. Seriously, on the way there and on the way back we didn’t sit in one bit of traffic. Jealous? I know you are.

My brother’s got GPS, and I don’t know what he did, if he tapped into some time-space continuum, but we zipped right in. It was glorious.

Our seats were even better. We were 19 rows up right at the entrance to pit road. We could see turns 3 and 4, the tri-oval and the start finish line. Plus we got a great view of the first (or last, depending on how you look at it) pit stalls. I’m still amazed at how those guys can change four tires in under 18 seconds.

The section we sat in was “Anniston” but I think it was a misprint. We were in, as the nice lady behind us said, “Junior Nation.” Actually, the entire Talladega Superspeedway is Junior Nation.

There was one guy in front of us who, and I’m not making this up, screamed “Go June Bug ... whaaaaaaaaoooooooo” and held up three fingers every time Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove by. I’m talking EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

And it got funnier every single time he did it. He was taking it so seriously, but even the die-hard Junior fans behind us were cracking up.

In all, it was a great time. No traffic. Good seats. And no sunburn. Extra bonus.

*** In 2009 NFL draft news (I know you can’t wait for that. You’re holding your breath already), Scout Inc.’s Todd McShay is picking Auburn University defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks to be the fifth overall pick to the Bengals. Don’t believe me, look.

Sen’Derrick is good. Really good. But the ‘09 draft is a long, long, long, long, long, long, way away. I could be the fifth overall pick by then. Hey, I’m eligible for the draft, it’s been three years since I was in high school.