[caption id="attachment_346" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Stand Located Under the Grandstands Near Start/Finish line"] [/caption] Every now and then, something happens in this goofy business that makes all of the work and all of the travel worthwhile.  Something far grander than earning a living and supporting the folks that work for you.  One of those things happened to Peggy and I this weekend at Martinsville Speedway during the Bailey's 300. A little lad, about 8 years old, stood in line with his father for a funnel cake.  After I cooked it, Peggy served it to him and said," Thank you.  I hope you enjoy it." The boy beamed and turned to his father and said, "Dad, I heard the lady. I really heard her. She wants me to enjoy this." Peggy was stunned. [caption id="attachment_347" align="alignright" width="300" caption="1st Qualifying Heat on Sunday"] [/caption] The father explained that his son had just been through a Coaklier implant and was just starting to hear things.  Hearing and understanding Peggy was a  first. The weekend was solid for Big Red. Saturday, Jean, Laura and Tank had a great game at Liberty.  Laura, who is still fairly new at this, basically took Peggy's normal position and made lemonade until she thought she would turn into a lemon.  What a difference a week makes from a total disaster last Saturday to a great game this weekend. [caption id="attachment_348" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Fat Funnel Cake Guy Waiting for Crowds"] [/caption] Meanwhile, Peggy and I were at Martinsville Speedway for the Bailey's 300.  We knew going in that this would not be like a Cup Race but a pretty good crowd was expected on Sunday.  So, I opted for trying to do the race with just the two of us to save on labor and an extra motel room since I don't have contacts in Martinsville yet.  Plus, we had only a 10x10 space rather than our usual 15x15  like at Richmond Raceway. An extra couple of people in that space would have been pretty cramped. As it turned out, Saturday was nothing for practice and qualifying, but Sunday, I could have used another person.  I also underestimated things and ran out of corn dogs and powdered sugar with nearly half of the race left.  I shut down for a few minutes and made a mad dash for the nearest Food Lion to replenish supplies and finish the race. [caption id="attachment_349" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Race Fans Party at the Motel"] [/caption] Still, a great outing and things look really strong for the NASCAR races there in three weeks.  We'll have two locations then:  One inside between turns 1 and 2, and one outside in the vendor row with all of  the merchandise trailers. This week, Peggy, Chuck and I will do another JMU football game and try to eclipse our new record we set a couple of weeks ago.  Should be another great game. On a sad note, last Sunday Big Red lost one of its most ardent followers.  Bill Spruell passed away rather suddenly even though he'd had health problems for the past few years.  Bill and I went back to my wholesale floral days and he was a regular at my warehouse and at the farm.  His wife, Betty and her sister, went on one of our cruises, and she and Bill went to Mexico once with my sister.  He was a fabulous guy and will be really missed. Rest in peace, Bill.