I am a HUGE race fan and I knew I'd enjoy the Roval. I mean, I love road courses, I love ovals, I love racing, I love Charlotte Motor Speedway... how could this race be anything but enjoyable?! And it was SO enjoyable! But as it turned out, my favorite part of the day happen before the green flag ever fell.
Charlotte Motor Speedway invited Sherry Pollex to be the honorary pace car driver. If you are not familiar with her, she is an amazing woman! Not only is the she the long time girlfriend of reigning champ Martin Truex Jr., but she has been fighting ovarian cancer herself for years. Even before her diagnosis, her and Martin did some amazing things in the battle against pediatric cancer, and they continue to to do amazing things. They are just an incredible couple all around, and Charlotte Motor Speedway did a great thing by having Sherry as the pace car driver.
I was excited to see her lead the field in the pace car, but I wasn't expecting to get so emotional. I was there in the stands watching the pace laps, when Martin pulled up behind her, then next to her, then gave her a small tap on the rear bumper, and the emotions just came over me. I found myself bawling in the stands!!! But how could you not be emotional over that?! I mean, to watch her fight against cancer, to watch Martin win the championship, and then to see this! It was a beautiful moment that none of us race fans will ever forget.