Pepsi ‘Max It Now.’ Winner
Recently, I participated in a competition entitled Pepsi ‘Max It Now.’ You had to register your username and sync your social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, Google, Instagram, and IntoNow) and then complete challenges.
The challenges included posting a Sponsor-requested photo or video, answering a Sponsor-requested question, sharing Sponsor-requested information, checking into a location, or identifying a television commercial or show. The challenges were not easy, but fun and educational.
Imagine the surprise and excitement, when NASCAR Race Mom received an e-mail stating that I was a winner!
While NASCAR Race Mom (NRM) did not win the grand prize, I was lucky enough to snag the only “Personal call from Jeff Gordon (pre-recorded) given away.” My excitement waned a bit when I noticed the “pre-recorded” part.
However, I was later informed that my five-minute phone call with the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion would actually be live! Now I was truly animated. My husband and I have been huge Jeff Gordon fans for quite some time now! The two weeks before the scheduled telephone conversation inched by slowly.
“Hello, this is Jeff Gordon,” our conversation started. “How are you doing?” he asked. I am sure that this NASCAR legend had no idea just how great I was feeling.
Jeff Gordon presented himself so at ease and polite, he immediately calmed my nerves. As I was allowed to direct the dialogue, I asked him about the highs of Richmond International Speedway versus the lows he experienced during the last race.
“That’s just part of racing,” Jeff explained. “It is definitely not how we wanted to start the chase as we already had to start twelfth in the points; but we are not out of it yet. You have to be careful not to dwell on all that good and bad. Ten races are a lot more than most people realize. We need to get everything we can out of it and make up some ground. Never give up!”
This weekend you will see Jeff race in New Hampshire, minus his famous mustache. When I asked him why he lost the mustache, Gordon chuckled. “First of all, the real question is why did I open my mouth about growing the mustache in the first place. But I did and true to my word, I grew it. Then after the type of weekend we had, I thought I enjoyed the mustache long enough. But we had fun with it.”
“I hear that you live in San Diego.” Gordon asked me. After stating that he was correct, Jeff went on to hypothesize “Other than Jimmy Johnson fans, I don’t know that we have a lot of big NASCAR fans out there. I am glad that a true fan from San Diego won this phone call.” I assured him that there are lots of us NASCAR fans here in California!
Unbelievably, Jeff asked me about my son (Moses Smith) and his racing endeavors. When I explained that Moses had to take this year away from NASCAR to focus on his duties as the Manufacturer for the Formula Mazda series; Jeff stated that he had heard of the series. Gordon inquired, “He actually builds the race car? That is a pretty good business to be in. I bet he has plenty of challenges and stays busy.”
In my last question to Jeff Gordon, I asked him how having children (son Leo and daughter Ella) has affected his racing career? “No doubt that it affects you; it affects everything. You don’t realize what it is to be a Dad. In some ways it motives me more. I want to do something that makes them proud and that they can be a part of. The only thing that has really changed is my sleep pattern. I was not a morning person, but I am now. I am lucky that I have such an understanding wife.”
NASCAR Race Mom has not attended a Sprint Cup race this year, but I expressed my desire to attend the Phoenix race in November. Both my favorite NASCAR Series will be at the same track. The Cup cars run on Sunday and the K&N Pro Series West races a day earlier.
“Yes Phoenix is a great town and a great track. I hope to see you and your son out there.” Jeff responded. Now that would be a thrill!
NASCAR Race Mom is a huge fan of fellow Californian, Jeff Gordon. If you are not a #24 NASCAR fan, you should reconsider. He is a great athlete and quite a gentleman.
***Quick reminder: You can still purchase your 2012 Corvette Raffle Ticket today and you could be driving home in Jeff's personal 2011 Convertible Grand Sport 4LT. Only 7500 tickets available. September 24, 2012 is the last day to purchase your ticket. Click here to purchase your ticket!
The mission of Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation is to support children battling cancer by funding programs that improve patients’ quality of life, treatment programs that increase survivorship and pediatric medical research dedicated to finding a cure.
In addition, the Foundation provides support to Jeff Gordon’s Children’s Hospital in Concord, NC, which serves children in the community by providing a high level of primary and specialty care, regardless of their ability to pay.
(I bought a ticket for the raffle . . . . a girl can dream, can't she!)
