Roger Jarrell elected Rockbridge Republican chairman

 Roger Jarrell II with son Trey, 17, driver with Trey Jarrell Racing

Well over a hundred people turned out Monday night at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington where Roger Jarrell II won the chairman's race for the Rockbridge area Republican Committee, defeating incumbent chairman Cher McCoy 94-34. Three candidates had vied for the position but Al Tucker dropped out prior to the meeting.

Rockbridge Republican Committee is part of the 6th Congressional District that is represented by Congressman Bob Goodlatte.

Jarrell, a Lexington native who attended local schools, is well known in the area and had won support from residents and the business community. After graduating from Lexington High School and Virginia Military Institute, he went on to earn his law degree at Washington and Lee University and now is in private practice. His involvement in politics began 20 years ago when he worked on Goodlatte's campaign for Congress as well as campaigns for Oliver North and John Warner.

Jarrell is an adviser with his son Trey who is a NASCAR driver for Trey Jarrell Racing Team.

Attending Monday night's meeting were  Delegate Ben Cline who drove back from Richmond's special session on Monday to give a General Assembly update before returning for Tuesday's session, as well as incumbent Wendell Walker and challenger Vance Wilkins who are candidates for 6th Congressional District Chairman at the convention to be held April 26 in Daleville.

"Thank you for NASCAR where we can still pray in Jesus' name"

"I thank you, Lord, for an organization like NASCAR that still allows us to pray in Jesus' name, Amen."
-- Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family
Invocation, NASCAR Memorial Day weekend Coca Cola 600 race
Charlotte, NC

The invocation by Dr. James Dobson for Sunday's Coca Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte was preceded by the All-Army Honor Guard presenting the colors and followed by the Charlotte, NC, Fire Department playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

A 21-gun salute by the Fort Bragg Firing Squad was followed by an Army bugler playing the haunting strains of Taps as soldiers saluted and patrons bowed their heads.

The NASCAR announcer then asked the crowd, "In honor of Memorial Day and all our fighting men and women around the world, please put your hands over your hearts as Army Cpl. John Highland sings the "National Anthem." With a bit of an Irish brogue, Cpl. Highland sang while a huge American flag was held aloft on the infield and fighter jets from the 333 Fighter Squadron out of Seamore Johnson Air Froce Base, NC, screamed overhead. My Air Force veteran husband got all excited at seeing them.

Military families Dickens, Foley, and Barnes started the race by proclaiming, "Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES!"

Race on! Boogity, boogity, boogity!

Thank you, NASCAR, for honoring our fallen heroes and our fighting men and women worldwide.

Daytona funny of the day

Whenever Darrell Waltrip is around, it's hard to find just one funny of the day ... but I found this one to be particularly humorous so late in the Daytona race.

Today's race has seen delays because of asphalt failure on the track due to extensive rains, opening a hole that needed to be repaired. This has caused the race to stretch out much longer than expected and, as the drivers restarted again around 6:30 p.m., this funny of the day came from none other than DW:

"I've had breakfast here ... lunch here ... and dinner here. I'm a little worried there's a Monday morning paper here."

It got a hearty laugh at our house.

Update: The marathon race finally finished around 7:35 pm with an emotional Jamie McMurray as the winner who said he held it together until he saw his dad ... and then the tears flowed. He interviewed with the Fox News sports guy and concluded by saying, "I want to be with my team."

Memorial Day 2009 ... NASCAR stopped race to honor America's heroes

At 3:00 pm NASCAR, racing on Memorial Day for the first time in 50 years caused when a rain delay postponed the race, paused to remember America's heroes during the national moment of silence.

Cars stopped on the track ... spectators were silent ... America's heroes were remembered.

Memorial Day 2009 ... Americans remember....