A facinating read. I am not a big fan of NASCAR, I watch a race from time to time, but this glance into its roots.....

From the sand to asphalt

PONCE INLET, Fla. -- From where he stands, 72-year-old Webber Johnson can't smell the burning rubber. He can't hear the roaring engines. And he doesn't see any fans. There are no barbecues to smell, beers to drink or danger to worry about.

It is completely serene. The only sound is that of the Atlantic Ocean, its waves crashing together before crawling their way to the tip of his feet. Between tides, Johnson takes a deep breath, grabs his wife Marge's hands and remembers.

"They... [ESPN.com]