JULY 3, 2012 LEGENDTORIAL ~ Fourth of July

by: Tim Leeming

When the sun comes up in the morning, or, if it is raining where you are, the United States of America will be celebrating a birthday.  July 4, 1776, when the founding fathers put everything on the line, including their lives, to establish the greatest nation the planet has ever known.  Regardless of your political convictions, thanks to the sacrifices of so many men and women who wear the uniforms of our nation’s branches of the military, we enjoy the greatest freedoms ever known to humankind.    Everyone living in the USA should proudly display the Red, White, and Blue tomorrow and remember to be grateful for all the freedoms we enjoy.

For many years, tomorrow also meant the faithful race fans would be journeying to Daytona Beach for the race.  Beginning as the Firecracker 250 in 1959, always run on July 4^th, it was stock car racing’s way of honoring the birthday of the Nation.   With the sun, cookouts, beach not far away, and the competition between the best competitors in stock car racing, what more could a patriotic American desire than being there? When the 4^th came in the middle of the week, it was the usual practice for fans to get off work on the 3^rd, drive most of the night, watch the race, then drive home to return to work on the 5^th.