The Race is On - R.I.P. George Jones

81 year old country music singer George Jones passed today. I am reminded of some of my favorite trips on the OLD Winston Cup schedule... the ones I made to the track at Nashville Fairgrounds. We'd drive the Wrangler van over from Greensboro with the kids. They loved the amusement park next to the Fairgrounds track better than the big one at Opryland.

In the land of Marty Robbins, it was George's "He Stopped Loving Her Today" that was played over and over on the jukebox in the lounge of the old Hall of Fame Motel in Nashville where I stayed along with the Bud Moore crew and others.

R.I.P. George. Thanks for the memories. Your race is over.

Thank you for posting this, Dave. I know my heart was broken when I first saw the post. BUT, I know my Precious Momma..was right there to greet him.....SHE made him a part of our family...

2005, Nashville, TN - Sound & Speed Event - Two Kings Sign Autographs - photo by Don Harr

8x10 autographed photo offered for sale on Amazon.com

Another ICON passes.. R.I.P. George, Thanks

I do, even today, maybe especially today, love George Jones music. "The Grand Tour", "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and "The Race is On" rank as some of my favorite songs. I used to sing "The Grand Tour" as part of my program I would do from time to time to those groups who wanted to engage me to perform. I admit, most of the the time those groups were the ederly and I often wonder if they came to performances without their hearing aids. George and Tammy! What a duet pair they were. As Wally said, we've lost another priceless American treasure.

I think racing and country music go together so well because good country music involves putting the perfomers heart into the song, just as good racing involves the driver putting his heart into the race.

Rest In Peace "No Show". I have a feeling that when you DID show up at the Pearly Gate, you were welcomed heartily and were surely given the grand tour.

I often sing (ugh) The Corvette Song to Beverly..... "Oh She was hotter than a 2 dollar pistol... ......" , Thanks George..You were awesome !!