Author: Dixie Haag

This week the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Any time I think of Georgia, I cannot help but think of peaches. In honor of the Atlanta location, I’m making a cake with peaches. I decided to alter a favorite recipe of mine. King Cake is one of our favorite treats. Even when carnival season and Mardi Gras are over, we make it for all kinds of occasions. We like it for breakfast as well as dessert. One of my make-at-home king cake recipes can be adapted for all kinds of events. The basic recipe was…

If you’re like me, you tend to skim over the names of the races from week to week. In general, race names reflect sponsorships by businesses. I know that NASCAR is full of sponsorships. . .paint schemes, track names, car/hauler stickers, firesuit patches, after-race drinks, etc. This week’s race title caught my eye, though: Folds of Honor Quicktrip 500. When I was thinking about that title, I had no idea what the Folds of Honor Foundation is. I had to find out. If you don’t know either, it’s worth your time to find out, too. The Folds of Honor Foundation was…

The opening race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is the Daytona 500. It’s the sport’s equivalent to the Super Bowl. The thing is, by the time the Super Bowl comes around we know every player’s number, statistics and projected performance. With the Daytona 500 we are watching our 2017 lineup for the very first time. New paint schemes, new sponsors, new drivers and new numbers are things that throw me for a loop! I find myself struggling to keep track of who I’m watching because the familiar paint schemes are different and the driver names don’t always match…

We’ve all been out with friends and ordered a round of Sex on the Beach shots. In honor of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season opening Daytona 500, this weekend we will be having Sex on Daytona Beach shots! These little drinks are a twist on the traditional Sex on the Beach shot. A Sex on the Beach shot has vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and orange juice. The Daytona Beach version features vodka, peach schnapps, grenadine, cream and pineapple juice. So enjoy the race, and toast your friends and your favorite driver with some Sex on Daytona Beach…

Looking for something to sip while you’re watching qualifying for the Daytona 500? I’m having a drink named in honor of the Daytona 500 itself! It’s been a real treat today to watch the Advance Auto Parts Clash and now the qualifying. The racing season has begun! Here’s hoping for some super fast laps and a pole winner from my list of favorites! Daytona 500 1 1/2 oz. dark rum 1/2 oz. triple sec 1/2 oz. vodka 2 oz. orange juice Fill glass 2/3 with ice, shake ingredients and pour into glass. Garnish with orange slice/cherry. Courtesy of bardude.com.

I like Kentucky Speedway. I’ve never been to see a live race there, but I’m still a little sentimental about it. Kentucky is the home state for my maternal grandparents, and I’ve spent some time there over the last few years for work. My first encounter with Kentucky Speedway was in 2002. Mike and I were in the area for work and wanted to check it out. We parked off-road and snuck around a construction fence to take a look. It was a neat little track. The Sprint Cup Series wasn’t racing there yet, but we knew they would be.…

NASCAR is at Daytona International Speedway this Independence Day weekend!  In honor of our nation’s birthday I’ll be mixing up some classic 4th of July food to enjoy while we watch the race. In addition to enjoying America’s past time of Motorsports, I will be spending time with friends and family. Independence Day is a good time to remember our country’s founding principles and to be grateful that we live in the best country in the world–a place where individuality is valued and differences are valued. Mike will be grilling up some burgers, and we will top them with bacon…

I figure our readers need some good recipes to use that commemorative bottle of Fuzzy’s vodka they bought in honor of today’s Indy 500. If you never grabbed a bottle of Fuzzy’s, you can use another vodka in these recipes, too. Either way, these are fun drinks to enjoy whike watching a race or just hanging out with friends. There are many, many vodka drinks, but I’ve included my very favorite ones here. My love affair with vodka began in college. I worked in a bar and learned some great drinks that way.  My boss showed me the Colorado Bulldog…

This week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is racing in the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.   At the superspeedway there will be Clyde May’s Alabama style Whiskey flowing.  The Clyde 240 Tower Tavern will be open at Talladega Superspeedway all weekend.  According to the Talladega Superspeedway website, the tavern’s opening made sense: “The partnership with Talladega Superspeedway is particularly resonant for Clyde May’s, because we have a similar origin,” said Roy Danis, chief executive officer, Conecuh Ridge Distillers. “Stock car racing was invented by moonshine runners who used fast cars to escape the law. Clyde May himself was an…

One of the most interesting things I’ve encountered in NASCAR is the trophy situation at Martinsville Speedway. This week the Sprint Cup Series is at Martinsville, and last year was the 50th anniversary of Martinsville’s unique trophy, the Ridgeway Granfather Clock. I remember wondering how on Earth a NASCAR race began giving clocks to drivers! It started when one of the drivers in the late 60’s commented he may have to start giving away his racing trophies because he was running out of space.  In an effort to make Martinsville stand out from other races, leadership began thinking about what…