Fireworks the night before the big Cup Race light up the night skies. 

The U.S. Army "Golden Knights" parachute team added excitement to the opening ceremonies. 

These jumpers were extremely precise as they finished the jump with a "running" racetrack landing.  It was very moving!

And then.....it was off to the races!!  My driver, Ryan Newman, had the pole, but couldn't grab the flag at the end.  My other driver, Wisconsin driver, Matt Kenseth, had an early encounter with the front wall and suffered from mechanical problems for the remainder of the race. 

The pace car starts them up again after one of the cautions and in the end, Kyle Busch took the flag.