Coolers or no coolers, we're moving forward

By Jim Huber, Turner Sports Interactive
September 25, 2001
1:18 PM EDT (1718 GMT)

COMMENTARY

The president has asked us all to go on with our lives, to go to work and play and let him worry about the terror which has struck us all.

Jim Huber

And we have done that, quite successfully, I would think. With both giant and tiny flags flying, we have resumed our daily life and no sport has accomplished that quite so typically as NASCAR.

The fallen hero’s son wins the race and two old hands duke it out behind him. Some things, even decked in red, white and blue, never change.

And now we learn that Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte plans to allow fans to bring coolers into the races the weekend of October 6-7. Now isn’t that a relief? They still limit them to the 14-inch variety with nothing glass, as always, and there won’t be any umbrellas. And they will search each cooler upon entry but you can bring ‘em.

I’ve never quite understood the no-cooler restriction, though I’m sure it has something serious to do with the rights of the concessionaires on duty to gouge you good and proper. The American way.

But let’s assume it has something to do with security, just for fun.

What, to stop somebody from blowing up the place with mom’s homemade baked beans? Or to restrict those rowdies in section 307 from having a food fight? You can do a lotta damage with a pimento cheese, now, doncha know.

Whatever.

We are indeed returning to our regularly-scheduled shows, with an eye over one shoulder and a flag over the other, a cooler at our feet and a shudder as the F-15 flashes overhead during the anthem.

Wondering where it’s headed.

And if it might wanna stop for some refreshment. Plenty left in this cooler for the long hard road ahead.

NOTE: Jim Huber has debuted a new book entitled "A Thousand Goodbyes", published by Thomas Nelson, available at all book stores nationwide.

Jim Huber's column appears each Wednesday on NASCAR.com. The opinions listed here are those solely of the writer.