Argentine racer makes 10,000-mile trip to Bristol

When you do something for 25 years -- even something you love -- it might get, what's the saying, "old hat?"

For sure, you don't get sick of it. But as much as it enthralls the millions of fans that NASCAR racing has, it can become routine when it's just "what you do" every week, or every day, for a long time.

Been there, still doing that -- and still loving every minute of it.

So why not introduce someone to NASCAR up close and in person? Why not help make a dream come true by using what you've learned in more than 25 years around a sport?

It's a deal -- and not a deal that took a lot of convincing to sell.

Because this guy wanted to make a 10,000-mile road trip to get his first taste of NASCAR -- and to hear a mutual friend tell it, "he's like an eight-year-old at 11:30 p.m. on December 24th" about it.

Trust me -- it's a big deal. So strap in for the ride, and prepare to spend a weekend meeting Marcos di Palma.

In a way di Palma, 37, is the Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Argentina.

Both their fathers were champion racers. And both their fathers met untimely and violent ends. Luis Ruben di Palma died when his helicopter suffered a mechanical failure and crashed on a trip home from one of Marcos' races.

Following in his father's footstep, as Earnhardt Jr. did, Marcos di Palma has made a name for himself. The pair are big names, but don't just take my word for it. Throw their names into Internet search engines and see what comes up.

I did. Of course, Junior rang up 14.5-million references. Ho hum there -- no surprise to anyone at all familiar with NASCAR. (Continued)