NASCAR Cup Series: Thanksgiving-themed playoff awards
By Dustin Smith
Thanksgiving Award #5 – The Gravy Award
If you recall from earlier in the post, we have the fighting relatives, the corn, potatoes and cranberry sauce. We also have the apple and pumpkin pies, and of course, the turkey. Last but not least is the “Gravy Award”. Without the gravy, everything is still great and enjoyable, but the meal is not complete without it. This year’s “Gravy Award” goes to none other than Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It is hard to think about a NASCAR season without Dale Earnhardt Jr. as one of the drivers. It would probably be comparable to a Thanksgiving dinner without gravy. We’re officially at the end of the season, which means we’re at the end of the Earnhardt Jr. racing era.
It still hasn’t hit me that when the cars hit the track in February, Jr. will be in the booth and not being the wheel. I have said before, I am not a Jr. die-hard, but like many other fans of the sport, I wanted him to do well in every race. If it wasn’t my guy winning, I would’ve wanted Jr. to be the winner.
No matter the type of person you are, when you pour the gravy on your food this Thursday, consider how the rest of the food just wouldn’t be the same without it. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s retirement can be viewed the same way. The racing will be great and more exciting than ever. However, the feeling that something is missing will be there — just like the feeling you would have if you forget the gravy.