Mark Martin roared out of potential retirement to capture the 2nd place in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points race. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

* To visit the new NASCAR Hall of Fame and check out all five (count ‘em –five!) inductees.

* To keep up with my old buddy Sterling Marlin, even if he doesn’t race any more.

* To cover the big story when Sterling’s daughter Sutherlin wins her first NASCAR race.

* To stop pining for the Good Old Days of racing and get used to the fact that they’re gone forever.

* To give more credit to Cale Yarborough, who won his three straight championships during an era of much harder racing.

* Not to make fun of Richard Petty’s cowboy hat, even if it appears to be breathing.

* To get out to a track and say “hiddie” to Richard, whom I’ve always admired.

* To write more about what a genuinely nice guy Jeff Burton is.

* To find out what Ward Burton is up to these days.

* Never again to count out Mark Martin.

* To let TV announcers know that they don’t have to spend an hour each broadcast telling us that “track conditions” change when the temperature drops. We get it.

* To send a sympathy card to Larry McReynolds’ grammar teacher.

* To make sure Larry knows I’m kidding – it’s refreshing to see someone on TV who doesn’t put on airs.

* To continue to pester NASCAR about its unfair treatment of Carl Long.

* To persuade NASCAR to bring back Linda Vaughn for one last Victory Lane presentation.

* To cover some races at Bobby Hamilton Jr.’s new track near Nashville.

* To always remember that, as my old sports editor said, it’s only a game.

Larry Woody is a veteran, award-winning sports journalist. Woody began working at the Nashville Tennessean in the 1960s and took over the auto racing beat full time in the early 1970s.


Larry can be reached at lwoody@racintoday.com