Part 2 - Who doesn't know where the Sprint Tower is

After finding my buddy in the parking lot, which was 2 miles from the track, we got in line to get on the bus. When we get to the front, some lady, who looks official, tells us that they will not let us bring a full size cooler in the track. We then walk back to my car where, luckily, I had a reusable grocery bag to put the beer and ice in. We finally get on the bus and are on out way to the track. On the bus, a guy asks where I'm sitting. I tell him I'm looking for tickets and he says he has a pair. I ask where, and he says, "the Sprint tower, you know where the Sprint tower is." I have no clue, so he shows me a map, and the tickets are 40 rows up and 10 yards before the finish line. We buy them and the seats were a great place to watch Smoke win the race. After the race, the line to get on the bus that takes you back to the lot is Disney long. We decide to walk back. Felt like the longest walk ever, and I had to talk to cops along the way, good thing they were Smoke fans. Got back and got out of the lot in a few minutes, remember, it was only a few minutes.

Part 1 - Fast Trucks and Uppers

So it is Friday night and I am watching the truck race at Daytona. I start thinking, I live pretty close to Daytona and it is a Superbowl-caliber event, I should go. I call my buddy John, who lives in Orlando and is Whiskey's love-slave, and he says that he has no plans so I should come on down. Next thing I know, I am making plans to drive to Daytona in the morning, but did I mention I was drunk. It is 11 PM and I need to wake up at 5:30 AM to get to the Nationwide race. I wake up at 5:00 AM, and I am pulling onto the highway by 6:00 AM. Anticipation is one hell of an upper.

Part 2 tomorrow.

Pork Chops

Mix equal parts salt, pepper, hungarian paprika, ginger powder, onion powder, and garlic powder.

Rub on pork chops (I used bone-in, 3/4" thick)

Put a few dashes of habanero hot sauce on each side and rub in as well. You should have a red-orange paste on each side, but still be able to see the meat.

Let sit for 2 hours.

At 1.5 hours into the sit, turn on oven and set at 400 F. Put in cast iron skillet.

After 2 hours, set burner on highest setting. Once rocket hot, pull skillet out of oven and place on the burner. Sear pork chops on each side for one minute. After second side is done, move to oven on skillet and cook for 3 min. Then flip and cook for 2.5 minutes. After 2.5 minutes, remove from oven and place chops on plate covered by foil. Place skillet on burner set at medium and deglaze with red wine (I used a pinot). Pour glaze over chops. Enjoy.

I had a side of asparagus and mushrooms. I sauteed the 'shrooms in the skillet and deglazed after they were cooked. The asparagus I cooked in the oven for ten minutes, coated in olive oil, salt, and pepper.