HEY RED STATES! THANKS FOR KEEPING ME IN THE DARK ABOUT THE NASCAR DRINKING GAME.

What’s a matter? You guys can’t pick up a phone to tell me that NASCAR season started. Thought we were friends. Oh and thanks for clueing me in about that NASCAR drinking game. I had to google it. Fine! Be that way! Just don’t expect a holiday card from me. And to all other blue staters that feel left out too, here is the game (courtesy of Jason Woods) …

What you need:

- Generous amount of beer

- TV

- Friends

- NASCAR event

NASCAR drinking game rules:

Every one chooses a car. Whichever car wins, the losers have to drink the same number of the sips as the driver’s number. Everyone also needs to drink every time these words are mentioned…Aero push, tire(s), fuel, pit, tight, loose, lap(s), track, turn, car(s), car company name ( ford chevy etc. ), the name of any track.

Also take a sip if the following occurs…

- there is is a yellow flag

- there is a wreck (drink a sip for every car involved)

- a car’s tire bursts.

GAME TIP: To raise the game stakes increase the number of sips for any of the above tasks.

THIS V-DAY CURL UP WITH A STEAMY NASCAR-THEMED ROMANCE NOVEL.

by Jani Ogglin (NWM Staff Writer)

For those of you who are spending the pseudo-holiday with a significant someone, good for you (line should be read sarcastically). For those of you who aren’t, might I suggest a bath, with a tall glass of anything and a hot NASCAR/Harlequin romance novel. OR you could F-that too and just buy a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and veg out to a DVR’d Lifetime movie. If you’re going for door #1 here are my 3 racy reccos…

HITTING THE BRAKES (by Ken Casper)
Since taking over PDQ Racing, widowed businessman and single dad Jim Latimer is out of his element. Truth is, Jim knows next to nothing about stock car racing. On the positive side, however, the new position means a lot more time with PDQ publicity rep Anita Wolcott.

TAILSPIN (by Michele Dunaway)
Personal trainer Terri Whalen breathes car exhaust fumes the way other people breathe air. Born and bred into a NASCAR family, Terri travels the race circuit and ensures the drivers are in great shape. Her rule: job first. Men always seem to want more than Terri can give…until she meets Max Harper.

SPEED BUMPS (Ken Casper)
Star NASCAR driver Gabby O'Farrell can't believe her mother is harping at her again. How many times does she have to say it? She's not going to help run the family's corporation. She's not shopping for a husband of the right pedigree. And there's no way she's ever going to give up racing!

HOTTEST NASCAR WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS.

by Biz-Boy (NWM Staff Writer)

Hot cars and women seem to go hand in hand in NASCAR-land apparently. Go figure. Here’s my pick for the sexiest speed queens.

Buffy Waltrip (married to Michael Waltrip)

Ashley Judd (married to Dario Franchitti)

Ingrid Vandenbosch (married to Jeff Gordon)

Samantha Sarcinella (Dating Kyle Busch)

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER FOR NASCAR ROMANCE NOVELS.

by Jani Ogglin (NWM Staff Writer)

I can’t believe it took this long for the folks at Harlequin to head down this track (excuse the pun). Romance novels themed around America’s true sport – NASCAR. Here’s a look at 2 scorchers….

SLINGSHOT MOVIES by Anna Schmidt

NASCAR spotter Steve Grosso and veterinarian Heidi Kramer are…well, perfect together. But Heidi wants something she can't have with Steve—stability. Joining Steve on the NASCAR circuit will mean abandoning her career and the chance to open her own clinic. So Heidi faces a decision with no easy answers.…

But Steve makes his living by seeing spaces and maneuvering room where others see none. If he works with his family—who have been part of the NASCAR lifestyle for generations—maybe he can convince Heidi that home isn't one static place on the map. Because sometimes the only way to get ahead is to gamble—and risk everything for that one perfect opportunity…

RISKY MOVES by Gina Wilkins

As the new crew chief for Maximus Racing, Tobey Harris is under a mountain of pressure. He's sacrificed nearly everything for this opportunity. But when he finds himself working with attractive publicist Amy Barber, Tobey's pressure gauge starts hitting the danger zone.…

Amy isn't looking for romance. For the first time, she's representing one of NASCAR's top drivers, and she's not willing to risk her fledgling career for anyone…especially not someone she works with! But can Amy and Tobey keep their relationship strictly professional—especially when they're just inches from crossing the fine line between business and pleasure?