by Kristin Valus, FOXSports.com

Updated: August 5, 2008, 1:02 PM EST 12 comments

add this RSS blog email Print

I was just your average (rabid!) NASCAR fan until I entered the Miller Lite Next Great Sportswriter contest sponsored by Miller Lite and FOXSports.com last year. After three months of head-to-head blogging against 15 other contestants, I won the contest and received the grand prize of attending the final three races of the 2007 NASCAR season. I was given media credentials and hot passes, and was even hosted by Kurt Busch and the Miller Lite Racing Team in Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami. I also wrote several articles from the fan's perspective for FOXSports.com based on my experiences in the garages.

My luck is still holding. Miller Lite is turning me loose in the garages again this year, so I can continue to represent NASCAR fans and bring a unique view of the sport to MillerLiteRacing.com and FOXSports.com. I will be in the garages at the races in Indianapolis, Michigan, California, Talladega and Phoenix and will give you a blow-by-blow of the action in the garage and out on the track with the Miller Lite team. I want you to feel like you were there with me!

When I am not reporting from the track, I will expand on things I have learned behind the scenes and bring you more in depth interviews with the members of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge racing team. You'll get an inside peek into their world off the track, find out how they got their jobs, what they are responsible for on race weekend and even where they hang out on race weekends for a cold Miller Lite. I'll share cool tidbits that I learn about the car, give you a tour of the team hauler and get the inside scoop from the Brew Crew about the current on goings in NASCAR.

I am here to represent us, the fans, and welcome your questions or suggestions. Let me know who or what you want to know more about on the Miller Lite racing team and I will do my best to get you the answers in my weekly articles.

There is definitely a lot "More-2-It" than we usually get to see on TV or from the stands, and I aim to bring it to you. I hope you'll join me over the next 17 weeks as we go racin' with Kurt Busch and the Miller Lite team!

A special thanks to Miller Lite and FOXSports.com for giving me this amazing opportunity.