I have to admit I'm a bit behind in the times, I must be getting old.  Since I started this blog almost 5 years ago now I have resisted the 'trap' of social media, but then again social media back then pretty much consisted of fan forums and Myspace.

I hated forums because of the trolls, lurkers, etc. so I stayed away from those and Myspace was pretty much people leaving you messages with their latest 'blingarrific' graphic.  You know, 'Happy Hump Day' or 'TGIF'!

But I did try the whole Infield Parking scene when it first came out, I used it to promote my blog to race fans but to be honest with you it didn't generate many new fans of my blog; it just created more work and to top it off Infield Parking ended up having the same trappings of both fan forums and Myspace combined.  I started to hate all the 'blingarrific' Dale Jr graphics from some Jr fan wishing me a great weekend.

Granted some of NASCAR's top stars went to Infield Parking and set up their own pages, and thus were thrust into the realm of social media, but not many kept up with their sites and if they did they used it to send out mass messages to their followers about promotions run by their sponsors.  I took advantage of them though and got a free Bobby Labonte shirt out it, but was it really Bobby Labonte that sent me that message?  I doubt it, it was probably one of his PR people.

I eventually stopped going to Infield Parking and stopped maintaining my page there because I just didn't have the time to keep up with it, I have a very active family - we do a lot of things - so time for me is precious.  Between my INfield Parking Space and my blog it was like running two seperate sites when I didn't even have the time to run one!

Infield Parking has revamped its platform since I stopped going there but I haven't been back so I don't know what it is like now.  It could be way better than before, or it could be way worse for all I know.  Maybe I'll venture back one day and see what's up.  When I get more time - ha.

After my Infield Parking experience I stayed away from social media platforms like Facebook, I just saw it as a dressed-up version of Myspace.  No thanks.

But then something happened, SBN encouraged its bloggers to get involved with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter so I decided to join the social media age again and signed up for Twitter - I still couldn't bring myself to go to Facebook just yet.

Once I got the hang of Twitter I then joined the Facebook crowd this past January and set up a NASCAR RnR page there too.  I'm still working on it and I try to update it as often as I can, but I still see it as if I'm running two separate sites.

There are a lot of drivers and NASCAR media types on Facebook and I've become 'friends' with most of them but it still isn't giving me the same satisfaction as Twitter does.

Don't get me wrong Facebook is great for connecting with your friends and sharing things with them - in fact I've re-connected with several people I grew up with and that I haven't seen in over 20 yrs (30 yrs in some cases - yes I'm that old) but as far as NASCAR RnR goes I'm not getting out of Facebook what I want.  I'm sure as I get the hang of it and learn how to use it better I'll get better results.

Now Twitter on the other hand is turning out way better than I thought it would,  Twitter is giving me exactly what I want for NASCAR RnR; instant news, information, insight, debate, and connections.

Not since live TV coverage has one thing changed an average fan's NASCAR experience as much as Twitter has.  Period.

Twitter has changed the face of NASCAR and given fans across the world access to drivers, officials, and NASCAR media-types like never before.

I mean, I was able to tweet a driver after the Nationwide race in Montreal a few hours after the race and he replied to my question.

I've been contact with Kenny Wallace who actually read one of my blog articles and thanked me for writing it. 

And by the way Wallace and Michael Waltrip are the kings of NASCAR tweeters (ha ha ha grr....).  They are the most fan friendly drivers who Tweet out there right now, although there are more drivers every day that are becomeing like them.

Ray Evernham (skiprec) responded to one of my enquiries as well:

4ever3: Ray would you ever go back and work with Rick Hendrick?

skiprec: Yes but not as a Crew Chief.  In some other capacity. 

I've had several Twitter conversations with NASCAR media-types such as Dustin Long and Kerry Murphy to name a few.

I've also had several Twitter conversations with former NASCAR Crew Chief James Ince - in fact I'm going to be doing an interview with him in the near future.

Oh and watching last weekend's Bud Shootout with my laptop out, on, and logged onto Twitter significantly increased my viewing experience - more so than anything else except being there with a scanner, but even then I'd probably have my Blackberry out (if I had one) and logged onto Twitter.

During the race I was able to find out about stuff before it was even relayed to the broadcast booth like Kevin Harvick's right rear tire that was going down near the end of the first segment.  I was able to see what the NASCAR media guys were twittering about, I was following what some of the race teams were twittering about, Delana Harvick was giving us great updates, not just about the race but about her feelings too - speaking of which Juan Montoya's wife, Connie, took over his Twitter feed for the race and did a great job getting her feelings across to fans as well as giving updates about Juan's progress.

Even NASCAR's Ramsey Poston was getting into the action by posting pictures of Kurt Busch's car minutes after the wreck - stuff that no TV camera crew caught.

Speaking of pictures I got to see tons of pictures from Victory Lane from various NASCAR journalists and fans that were there.

They even posted a picture of Kevin Harvick's flat tire after they took it off of the car.

In fact, Michael Waltrip was Twittering about his late race wreck at the same time eventual winner Kevin Harvick was pulling into Victory Lane.

This combined with the live broadcast just enhanced my viewing experience and allowed me to be better involved with the race.  I just wish I could find some way to combine my Twitter feed with my TV so I don't have to keep looking down at my laptop.

It's not just during races that NASCAR fans benefit from being on Twitter either, just yesterday NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck had a pretty good Twitter conversation with Kyle Busch about his lack of contact with media.  Here is how it unfolded:

Kyle: Not the best comparison but sounds like the media who slams me are givin the ok to Manning. Love his passion, I'm cool w it. Go#18

Jeff: RT @Kylebusch: Sounds like the media who slams me are givin the ok to Manning. Love his passion. -- KB: he talked to media after for awhile

Kyle: @jeff_gluckI do too when I finish top 3 in media center and top 5 on pit road. Do I not? I miss the media when i'm 5th or worse.

Jeff: @Kylebuschhaha you "miss" us when 6th or worse. I like that term. But anyway, sometimes that's when the fans want to hear from u the most.

Jeff: @Kylebusch My whole belief is the media reps the fans who can't ask the questions themselves. So if you miss us, you stiff the fans, u know?

Jeff: @KylebuschSometimes if u suck no one has any Q's anyway. But if ur leading and like run out of gas and lose...people wanna know ur thoughts

and then another online NASAR writer, Rob Quillen, puts his two cents in

Rob Quillen:    @jeff_gluck @kylebusch. Plus PM dodged the media after leaving the biggest sports stage in the world U do it after qualifying 8th @ Pocono

Kyle: @jeff_gluck guess that's why they formed Twitter. Lol

Kyle: @Nascar2dozendon't hav media obligations w that.

Kyle: @jeff_gluckummm... Thoughts... I ran outta gas. Shoulda had more to finish race w.

Jeff: Haha I'm so glad @kylebuschgot twitter so we can debate in front of 1000s of people. That is fun. Next wk's debate: Plain or peanut?

Jeff: There goes my job security! RT @Kylebusch: guess that's why they formed Twitter. Lol

I mean where else are you going to get this real time conversation at 10:30 pm on a Monday night?  Jeff is right twitter is a great platform for such a debate to happen and it played out in front of 1000's of fans.

This is something that you just can't get anywhere else.  If you don't have a Twitter account, get one before the next race and then tell me if I'm wrong.