I hear people say that they’ve found the one thing that makes them happy. And honestly, I think, no, I know I’ve found that something.

I thought my one thing would be tennis but it comes in second to my one true love, RACING! Now you may think, “Why did it take to til now to realize that yes it makes you happy?”. The reason: I didn’t start working on a race team to where I feel like I’m a part of something earlier. Yes, I worked for my cousin when he raced, but that was different. I didn’t do near half the stuff that I do with Crane Racing Motorsports.

My e-mail address doesn’t lie: [XXX] It’s the honest truth, I live and breathe racing. I’ve had dreams and still have dreams of racing. In 8th grade, we had to make a collage about ourselves and I had a picture of a NASCAR legend on my poster. I said that I want to be the first woman driver on the NEXTEL Cup circuit. Everybody laughed. My cousin in that class stood up for me. I can’t understand why somebody or an entire class can laugh at one’s dreams! I don’t laugh at your dreams! Why make fun of mine?

I started working with Crane Racing Motorsports in February. Something so simple became something big. I posted on a racing forum about making bracelets for drivers and fans. I get a reply that pretty much changed everything. I get an order for 25 bracelets and an invite to come to the shop to check out the car and meet him and the driver. I go out, see the BEAUTIFUL car and meet my best buds, Kent & Billy Crane. When I started making bracelets for fans out at I-70 two years ago, it was good. Then it fell off. I thought, why not try it again and BAM! I’m having fun with what I’m doing. Not only do I make bracelets for the team, I go to car shows, I, of course, attend Billy’s races, and every now and then I try to put a plug in for the race team.

This all hit me Saturday, when I was talking with Kent about next year. When Kent pulled out the Executive Summary, I looked down and under Team Members, you’ll find Internet Tech….Lauren Zupon. Yes that’s me! And reading that put it all in perspective that I finally belong to something that I love. Heck, I may not be the one racing the car, but I love watching Billy race the car and the team flow so smoothly!

So, realize this, Racing makes me happy, why can’t you understand that?