Spencer

When I think back to last Friday night, everything is still fresh in my mind.

I've been racing for a long time now, and I've been fortunate enough to win races in both the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series. Some wins I remember better than others. Friday night's win in the No. 1 Yellow Chevrolet will always be one that sticks out in my mind, simply because of the ironies.

First of all, winning at Bristol Motor Speedway is a major accomplishment for any team. Everything has to be working -- driver, car and crew. Even then, a good driver who has benefited from a well-handling car and good pit stops can still be caught up in somebody else's mess. That's just Bristol. It's short, steep, and brutal.

Friday night in the Food City 250, everything was clicking. The car was awesome. We needed only one pit stop, and the crew made the proper adjustments. We led 132 of the 250 laps, including the last 90. It might seem dominating, but it wouldn't be Bristol if there wasn't an exciting finish. Scott Wimmer closed right on my back bumper on the final lap, but we managed to stay in front to take the checkered flag.

As if winning at Bristol wasn't special enough, this night took on extra special meaning, and here's why:

	Spencer's win in Bristol was his first Busch win this season.

My family. Having my wife meet me in Victory Lane the day after our 21st anniversary is pretty neat. There are guys who wait their whole life to find a woman like my wife. She's been there with me through the thick and thin, and I wouldn't be where I am today without here. My kids were also waiting for me in Victory Lane, and so was my dad and my brother, Gary.

Yellow. The week before we went to Bristol, I made a trip up to Milwaukee in support of the 15 Yellow drivers competing in the American Trucking Association's 2002 National Truck Driving Championships. It was an honor to meet these great drivers, for they truly are the best of the best. And out of that elite group came our national champion, Jim March, who beat out over 400 competing drivers from all over the country. So between Jim March and myself, Yellow picked up two valuable pieces of hardware in one week's span. Not bad.

Pennsylvania coal miners. Being a native Pennsylvanian, I was truly moved with the rescue of the nine Pennsylvania coal miners who were trapped underground for more than 72 hours. They were special guests of Food City, the sponsor of the race, and all but one were in attendance. Their courage was captivating, and their will to stay alive inspiring. To see them in Victory Lane was an honor. I am a true fan.

When the night was over, I was already thinking ahead. The Sharpie 500 was the following evening, and I knew the Team Target Dodge would be fast. I was right. We remained in the top-10 the entire night, climbing as high as second before finishing eighth. It capped a great weekend at one of my favorite tracks.

Jimmy Spencer is the driver of the No. 41 Target Dodge Intrepid R/T. He is providing a regular diary to ESPN.com throughout the Winston Cup season.