You could have had a baby in the time the NEXTEL Cup Series season lasted this year. It began of course with the Daytona 500 and finished nine months to the day at Homestead, so if you're one of those who had a gestation period that covered the season, congratulations on the new addition.

NASCAR is the only sport that literally overlaps every other sport - the NBA, NHL, Majoe League Baseball and NFL seasons all begin and end during the NASCAR year. It's a grind to be sure.

The drivers have it relatively easy, jetting in on private planes, getting helicopter rides out of race tracks to avoid the traffic jams around every event and sleeping in million dollar motor homes in the comfort of the infield. It's the crewmembers that sleep four to a room, travel by commercial airlines and work 14 hour days that are the true heroes in my book.

It's not that easy for us media types as well, although I'm sure we won't get any sympathy. It's a great sport to cover and an awesome gig to be sure, but the long grind is tough to handle. In fact, I'm sure it's tough for some fans as well.

Well we all get a little rest over the next few weeks and I'll bet the mortgage come February, most everyone will be ready and fired up for another season.

And this time next year there'll be a few new fans coming into the world - as well as another bunch celebrating their first birthdays.