Welcome to Memorial Day Weekend 2013! For race fans across the world this is the biggest weekend for major races in Formula 1, IndyCar, and NASCAR. It is a marathon and a day infused with racing drama on the world’s finest circuits.
Breakfast in the States can be enjoyed while watching the historic Monaco Grand Prix. Run since 1929, the Circuit de Monaco is heralded for its prestigious and glamorous reputation while providing the most harrowing racing in the world. The course is laid out in the Principality 
of Monaco and features many elevation changes, daringly tight corners, and is frighteningly narrow. This is the crown jewel in the Formula 1 schedule and a win here has been equaled to “two anywhere else”. All eyes are on Alonso, Vettel, Raikkonen, and the other F1 drivers vying for the win, the purse, the points, and the bragging rights. This is a can’t miss race and, if you have never set eyes on a Formula 1 race, is the perfect event to start watching to get you addicted to the speed, precision, and drama in this fascinating race series. The rest of the world already knows it’s time America gets on board completely! The Monaco Grand Prix will air LIVE on NBC from 7:30am -10:00am ET on Sunday, May 26th.
Lunch will be spent in the heartland of America to enjoy “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, the Indianapolis 500. As prestigious as the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 is far different in looks and history, but no less important. This year is the 97th running of this traditional race run over Memorial Day Weekend. Frank Santoroski picks Marco Andretti to win the event but certainly outlines the chances of several of the top drivers – and could-be surprise names – who could do well here.
Whether you know the players involved or not, watching the Indy 500 is as American and traditional as Memorial Day parades, barbeques, and sun burns! Turn to Drafting the Circuits to keep you in the know this year and learn about this fabulous series that is evolving into America’s newest racing passion once again. Drafting the Circuits is very proud and excited to have media representing the organization at this year’s race with writer Frank Santoroski and photographer Laura Bondurant Santoroski. The Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast LIVE at 12 noon ET on ABC.
Finally, after two-thirds of your race watching is over, it’s time to settle in for a dinner-time treat (and dessert and mid-night snack) in the form of a marathon NASCAR race known as the Coca Cola 600. Long, intense, and chock full of strategy the race run at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC is the whipped cream and cherry of this sundae of a Sunday! The longest race in the NASCAR schedule the Coca Cola 600 is arduous for the drivers and for some spectators!
This race has been run in NASCAR since 1960 and has produced great victories and many tragedies in its storied history. Most notably Class of 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Fireball Roberts was involved in a fiery crash in 1964 at the then titled World 600 that was so severe that it would claim his life weeks later.
Winning the Coca Cola 600 is a badge of honor for NASCAR drivers. It shows fortitude, tenacity, and patience. The names who have earned multiple wins here are legends like Jim Paschal, Fred Lorenzen, Richard Petty, Neil Bonnett, and Jeff Burton (active driver hoping to win on Sunday) all with two victories. Boasting three wins are the likes of David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson. Johnson, Kahne, and Gordon are all teammates currently driving for Hendrick Motorsports and vying to up their total to four wins this weekend. NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip is the only five-time winner of this laborious race.
The line-up for the 2013 running of the Coca Cola 600 already tells us that the race will be 
fantastic – hard-run, strongly competitive, and greatly entertaining. With the Joe Gibbs Racing stable – Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Kyle Busch – performing well this season, the HMS drivers mentioned plus Dale Earnhardt Jr. strong at this track as ever, and the likes of Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, veteran Mark Martin and Greg Biffle in the mix, the race has the potential to be epic! The Coca Cola 600 will be broadcast LIVE on FOX starting at 6pm ET.
Best to start gearing up for this orgy of racing coming our way on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend.
Please remember, though, that over Memorial Day Weekend it is imperative to remember the reason for the celebration. We honor our fallen men and women who served our country bravely and gave the ultimate sacrifice. I encourage you to buy a paper poppy from every veteran you come in contact. Take part in or attend a Memorial Day parade and/or service. And, please, thank all service men and women you meet. Without their duty to our country we wouldn’t have fun barbecues holiday sales, and a marathon day of great racing to enjoy.