NASCAR's Biggest Fan – Girl of the Week | Ron Ripple

There’s nothing like talking about myself in third person… it almost makes me feel like a big shot.  So where did Ron Ripple go?

I COULD make up this elaborate story about how I was in Dubai working for a new race team. I could also tell you how the team was planning to debut in the NASCAR world and that I (Ron Ripple) was their new driver… but then I’d be lying.  So to tell you the truth, I’ve been sitting on my big leather couch drinking case after case of budweiser. I’ve been drinking with my buds EVERY Saturday and Sunday watching the biggest baddest sport on earth, NASCAR. I know everyone is sick of hearing about the economy but because of it, I couldn’t make it to one race this season. I decided to save my money (unfortunately). But Good News for my fellow Ron Ripplers!!! I hit 5 or 6 numbers in powerball (kidding) and I’m BACK in action. I’ll be attending the rest of the races and reporting right here at www.RonRipple.com!

If anyone else wants to complain about the economy, HAVE AT IT! Because you won’t hear another peep about it after this post. From now on… the only thing you’ll be reading will be pure “NASCAR’s #1 Fan” opinion and of course… the hot wives and women of NASCAR.

I’m going to post a few pictures of some of the recent e-mail I’ve received from these infamous NASCAR Girls of the Week!

SNEAK PREVIEW OF WHAT’S TO COME!

The Girls

Lais De Leon

Vera Milli

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Last weekend was incredible for both Offshore Powerboat Racing and RonRipple.com. It was the  Offshore Super Series’ National Championships, so this past Thursday I loaded the cooler with a few cases of beer and headed to good ol Lake Ozark, Missouri.

I was so excited to see my new race team out there representing my website as well as the best sport in the world… NASCAR.  I couldn’t wait to see my boat out on the water and watch MY team “Ron Ripple Racing”…  (sounds good doesn’t it?) prepare for Sunday’s big race.

So I rolled in on Thursday evening at Lake Ozark, MO, checked into my hotel, and headed to the bar where I met up with my new team and competitors.  Thursday night seemed to be the night where all the teams, drivers and fan’s met at the local bar and threw down as many beers as they could.  Offshore Racing has their fair share of drinkers but they don’t call me Beer Drinking Ron Ripple for nothing… I showed the boys how it’s done!!!!

Thursday and Friday the teams started rolling in with their semi tractor trailers and equipment.  Friday was a day of rest… a.k.a…. a day to nurse my hangover.

Before I go any further I want to thank all of the teams and fans for welcoming me with open arms and with a cold fresh beer as I entered into the pits. Steve Page (driver) and Joey Gratton (throttleman) of the Ron Ripple Race Team were incredible and instantly made me feel at home. The fans and spectators of Lake Ozark are huge race fans and I enjoyed meeting all of you!

Ok… back to my weekend!  So Friday was a day of nursing my hangover and socializing with the teams.  I met so many incredible people this past weekend… the rumors are true… Offshore racing is like one big family.  I’m glad I am officially a part of it.

Saturday was the start of the horse power and rooster tails!!! (A Rooster Tail is the water that shoots out the back of the boat when a boat is hauling ass)  My team worked on preparing the boat for Sunday’s race and made a number of laps around the course testing propellers and set ups.  After timing the competiting it looked like we were the fastest so it was a great feeling going into Sunday’s race.

Take a look below at a photo my new buddy Pete Boden was able to grab as the Ron Ripple boat was screaming at 140mph down the lake during testing on Saturday!!

(unfortunately Pete Boden Does not have a website to show off his other photos)

Sunday finally came, and I woke up with butterflies in my stomach and had a bad case of what I liked to call my own ”Rooster Tails.”  There were thousands and thousands of spectators and fans that lined the course…  I was shocked as to how many race fans were out… I figured everyone would be at the NASCAR race which was only 3 hours away in Kansas City.

It was finally race day… and the day started with 5 different classes of racing which lead to the biggest race of the day (The Ron Ripple Team Debut). I was vibrating with anticipation and in order to control myself like I do for NASCAR racing, I shotgunned 2 quick beers which calmed my nerves.

The start of the race was intense as 6 of the fastest boats in the world were all racing to the first turn. The CRC boat shot passed all the boats on the start, with Ron Ripple and WHM fighting for second place. The first lap was crazy with the WHM boat almost flipping in the first turn allowing for the Ron Ripple boat to slide underneith them securing their spot in second place. The 5 mile course seemed like a 1 mile course and before I knew it, the boats were back around and somehow Ron Ripple was out in front. It was only the second lap when the Ron Ripple boat had a HUGE splash that went like this….

My team ended up hooking in turn 6 which caused the boat to spin out violently.  The skegs ripped off, the motor mounts broke, and the boat was a mess.  My heart skipped a few beats when I saw a HUGE splash!!!!  It was a sad moment for both the team and myself but I was just excited to experience what most call NASCAR on the water.

Both the driver and throttleman were unsure of exactly how the boat hooked but we’re all fortunate they were okay with only a   few bumps and bruises.  In total the boat suffered about $100,000 in damages.  One thing is for sure the crowd got an incredible show as you can see on the video above.

Congratulations to all the racers this weekend for putting on a GREAT Show and I look forward to many more races. A special thanks to all the OSS staff and racers. I’ll be heading to the World Championships in November hosted every year in Key West, FL.  I’m not sure if my team will be getting the boat together in time but with or without them I will be down there supporting my second favorite sport of Offshore Racing.

It’s pretty hard to admit but for once in my lifetime I chose to miss a NASCAR race for an Offshore Powerboat Race.  It probably will never happen again… but this weekend Offshore’s finest were competing for the National Championship, and I guess I was OKAY with that!

Take a look at some of the photos below and let me know if any of you guys have ever seen this sport in action? If so what have been your experiences and who’s heading to the World Championships in Key West?

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Ron Ripple himself (that’s me) is being recognized by Forbes Magazine this month in their Celebrity Issue.  Forbes Magazine is one of the top magazines in the world known to feature the richest and most famous people ever.  Ok… so they’re obviously not recognizing me for being one of the richest people in the world… but I still made FORBES for being NASCAR’s Biggest Fan. 

Forbes Magazine contacted me about 2 1/2 months ago saying and I quote “I’d like to tell you how badass you are… and I would also like to feature you in Forbes Magazine, as NASCAR’s #1 Fan.”

At first I thought this is really a sick joke that one of my beer drinking friends were playing on me.  I really wasn’t excited or anything but then I noticed the e-mail address came from Forbes and there was also a phone number.  So I picked up the phone and called this young lady who proceeded to tell me how excited she was to be talking to NASCAR’s Biggest fan.  Boy let me tell you what… I think she could tell that I was blushing from the other side of the phone.

Forbes Magazine was trying to get in touch with me… this beer drinking NASCAR fan who has no fortune or celebrity status except for this website on the so called World Wide Web.  At first I was curious as to how they got a hold of me.  Had they talked to my boys down at the track such as Tony Stewart or Dale Earnhardt Jr?  Did they call Kyle Busch and ask him who annoys him the most or who is a fly he can’t get rid of when he’s down in the pits?  Of course I knew they would say me, but when she finally admitted how she found me I was shocked…  she simply said Google.

After our brief conversation we set up dates on when she was going to interview me and shoot the photos for the magazine.  When the interview date came she called me up and I gave her an incredible interview filled with exciting quotes and tons of information.  At least I think I did… I guess we’ll find out on the 22nd!

One of the things Forbes requested from me was a place to shoot when they sent their photographers down.  I didn’t even hesitate when they asked me this so I immediately called my boy Craig Waters down in Bradenton.  Craig is a great friend of mine and is known for his incredibly decorated garage.  The guy has created a NASCAR heaven that’s jam packed with 3 flat screen TVs, 100′s of posters, 20+ DieCast cars, old race tires, a pool table, work bench, tool chest, couch, and the list could go on.   Click on the photos below to check it out!

About a month later Forbes sent down photographers to take pictures of me… well in reality they couldn’t take pictures of me, so they took pictures of my creators Blake and Brock Gratton.  I won’t get into who Blake and Brock Gratton are but let’s just say they’re kind of a big deal around here.  Ron Ripple wouldn’t be here without them.

But the rest is history and the magazine comes out on July 22nd which is right around the corner.  I’ve put up a count down on the right side of the page so make sure you Ron Ripplers pick up a copy.  I’m so excited and honored to be featured in the magazine and I couldn’t have done this without my readers. 

Thank you all and make sure you continue to read.

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