FanHouse NascarAndVirginiaTechTragedy

"It's a big deal for me and Elliott [Sadler] and Jeff and Ward [Burton] and those guys that are from Virginia. It means a little bit more us than probably anybody else.

"Everyone feels it and I've obviously been a Virginia Tech fan for a long time and have talked to [head football coach] Frank Beamer before. Oddly enough, I just got a bunch of stuff in the mail from [him] the day after all that happened. It's amazing what the world's coming to. We've still got to press on and keep in our hearts the memories of the families of the victims."

"Being from South Boston, Virginia, Virginia Tech has a lot of people that go there from the South Boston area. There are some people that I do know that are going to school there; more so I'm friends with their parents or my parents or my in-laws are friends with their parents and that kind of a thing. I don't believe I know anyone that was killed or injured. It's hard to get your hands around something like that; to think that something like that could happen.

"Blacksburg is just a stereotypical sleepy town that is just a nice place to live and a nice place to raise kids. It's kind of scary, really. It could happen anywhere at anytime. I just don't know what there is to say... it's awful. It's an awful deal, no question and hopefully they can start the healing process."

Chairman Brian France:

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their family members, their friends – and the entire Virginia Tech community. We wanted to make a simple, but strong, gesture of remembrance. We are grateful the university gave us clearance to display their logo."

The logo will be displayed against a black background on the "B-post" – the area just to the right of the driver's side window net – of cars competing in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series events at Phoenix International Raceway (Friday and Saturday), Talladega Superspeedway (April 28-29) and Richmond International Raceway (May 4-5).

Additionally, trucks competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event April 28 at Kansas Speedway also will display the logo.

Grubb:

"We had a lot of phone calls and emails going around when Virginia Tech beat Duke and UNC this year in basketball and always with football. We've always had a pretty strong following in the garage. It's amazing how many Hokies are actually in the garage when you get to know them.

"There's a lot of people in the garage that went to Tech one year before I did or one year after that I never knew because it's such a big campus and there's so many people there. But it's a tight-knit community once you find a fellow Hokie and you have a lot to talk about because everybody enjoys their experience that they have at Virginia Tech and it's something that they cherish and would love to go back and relive."

Yesterday's experiences won't be ones that any VT alum will want to relive:

Ashley Speegle, the former girlfriend of NASCAR heartthrob Kasey Kahne, was immediately on the minds of those who religiously follow the comings and goings of the drivers' wives and girlfriends.

On Monday afternoon, I was able to reach Speegle, currently a junior in the university's liberal arts and human sciences college, via email and confirm her safety:

"I appreciate everyone's concern. I am safe, as are all of my very close friends. They still haven't sent out any sort of list of the ones killed/hurt in the shootings, but as you can imagine we are all anxiously waiting. This is just scary beyond belief for everyone here... just praying for now for everyone and just sitting tight. Thanks again for your concern."

Even though it's been well over a year since Kahne and Speegle broke up, I wasn't surprised at all by the outpouring of concern from NASCAR fans--nor am I astonished by the sympathies being expressed in the Fanhouse by all sports fans.

A tragedy like this shatters the emotions of the entire country, not just those who attend or have students at VT or on other college campuses. Making a personal connection helps to hasten the healing process.

Fans looking for first hand account from campus should check out blogger Fanhouse blogger Nick Dallamora, a VT student who is blogging through Hokie eyes:

Through Hokie Eyes: The Day After at Virginia Tech
The Virginia Tech Massacre Through Hokie Eyes

I join other Fanhouse bloggers and readers in extending my own condolences and offer prayers to the families of slain students.

It is a sad day indeed. And on this sad day I am proud to be a sports fan.