What a week it has been for the racers of RMRW Race Week 2.0 2021. Where do you begin? There was the usual litany of automotive carnage that saw a lot of drivers, including some solid veterans, bow out early. There was the impromptu photo contest that saw more than a couple of people dress up in a one-piece sweatsuit that was meant to emulate a beloved travel stop's mascot in the hopes of winning a prize. There were dirt roads in the middle of nowhere that some didn't see coming until they had nowhere else to go, highways that ate oil pans, exhaust clamps, and other necessary parts. There were the texts and notifications on the group Facebook page that bordered between cries for help and blue comedy...sometimes both if a picture showing red and blue flashing lights in a rear-view mirror was attached. But after five days on the road, it is time to put Race Week 2.0 to bed once and for all and start crowning winners.

We should probably explain the story regarding the trophies: the actual trophies for RMRW 2.0 didn't make it in time. The trophy maker realized that something was wrong quality-wise and would not be able to have them ready for the end ceremony. While the actual trophies will make their way to the winners, RMRW leader Matt Frost decided that handing out something was better than nothing. Hence...spray-painted dolls. Please don't ask us why, we didn't make the call. it's the thought that counts, and we're pretty sure that there was plenty of laughter during the awards ceremony.

The whole point of Rocky Mountain Race Week and RMRW 2.0 isn't so much to win an event or gain an award, though. It's nice to check that box, but the true spirit of the event shines through every time you see five cars pulled over because one driver has an issue, or when you see twenty racers lined up with a view of the track because they want to see somebody run a personal best after thrashing for hours in the pits. Camaraderie, friendship, and the durability needed to endure for a week is what matters most, and is what keeps people coming back, event after event.