Let's all welcome the lovely Ashley Judd to the world of NASCAR, shall we? The wife Dario Franchitti, the latest open-wheeler to make the jump to stock car circuit, Miss Judd has been carving quite a figure at the practice sessions this week. She had this to say about Dario's jump to NASCAR:

"It is difficult to overstate how proud I am of my husband," Judd wrote in an e-mail. "His willingness to chuck everything he knew — and at which he excelled at the highest level — for something totally new and unknown, I think he is utterly courageous. How many of us have that type of humility and adventuresome spirit?"

Huh? Were you saying something, Miss Judd? Whatever. We're glad to have you around. Careful, though, you've got some serious competition from the lovely ladies of NASCAR. And they don't backstab, Hollywood-style -- they'll come at you like a spider monkey.

(Hat tip to Sports by Brooks. Photo courtesy Getty Images.)