Monkeying around starts off a wild weekend at TMS

Spending three days at Texas Motor Speedway covering WinStar World Casino 350k, the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge and the AAA Texas 500 will wear a person out. But two Capuchin monkeys, who where hired by TMS President Eddie Gossage to sell programs, stole the show for me at least. Check out some of the highlighted photos below, about 34 images in all. You can read a couple of the stories here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/06/2610529_april-victory-at-tms-put-hamlin.html and here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/07/2612192/pit-stops.html

Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage shows off "Miki" a Capuchin monkey at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Miki and "Rocky," not pictured" will be selling programs to race fans throughout the weekend. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Miki, a Capuchin monkey, checks out my camera gear in the media work room at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Fort Worth Star-Telegram Staff Photographer Paul Moseley

Miki, a Capuchin monkey, checks out my camera gear in the media work room at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Fort Worth Star-Telegram Director of Photography David Kent

Miki, a Capuchin monkey, checks out my camera gear/his reflection in the camera lens the media work room at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Brandon Wade

Brandon Wade, me, dawning race day gear poses for a photograph in pit road before qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway Nov. 5, 2010. Photo by Fort Worth Star-Telegram Staff Photographer Paul Moseley

Gymnasts perform on top of the garages before the start of the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

The wind blows Danica Patrick's hair in her face during driver introductions before the start of the 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson prepares to drive the pace car before the start of the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

U.S. Army service men slap hands with NASCAR fans before driver introductions before the start of the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Kevin Harvick inserts his ear piece during the 'AAA Texas 500' practice at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Martin Truex Jr.'s (56) car backfire's after he slid into the infield grass coming out of turn four during the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Dave Blaney's (37) pit crew attempt to service his heavily smoking car during a green flag pit stop during the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Kyle Busch waves to the fans during driver introductions before the start of the 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Busch placed second in the race. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Jeff Gordon watches his crew work on his car during the 'AAA Texas 500' practice at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Denny Hamlin helps out his crew during the 'AAA Texas 500' practice at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after winning the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

J J Yeley puts on his helmet as he prepares to make his qualifying run for the 'AAA Texas 500' at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Kevin Harvick fastens his helmet as he prepares to make his qualifying run for the 'AAA Texas 500' at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Trevor Bayne, right, talks with Jack Roush, left, before making his qualifying run for the 'AAA Texas 500' at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

James Buescher celebrates winning the pole position for the 'O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' in Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Sparks fly from the undercarriage of Austin Dillon's truck on pit road after a tire blowout in turn one at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Dion Williams, right, a pit crew man for Mark Martin, pushes a tire back to the pit road wall during the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Keisha Leatherman of Fort Worth holds onto the Victory Lane fence as she cheers on Elliot Sadler who won the pole position for the "AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Jeff Gordon's pit crew races to change tire and refuel his car during the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2010. Gordon would be knocked out of the race after a wreck and his pit crew then took over Jimmie Johnson's pit duties. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

A Jeff Gordon pit crewman, left, fist bumps with a Jimmie Johnson pit crewman during the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. After Gordon's car was knocked out of the race in a wreck, his pit crew took over for Jimmie Johnson's team. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

A pit crew man for Jeff Gordon's team prepares for a Jimmie Johnson pitstop during the "NSCS AAA Texas 500" at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tx., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. After Gordon's car was knocked out of the race in a wreck, his pit crew took over for Jimmie Johnson's team. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Severe right front damage to James Buescher's car during the 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Mike Bliss follows Danica Patrick out of turn four during the 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Danica Patrick heads out of turn 4 during the 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

NASCAR fans watch as Brad Keselowski celebrates his Nationwide Series championship with a burnout after the 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Carl Edwards celebrates his 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' win at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Kyle Busch celebrates winning the 'WinStar World Casino 350K' in Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Carl Edwards backflips off of his car after winning the 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade

Carl Edwards celebrates his 'NNS O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge' win in victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. Special to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Brandon Wade