If you were a fly on the wall in NASCAR’s marketing office today, you’d likely observe much rejoicing over the on track results from the past two weekends. “Class" has made a couple of prominent appearances within the sport.

At the Daytona 500, an “historic” Wood Brothers victory was a nothing short of refreshing in a sporting arena which has become far too business-like during the past several years. Not only were the owners of the #21 Ford humble in the way they accepted victory – Leonard Wood indicated the “spoils” from winning the race ($1.5 million) would go back to supporting the race car – not to “buy another house, or swimming pool, or plane. “

Their driver, Trevor Bayne, is now the youngest driver ever to win the Great American Race. Even he offered all credit to the “team.” His charm and grace in handling all of last week’s demands were admirable, and regardless of when you caught an interview with him, his smile never diminished.

It’s that kind of humility from which we all could learn.

Fast forward a week and witness a celebration with an entirely different kind of team. Jeff Gordon and the #24 Chevy owned by Rick Hendrick won the Subway Fresh Fit 500 in Phoenix Sunday. As he guided from the race track, one of the first members of the Hendrick team to congratulate him on ending his 60 plus race winning drought was Steve LaTarte – Gordon’s former Crew Chief. LaTarte stopped Gordon en route to victory lane and spent several, emotional moments sharing his thoughts and congratulations with is former driver.

These are the images which have most genuinely shaped the start of the NASCAR season. As it progresses, let’s hope for even more “feels good” in 2011.