What sport could seem less nature-oriented than NASCAR? Race car drivers are not the first people who come to my mind when I think of an outdoors-type. But a fun article by Lee Graves of the Richmond Times-Dispatch has taught me otherwise.

Carl Edwards, who gets his off-track kicks by racing mountain bikes, is just one of the NASCAR crowd who grew up "in the woods" and continues to seek outdoor adventure.

Car owner and conservationist Richard Childress is a big-game hunter, with expeditions to everywhere from Alaska to Tanzania under his belt. Ward Burton, 2002 Daytona 500 winner, is on the board of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. He has also has established a wildlife foundation.

Edwards loves mountain biking, but hiking is also high on his list of excuses for getting out into the wild.

"No matter where I'm at or what's going on, if I've got an extra couple of hours and it's a nice day, I just throw on a pair of shoes, grab some water and find somewhere to go hiking," he said. "It's the time where I can be by myself and enjoy a beautiful day."

He got into biking when he was young and still finds areas around his home base to visit, including the MKT Trail, which follows a portion of the old track of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway line. When he's in Charlotte, the Lake Norman State Park and North Mecklenburg Park are among his favorites, then follow some faraway trails in Arizona and Nevada.

"Even if I weren't racing - if I had a desk job - I'd still enjoy it just as much. To me, there's a huge mental health aspect to it," Edwards said.

Hey, if Edwards can find time to get out of the car and have some fun, so can you. Winter's on the way, so let's do it!