BUZZ SODEMAN / SPECIAL TO THE PVT One wall of the restaurant features uniforms, gloves, you name it from among NASCAR's top drivers. BUZZ SODEMAN / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Tony Stewart's autographed helmet, with its prominent Home Depot logo, is one of the display's prizes. Advertisement

Unbeknownst to many residents of this little piece of paradise called Pahrump is what would classify as a NASCAR aficionado's "died and gone to heaven" museum.

Museum is a misnomer because a museum usually has displays of relics and bones of a "reconstructed" prehistoric creature, or just plain old stuff.

Hidden away inside Wulfy's Sports Lounge is a collection of what my wife would classify as stuff and "where would we put that?" or "you don't need that." In all honesty, she's probably right, but this stuff would just be neat to own -- especially the autographed helmet of Tony Stewart.

Upon entering the Sports Lounge, visitors must pass by a full-size race car. Not just any race car but the exact car that Casey Mears wheeled around the Sears Point road course earlier this season.

It's complete with oil-streaked hood, "tear offs," assorted dents and, of course, some other competitors' paint. This isn't your everyday show car that is usually unloaded at some grocery store event, this is the real deal.

Then there are the assorted pieces and parts from other NASCAR competitors, hanging from the ceiling and the walls. I'm thinking that the makers of NASCAR sports trading cards, in particular Press Pass and Upper Deck, would be licking their chops, all the while trying to figure out how many of those "race-used" chase cards that collector's hope to find in a sealed pack.

Around the Mears car are some of the following items: a side panel and rear bumper from NEXTEL Cup Championship qualifier, Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Jeff Gordon's No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet window opening and side panel, and the nose piece from Matt Kenseth's DeWalt Ford.

The next stop on this self-guided tour was a vestibule that listed the "daily specials" just above the complete set of "scuffs."

Lost in the ambiance were a couple of EA Sports NASCAR interactive video games. Turning around to make sure that I just hadn't passed St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, I noticed the rear bumper of Dale Jarrett's No. 88 UPS Ford.

The next step, past the cyclone fence panel, takes you into one of the best displays of NASCAR memorabilia this side of the Spring Mountains. There are enough body parts that, if crazy-glued together, might provide an entire race car.

There is the rest of Gordon's car, or at least the side and rear quarter panel. Three noses to pick from: two from the Roush Racing stable, Greg Biffle's No. 16, Carl Edward's No. 99 and Hendrick Motor Sports Johnson's No. 48, as well as the complete side of the Lowe's car. There's a side from Kyle Petty's No. 44 and two hoods, Joe Nemechuk's No. 01 "Army of One" and that of the new Kellogg's Corn Flakes No 5 driven by Kyle Busch.

There's a piece of the old No. 5 Corn Flakes car driven by Terry Labonte.

The coup de grace, the pieces that make this trip into the NASCAR Valhalla worth it, are in the driver apparel section that take up most of the north wall.

It begins with what looks like a GM Mr. Goodwrench pit uniform too small to be that of Chocolate Meyers. There's a Home Depot racing jacket and the ultimate prize the autographed Tony Stewart helmet.

Next in line, the autographed driving suit, driving gloves and helmet of retired No. 2 Miller Genuine Draft beer Dodge driver, Rusty Wallace.

Although I never joined the Dale Earnhardt Sr. bandwagon of supporters, it was with a degree of reverence that I viewed his driving suit and autographed driving shoes and gloves from the "The Intimidator."

Next to his dad's display is that of his son, Dale Jr. His driving suit, gloves and helmet are all autographed. Pieces of the No. 8 Budweiser car add a rustic if not raceworn emphasis to the display.

Lastly, there is the autographed K-Mart driving suit from none other than "Mr. Excitement," Jimmy Spencer.

Above the booth section, on a portion of an interior east wall, are more autographed items, including a Gordon DuPont jacket and gloves, as well as numerous driving shoes and gloves.

Most notable are DJ's gloves and an item from Kasey Kahne (there were customers dining and I didn't want to disturb them). A couple of items that haven't made it to "Wulfy's World of Wings so big, chickens can fly," is the rear bumper of Tony Stewart's No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet and the entire side of Earnhardt Jr's Budweiser Chevrolet. I am told that there are items in a large storage unit and Jim Wulfenstein indicated that other pieces arrive on a weekly basis.

Two important items are pictures of Jim and Ray Wulfenstein.

Jim's was taken at the Las Vegas Bullring, where he was crowned track champion in 1989, and a picture of the No. 72 NASCAR late-model Sportsman that Ray drove at the Daytona Permatex 300 late model Sportsman World Championship held in 1970.