Best Race Experience

[ashley832]

What has been your best race experience? What made it the best? Either at the track, watching a race at home/friends house, etc.

[gladdyontherise]

i've only been to one race in my life, Bristol night race a few years back. it was for my birthday and my favorite (Dale Jr) finished 9th in the race, but looked to have the fastest car all night. Bristol is really fun though, although my ears really hurt for a few days after, its so loud that when they go to caution you still cant hear because it feels like theres a bunch of air just stuck in your ears. but it was where they were commemerating rusty wallace so they had one side of the track all hold up a sign which made it turn into the #2 car. it looked amazing!

[ashley832]

I think mine would have to be Kentucky Speedway 2006. It was the first race I've been to. It was already a great day but it got even better when I nearly met JJ Yeley. We were behind the grandstands after qualifying and he went by on a golf cart. I could have reached out and touched him. I was so surprised and didnt expect it so all I could do was yell "That was JJ Yeley! That was JJ Yeley!" to my mom. hah And then he almost won that race. Definately the best ever.

Ashley

[nadeau01_johnson48]

Mine would be Richmond in 2002. I went to the May race for my 16th birthday. Me and my mom had these special meet and greet passes where you got to tour the pits, and had a Q&A session with Jeff Gordon (no autographs though)...anyways, about halfway through, over the loud speaker, they called my name and asked me to come to the front of the room. I had no clue what was going on.....anyways, I go up there, and the DJ tells me to not go anywhere, and he asked me where I was sitting.

Then, about 10 minutes later, in walks Jim Hunter (who is head of security I believe), along with Jerry Nadeau.

My mom had written NASCAR and asked if there was anyway possible I could meet my favorite driver, and she got something set up for me. So Jerry came in, sat at our table, and I got to talk to him for about 10 minutes. He gave me an autographed hat, and signed a bunch of other stuff for me.

It was definitely the coolest thing that's ever happened to me, as far as a race goes, and I'll never forget it.

[race crazy]

well Ive only been to one race-it was at Michigan-and I was only 6 so I dont remember much other than it was the weekend when Ernie Irvan had his crash, there was a big crash on the first lap in turn 1, and Geoff Bodine won. Not the best experience.

So I guess Ill go with these 2:

Riding in the Stock Car at Michigan in 2004-it was a racing experience not a race experience but whatever-standing next to one of Rusty Wallaces old Miller Lite T Birds and then they start it up and tell me to get in-goosebumps lol-it was the most fun 3 laps in anything in my life though-went 180 on the straights-averaged about 160 flat-my driver rode the wall though lol-very fun-everyone should do it lol.

As for my best racing experience lol-its gotta be Atlanta Spring race 2005 when Carl beat Jimmie Johnson-I had already been a Carl fan since the beginning of 2004-so needless to say I was losin my mind during that race lol-my mom was on the phone and when carl passed him on the last corner I literally got up and yelled and jumped around and my mom yelled at me but I didnt care lol-thats the only time Ive ever really lost it in excitement after a race-love it lol. Anyways-good idea for a thread Ash lol.

[Labontebrothersfan]

Mine isn't really a "race experience" it was a Test Session at California Speedway on 3 February 2005

I got smuggled into the garage by a crew member!!!!

I arrived at California Speedway long about 10 AM. Spectator parking was in the Pit Suite parking lot. We were allowed along pit road, up on top of the pit suites and along the garage fence.

I went up on top of the Pit Suites just to see what the view was like. I think the view from our seats is better! Then I wandered down along the fence to my normal spot. Don't laugh - but I hang out at the gate across from the restrooms. All the drivers go there eventually and some will come over and sign autographs.

A crew member went along the fence pulling one of those little wagons. In as few minutes he came back by with ice in the wagon. I yelled something like "Do you need some help running errands?" He answered "So you want to help, I'll see what I can do." Then he disappeared behind the haulers. In a little while I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was HIM!! He said walk along with me and I'll take you into the garage. When we got near the gate, he told me to just keep walking and talking like I belonged with him and in the gate we went. He walked me over to the team hauler then told me to go have fun. He made me promise not to touch anything, not to bother anybody and to stay out of the way. He gave me his card and told me to just act like I belonged and if anyone said anything, say I was with him.

So off I went. At first I was afraid to get real close to the garage bays for fear of getting thrown out. But after a while when no one paid any attention to me, I got braver and started getting closer and closer. Soon I was right at the bay opening! I got a bunch of pictures and autographs. I spent a lot of time waiting patiently for drivers to finish talking to their crew - a lot came over to sign my trading cards. I got 18 driver autographs!!

It was really cool the way they had the garages laid out. Each brand was grouped together - Ford, Dodge, Chevy. Then the teams were side by side. So the drivers & crews would go back and sharing info. It was fun watching the drivers describing their run - man do they talk with their hands!

It was so cool to see the guys preparing the cars up close & personal.

[bgnfan4God]

A slghtly different angle. Best race experience was 1996 spring Busch race at Charlotte. I was crewing for Bown racing at that time and we qualified third fastest. We lead a bunch of laps and were pitted next to Michael Waltrip who was running second (and winning everything that year). He had his cup crew pitting the car while we were all volunteers. During a late race green flag pitstop we pitted at the same time and managed to beat Waltrip out of the pits. I was a great feeling especial with all the media in the two pits. When we watched the replay one of the announcers had made the statement that "I guess thats the end for Jim Bown's lead since Waltrip will undoubtedly win the race off pit road." Guess we showed them. By the way Jim blow a tire with about 15 laps to go while leading.

[JUQ1115]

Mine would definitely be at Martinsville this year. Got to hangout with Kurt Busch for a little while, hungout on pit road then hungout with Eva in their hauler. Saw everyone pretty much. I have gotten to hangout with Kurt and Eva outside of the track also. Very nice people, I was never a Kurt Busch fan but he has been very nice to me so I can't help but like him! I beat him in Arcade Basketball at a bar after he had just set the the highest score I came behind him and beat him by 1, I at least could pretend it was on the track. :)

Jami

[TheXsRacer]

My best race was my first. I was at Atlanta in 97 to watch Jeff Gordon win the cup, had pit passes and got to shake hands with the champ and get his autograph.

[Shayne1911]

I have a few.

1. First time going to Kentucky Speedway. It was my first race so of course it's one of the best!!! Denny Hamlin finished 3rd!

2. Kentucky Speedway in 2007. We also went to the fan fest and got to meet a lot of the drivers. I got to meet Shane Huffman twice!!! The second time he actually remembered me!!!

3. Denny Hamlin winning both Pocono races in 2006!!!!!!!




Great thread idea, PM!