Reply to "How do you do NASCAR correctly?"

I arrived a couple of hours early so I could check things out. There was a lot of stuff to buy, but since I don't have a favorite driver, I wasn't into the gear.

I planned on having a turkey leg...until I saw the Shelby food stand featuring a $15, Special Addition, 427 burger. Four kinds of meat, two kinds of cheese, and seven toppings. It was basically two hamburgers crammed full of yummy stuff with big flags stuck in them. Frickin' awesome! I ate about 60% percent of it along with some funnel cake...and I didn't get sick!

This will sound corny, but I felt very patriotic sitting right in front of the main stage. They had a military honor guard, talked about our troops overseas, had a prayer, sang the national anthem and then the Thunderbirds flew right over my head. I watched people stand, remove their hats and sing...and they seamed to really mean it. I was touched.

The driver introductions happened right in front of me, but I didn't care. I don't know anything about the drivers. I didn't know they actually say "gentlemen, start your engines." That was fun.

The rolling start was exciting because the cars are so loud. We were in row 15 in the middle of the front straight, so I probably needed ear plugs, but I didn't get any. I liked hearing the motors. We were sitting right in front of pit row which was fun as well.

I probably should have rented the radio headphones, because I got board after about 80 laps. Too many cautions. By lap 141 I was sunburned, bored, and had no one to cheer for since the UPS car (I rooted for the car with the best looking graphics) broke. I was sort of pulling for the Cherrios/Hamburger Helper car, you know, because both of those things are yummy.

We left around lap 145, raced home and watched the rest of the race on TV just to see who won. Not sure why, I don't remember who it was.

So, I would say it was a fun experience. I did learn I can't watch cars drive in a circle for 280 laps. There just isn't enough action. I will stick with F1. I am glad I went.

I will post some photos when I get them off my camera.

- Robert