NASCAR Fan (But NOT a Redneck!!!)

There was a time when I thought NASCAR was just for rednecks and I actually used to make fun of it (sort of). But then I became friends with some people who really enjoyed NASCAR and I started to watch races on TV every now and then with them. Then when I married Bill who is a NASCAR fan, I watched even more. I started to learn the names of the drivers and the numbers of their cars. I still make fun of them a little bit. I mean NASCAR is the only TV event where the announcers actually have southern accents. It's also pretty funny when the drivers are interviewed they always remember to mention their sponsor's name(s) and if it's a beverage they take a drink of that beverage on camera with the label facing the camera.

I think you don't really become a true NASCAR fan until you actually attend a race. My first race was at Bristol, and it happened to be record cold temperatures. Bill and I went with friends Deanna and Randy. It was a long drive and the cold weather was NOT fun, but it was all worth it. Bristol is such an experience! We had a few driver spottings while walking around the track before the race.....

Kasey Kahne and Ray Everham
Deanna's favorite driver Carl Edwards
This is the view from our seats (about five rows from the top!!!)



I would love to go to Bristol again for the night race that they do towards the end of the season.

The second race I ever attended was on my 39th birthday last summer- The Brickyard in Indianapolis. This time the weather was incredibly HOT! Bill had broke his foot last summer and was on crutches and couldn't come along, so I took my sister-in-law Joy with me. We again went with Deanna and Randy and they brought their two kids along. It must have been 100 degrees + in the stands and we were in the direct sun the whole time. I had to go down underneath the stands a few times because I was so hot I thought I might pass out!
The track at Indy is really long and you can't see the whole track like you can at Bristol which is a very short track. I have no desire to go to the brickyard again after experiencing it once.

My most recent race was last month at Michigan. Deanna's husband Randy couldn't go with her so I took his place. We went with Carrie and Brandon and Tom and Jennifer. We tailgated in the parking lot before the race, which was fun. It was hot again, but not quite as hot as the Brickyard last summer. I got sunburned because I sweated off all my sunscreen.

Here's a photo of me with my favorite drive Ryan Newman from South Bend (OK, well it's just a life size cardboard cutout of him)

The Michigan track is smaller, not quite like Bristol, but we could still see the whole track from out seats. This time I brought along my Nikon with my zoom lens and was able to get some decent photos.

Ryan Newman started in the 4th position, but right away had a tire problem and then was involved in a wreck so he didn't finish with a good position. I also like Kasey Kahne - we were right across from his pit and I got a few good photos of his pit stops. Deanna got her wish and Karl Edwards won the race. I was able to get a shot of his trademark backflip with my zoom lens (not the greatest because we were really far away!) So I am offially a NASCAR fan now and not ashamed to admit it.