Nascar 2009

[RICHARD]

Why does NASCAR bring out the best in people?

I was walking out of my gate when I heard someone yelling at me over the music on my earphones.

I stopped and saw the mailman gesturing to me-when I got the earpiece out he wanted to know who the NASCAR fan was in the house.

Of course he has seen the NASCAR publication, Marlboro/GP ads and the Harvick flag waving on the porch....

We did a little back and forth across the street and got the info on his driver, the kind of beer he drinks (it's not the brand HIS driver is sponsored by) and why he has no particular hatred for the brother of his favorite driver. It was a fun 10 minutes and I now know another NASCAR fan I can yell at when I see them.

I have always found race fans to be very faithful to their guys and always ready to start a conversation and trade a few jabs about the race, season or who crashed who the week before.

I love my NASCAR and the crazy fans, too!

[Moesha]

I love my NASCAR and the crazy fans, too!

I resemble that remark!

I've had season passes to the races in Nashville for several years. This year with a season pass ticket, they are including admission to the driver's meetings. That would be interesting to attend, but sadly I think I'll have to pass this year.

[Cincy'sMom]

I resemble that remark!

I've had season passes to the races in Nashville for several years. This year with a season pass ticket, they are including admission to the driver's meetings. That would be interesting to attend, but sadly I think I'll have to pass this year.

Hmmm....we had been debating the April Nationwide race. Might give a little more reason to consider it!

Anna, tomorrow morning at 9 am on Espn Classic, Sports Century is about Tony Stewart. I have my DVR set!

Kyle sure can drive...but I still refuse to become a fan. At least one that wears any Kyle gear!

[anna_66]

I sure as shiat ain't sending you an Christmas card with KB on it.


My NASCAR magazine came today and Kurt is staring back at me as I walk up the driveway!

Double Acck!

Oh come on Richard why not

And it serves you right getting the mag with him on the cover

Kyle sure can drive...but I still refuse to become a fan. At least one that wears any Kyle gear!

Hey, you just need to come and live with Mark for a while....you'll have to be a fan that wears Kyle gear
Hard to believe I like someone who two years ago I absolutely despised!

I'm really happy that Jeff won Sunday....Mark was just happy Jimmy didn't!!!

[Cincy'sMom]

Oh come on Richard why not

And it serves you right getting the mag with him on the cover


Hey, you just need to come and live with Mark for a while....you'll have to be a fan that wears Kyle gear
Hard to believe I like someone who two years ago I absolutely despised!

I'm really happy that Jeff won Sunday....Mark was just happy Jimmy didn't!!!

I debated if I was going to have to buy something Kyle to wear to the Nationwide race this weekend in Nashville...but I think I'll stick with my Kenny Wallace t-shirt!

[GILL]

WELL, Lucky our NASCAT is happy now that we have a few races under our belt. I'm happy that the Jeff's finally broken the streak and did it with stile. Now all he has too do is get a good over the wall crew and it will continue. Even Chessie is happy he got to see some GTP racing this pass weekend and we found out that Penny like F1.
God I love race families

[Moesha]

I apologize in advance for posting this here rather than sending a private message. I tried to send one and it was two times larger than it would let me send. Rather than trying to cut and paste, I'm just going to post it here. Maybe it will help someone else in the future.

We are staying in Nashville, close to the airport. We'll be there Friday night until Monday morning. We've been to Nashville (Just once, overnight), but not to the track. Any tips on traffic for the race, or things to see and do in the area would be great! We have been to Opryland, and downtown, but haven't spent a lot of time.

I did buy the season passes and I'm not sure if we will make it back for the other races (I'm hoping at least the truck). If you interested in the tickets, let me know. I'd rather see them used then laying on my kitchen counter!

The track is not in or even really close to Nashville. It is outside of Lebanon, just off of Hwy 231, between Lebanon and Murfreesboro. The way that most people will get to the track will be on Interstate 840, which you would get to from I-40 East from Nashville. You shouldn't really have traffic trouble getting to the track if you are going to get there for qualifying and such. I'm not exactly sure how long it would take you, but my estimate would be at least 45 minutes from the airport in Nashville to the track. Again the I-40 to I-840 to the track exit would work. The alternative would be to stay on I-40 East for two more exits I believe and get off in Lebanon at Hwy 231. I can't remember the exit number, but I can get it for you. Once you get off there take a right at the top of the ramp. Go out that road for about 15 minutes and the road that the track is on will be on your right. It is marked. This is the way that I come in, mostly because I live on that side of the track. I like it because you see the grandstands as you approach and get a perspective of everything. I have never come in off of 840, but I am sure that is well marked as well.

Since you have season passes, you should have a special parking permit for season pass holders. I didn't have passes last year, so I'm not sure if they changed it or not, but the previous years this area was close to the track but not in the paved area. The paved parking was for Premium Plus Parking. My advice for parking is to look at the map http://nashvillesuperspeedway.com/tr...lle_Map_09.pdf and notice the the season ticket parking next to Dale Earnhardt Dr. I'd park down next to that area. You'll have to walk farther to get into the track, but that's the only place that I know of where they used to let you exit back to Hwy 231 and not go to I-840. EVERYONE is going to be trying to get out and they send everyone to 840 except for one lane of traffic that exits from the left of Dale Earnhardt Dr. If you get in that lane that goes back to Hwy 231, you'll turn left out of the track area and at the end of that road turn left on 231. Then 15 minutes and you'll be back at I-40 in Lebanon. It can save you an hour or more getting out of the parking lot. For the longest time I couldn't figure out how to exit out of the parking lot back to 231. The last time I was at the track I happened to see a sign before I parked. If you park anywhere else, all roads will lead to 840. LOL I hope that sort of makes sense. If you have any questions, just ask a parking person where you can park so you can exit out to 231 after the race. They should be able to help you. Do you have your parking pass already? I hope they sent it to you and you don't have to pick it up at Will Call. I'm not sure how that would work because you'd have to park first.

To get to pit road and the fan walk and garage area there is a shuttle that leaves in front of the Will Call Ticket area. That area is really nice. I've gotten wonderful pictures from there and that was before they let fans in the garage or on pit road. Some even stay on the fan walk area during the race because you are right behind the pit crews. I usually am in the fan walk area when the race starts. I just love being in the infield seeing the cars go by on the track. But that does mean that you miss some while riding the tram shuttle back to the track entrance. Of course, you'll have access to the cars lined up on the track and be able to go out there, so that may change things also. I need to find where my pictures are online for you to look at.

I love the night race in June there. I highly recommend going there if you can. If things don't work out for you to return, let me know and I just might be interested in your tickets. I have never been to the truck race. Two years in a row when I had tickets I had funerals to attend. Plus it is so hot in August, that it was hard to motivate myself to go after that. I did go over for autographs one day but didn't end up staying for the race because I was by myself. The trucks are pretty awesome though.

Now as for what I would recommend for Nashville. You said you had been to Opryland. I am not sure if you meant the old Opryland theme park that is now gone or if you meant the Opryland Hotel. If you haven't been to the hotel...GO! Even if you have been, they've renovated and added more to it. Here's a tip though so you don't end up paying $8 for parking if you do go. Go to Oprymills Mall. Go around to the side with the movies. Park at the far end of the parking lot there across from the trees. There is a nice paved walking path through that area that will take you to the entrance of the hotel by the river boat ride inside. Another interesting thing to see in Nashville is the Parthenon. It is in Centennial Park that is off of West End, which is what Broadway downtown turns into if you drive far enough. The Country Music Hall of Fame is over in that area also, if you are interested in that.

If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! I'll help you in anyway I can! I hope you have a wonderful time! Nashville is an awesome track!

[RICHARD]

That would be interesting to attend, but sadly I think I'll have to pass this year.

You could sit at the back with a straw and spitwads.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

I resemble that remark!

I've had season passes to the races in Nashville for several years. This year with a season pass ticket, they are including admission to the driver's meetings. That would be interesting to attend, but sadly I think I'll have to pass this year.

I wish Memphis (sister track to N'Ville) would do that. Had season tix for years and the only way I can ever get pics of drivers is by fighting my way to the front of the mosh-pit at the fence during intros, LOL. Nashville is a nice track. I have been there for a motorcycle race, but not NASCAR.

[RICHARD]

I, LOL. Nashville is a nice track. I have been there for a motorcycle race, but not NASCAR.

Dirt or street bikes?

I love the smell of castrol!

-------------

CM,
I caught some of the TS program, as a kid he looked nothing like he does today. I think it's the cheeks.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

whatever bikes these are:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...007/Bike10.jpg I guess those are considered street bikes, although there is a class for dirtbikes. Just put some racing tires on them and let 'em go! It's cool and strange at the same time

I know I've got pictures from Nashville somewhere, but can't find them I guess I never put them online.

[RICHARD]

whatever bikes these are:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...007/Bike10.jpg I guess those are considered street bikes, although there is a class for dirtbikes. Just put some racing tires on them and let 'em go! It's cool and strange at the same time

I know I've got pictures from Nashville somewhere, but can't find them I guess I never put them online.

Yes, street bikes! Suzukis! The dirtbikes with street tires are very popular in Europe and are classed as "Motorads"

Those guys are fun to watch, especially in the turns.

The Daytona Class races that were run here at AAA raceway will be televised on Saturday night on SPEED, 8 p.m. EST!

[kokopup]

I have been a volunteer at the Barber Motorsport park for both the AMA Superbike championship series and the Gran-Am Series. This gives me free admission to the the WERA Regionals. aTailOf2Kitties the races you had in Memphis were WERA Regionals. I have worked my way into the VIP hospitality lounge for my volunteer work. I get to see all the racers and a birds eye view of the races. They just completed testing here for Indi cars and it looks like we will be getting an Indi race soon.I hope we can get a American Lemans series race here in the future. Barber is world class so eventually they will have a full calender. Between Barber and Talladega I get to see some great racing. I have been thinking of Volunteering at Talladega also.