Posted on 02/19/2008 8:55:10 PM PST by NormsRevenge
The 2008 Auto Club 500 weekend will mark the highly anticipated Southern California debut of the Car of Tomorrow and feature a special pre-race concert by blues-rock legends ZZ Top.
Actor And Comedian Brad Garrett To Serve As Grand Marshal For California Speedway's Auto Club 500
FRFL'rs --- Deadline to select or edit your drivers is Feb 22 2:00am PST
OK, I'm going home now.:)
That would suck.
What Nascar did yesterday was nothing short of, "Watch how we can #$%^ this race up!" IMHO.
At least nobody got hurt...this time. But it does make one wonder what, exactly, was going on. Were track officials banging on Nascar to "get it going?" Keep it going?
I've seen Nascar canx more than a few races for a whole lot less reason's. And not drag it on...and on...and on... And canx the race in a heart beat, "see ya tomorrow folks!"
When they brought out the saw to cut drainage channels in the track......hello? Is anyone out there? Hello? Might someone direct me to the nearest adult in charge, that understands what "common sense" is?
I felt really sorry for the drivers. They knew the track was not ready. They had no option, what so ever.
Scary proposition if you are in their shoes.
Nascar did not do good for that race fiasco.
On the lighter side, "Pack it up boys and head north on I-15. We be waiting!"
Starting to twitch............
I hate to ask but what is the weather report?
It's over.
Time to moooooooove on, folks.......put your eye on the "Diamond in the Desert."
Times a wasting...tick...tick...TICK...TICK...tick...tick...
the boss said today, "On Friday we might have to..."
Bye, see ya, have fun. Let me know on Monday how it came out, ok?
Friday - 75, no clouds, no wind.
Saturday - 71, no clouds, no wind.
Sunday - 68, a few disrespecting high clouds, bit of a breeze - 15-20 mph.
I'm sure this will change a bit but they are adamant that it will be dry this weekend.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We arrived in Florida on Saturday and decided to drive to Daytona to check out the area before the race on Sunday (we were staying in Kissimmee). We arrived in front of the race track just as the National Anthem was being sung and the flyover took place. That was awesome enough for me. Traffic wasn't bad and I was surprised at the location of the track - there were so many retail businesses, homes, a hospital, Daytona Airport, etc. next to or in near vicinity of the track.
If we didn't have to check into our place in Kissimmee I'm pretty sure we could have gotten tickets to attend the race. (There were many guys with signs stating they "needed tickets" - I told my husband that if they didn't have their tickets by now they probably weren't going to get any. My husband explained to me that they were selling tickets but couldn't advertise such.)
We went back the next day for the race and arrived there at 7a.m. Tried to park at the dog track but they were parking busses first and cars later. We ended up parking at Cracker Barrel next to the track and ate breakfast. Parking was $50 but since we didn't pay for our tickets I felt it was a good investment. We ate breakfast with two other guys who were camping around the track and an older couple. They gave us great advice and shared stories of past races they had attended.
From 8:30 on we wandered around the perimeter of the track and inside the track (went in early to check where our seats were - DePalma section B, row 4, seats 3 and 4). Some of our friends said that we should have had higher seats so we could view more of the race, but honestly, I loved our seats. We were right in front of the entrance to pit road so we got to see the cars entering to make their pit stops, which was cool. There was a large screen right across from where we sat so we could see racing when the cars were out of view (we could see the cars entering turn 3 to exiting turn 1 but couldn't see turn 2 and the backstretch).
The drivers also exited at the entrance to pit road after driver introductions to go to their cars (which I didn't realize until too late and only got a few photos of Junior's and Gordon's backs). During introductions Junior was greeted with the loudest cheering, Gordon with loud booing, but I believe Montoya has taken the number 1 spot for being booed the loudest (or at least tied with Kurt Busch).
It was such a rush when the cars went by in front of us, people cheering and hats flying off in the wind. One thing I didn't know was that bits of tire (?) or the track (?) come flying at you too so when the race was over and we went back to Cracker Barrel (to get a snack and our car) I had bits of black streaked on my face (from rubbing it) and on the white shirt I wore that day, as did my husband. We looked a mess (not only spotted with black but our faces, arms and necks were sunburned because I didn't take into account we might need sunscreen) but we didn't care.
We toured the Daytona Experience on Tuesday (that was awesome as was the change in the looks of the race track with everyone gone). We took the shuttle tour inside the track which was about 30 minutes and was very interesting. Ryan Newman's car was in the museum and didn't look as if it had even been in a race.
This was the most fun we have ever had at a sporting event. The people were nice, there was always something going on or something you could do while waiting for the race to start, and I don't think I sat more than a total of 15 minutes during the whole race. I don't know if it was boring to watch on TV but it wasn't boring watching it live. We will definitely make it a point to attend other races (we are located in Central Virginia with many racetracks within 2-4 hours of us).
Please excuse the length of this post. I know you guys already know all of this. I don't always post on the racing threads but do check in several times during a race to read the different perspectives concerning the race, rules, whatever. The threads really help those of us who are new to racing and want to learn more about the sport.
* WCG - the information you shared concerning parking was perfect. Thank you so much! Please convey my thanks to those who you gave you the information. When we toured the area on Saturday everything you had posted was exactly as you wrote. Again, thanks!
LOL I can see you’re excited!!
Remember put the boy in front of the window. :D
Tell him Jr Nation rocks and has his back!! He needs pumping up based on his interview after the Nationwide race.
I’m so happy you had a great time and that I could help. I will pass along your thanks to the girls on Jr’s board who gave me the info.
Your race report is excellent, thanks for posting. I say there’s nothing better than having streaks of rubber on your face. LOL :D
If I knew anyone in the Mooresville area, I would move there. I just love Nascar and that is the heart and soul of the sport.
With Charlotte and other tracks being so close it would be a lot of fun.
Daytona probably has the best fan friendly venue with Vegas coming in second.
To be honest, if it wasn’t for the Cup guys being in the race I wouldn’t watch at all.
As some of the rookie drivers have said, they learn so much from the Cup guys. I think it’s more of a benefit to have them in the race than not. JMO
One thing I didn't know was that bits of tire (?) or the track (?) come flying at you too so when the race was over and we went back to Cracker Barrel (to get a snack and our car) I had bits of black streaked on my face (from rubbing it) and on the white shirt I wore that day, as did my husband.
Tire rubber. Not track. LOL.
Sounds like the first time I went to a World of OutLaw's race - dirt clods flying!
The part about so much stuff around the track...
Urban creep. They built that track out in the middle of nowwhere. Nowhere came to them. The last 10 yrs or so, people here started complaining about the noise from Nellis AFB. The base used to be all by itself, way up on the north end of the valley. Then they built houses all around.
Part of the 'stuff' around Nellis AFB now is the LVMS. So on Saturday, you get two shows for one price: The jets landing/taking off and Nascar. Many times, the announcers will say things like, "and the #20 car beats the F-15 down the back stretch into turn 3....." Cool stuff.
Post some pics of your trip! Daytona has got to be a thrill.
Those little black things are called "marbles" from the tires. Grandsons have collected enough over the years to build a whole tire I think. Wife told me I could not pick them up, we had plenty, so I only got one big one while she wasn't looking and am going to have a bit of a problem dividing it up. :)
I haven’t looked at FR until now because I just finished watching the race I recorded from today.
Just talked to my bro Pete... he’s got a grin on his face... first place is nothin to be ashamed of :o)
Heck, I moved up a tad my own self. Coming after ya, Tork!
woo hoo,, I’m up to 28th.. boy did I blow those picks..
lol.. they been doing this for years, these days it’s a lot more lucrative to drive both cup series, so some drivers do..
Thanks much for that update, sounds like a lot of fun..
and as to..
I believe Montoya has taken the number 1 spot for being booed the loudest (or at least tied with Kurt Busch).
lol,, not a big surprise there, thanks for confirming it.. ;-)
You done good, Sonny! :-)
We had a decent day here today for a change
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