Hello, and welcome to the wonderful world of Nascar! If you’re a new fan of stock car racing, this is the place for you! In this ten-part series we’ll take a look at what you should and could know about America’s #1 auto racing organization. Let’s get started!
7. WATCHING A RACE IN PERSON—Do’s and Don’ts of Experiencing The Nascar Experience
Going to a race at the track. Its been said that once you go to a race, you either decide you don’t like it, or fall completely in love with it. Its an assault on the senses, from the loud engines to the colorful paint schemes to the smell of burning rubber. To best enjoy yourself, here’s some Do’s and Don’ts to follow.
DO: Plan ahead. Unlike, say, a baseball game, its tough to spontaneously decide to go to a race. Tracks have two weekends of racing tops, so a little planning ahead will go a long way to making sure you don’t get left out.
DON’T: Overspend. With the exception of the Daytona 500 demand for tickets has gone WAY down since the Nascar boom of a decade or two ago. If you care where you want to sit, buy ahead of time, but if you don’t, feel free to try and get a deal at the track from, um, let’s just say people walking around with extra tickets.
DO: Wear sunscreen. Tracks offer little protection from the sun, and even races that are advertised as “night races” typically begin in the late afternoon. Cover yourself up with sun block to avoid going back to work on Monday looking like a lobster.
DON’T: Sit up close. Unlike virtually every other sport, in Nascar you want to sit as high up in the stands as you can. Tracks are banked in the turns, so the lower you sit, the less of the overall track you can see. Try to sit in “the nosebleeds”. And if you DO sit in the first few rows, wear sunglasses to stop smoke and tire rubber dust from getting in your eyes.
DO: Wear ear protection. Nascar is loud. VERY loud. If you go without any sort of ear protection you could suffer hearing damage. The simplest solution is to just wear ear plugs. If you feel like investing a few dollars, you can buy radio headphones (the kind people use on lawnmowers) and tune into the radio broadcast of the race. For the deluxe experience, you can rent a scanner and headphones at the track—this will allow you to listen in on communications between drivers, crew chiefs, and spotters.
DON’T: Expect to have conversations. Its REALLY loud. You’ll be lucky if you can hear the person next to you. Also, cell phone service tends to be at a premium, so if you think you’ll be communicating with someone nearby, bring a pen and paper.
DO: Bring food and drink. Unlike most other sports, Nascar allows fans to bring their own food and drink (alcoholic or non) into the stands. Check beforehand to make sure your cooler conforms to the track’s regulations.
DON’T: Overdo it. Plenty of people see races (and pre-race tailgates in particular) as an excuse to get wasted. Don’t be “that guy”. And for the love of all that is holy, if you do drink, have someone in your crew who can be the designated driver.
DO: Explore pre-race add-ons. Most tracks offer lots of “spiffs” for addition fees in order to entice fans to arrive early. These include everything from a pre-race track tour to being in front of the stage for pre-race introductions. If you don’t mind spending a little extra money, you can get up close and personal.
DON’T: Overpay for package deals. Tracks will often offer an “upgrade” that includes food and drink. Obviously the drinks are non-alcoholic, and the food often leaves much to be desired. Best to explore your options first, then possibly do the package deal on your next trip if it makes sense.
DO: Be smart about saving money. There’s plenty of ways to enjoy a race on a budget. Bringing your own food and drink obviously saves plenty over the at-track concessions. If you do pre-race tours, visit the midway, or especially if you are lucky enough to get pit or garage passes, teams will have “hero cards”—oversized post cards with driver info that are a great free souvenir. And if you want some merchandise, feel free to wander off the track grounds for independent retailers that sell apparel and souvenirs at a deeper discount. However…
DON’T: Be fooled by bootleg merchandise. Once you’re off the track its “buyer beware”. Without getting into a discussion over intellectual property, keep in mind that if a t-shirt is only $10, that shirt will be lucky to survive more than one wash.
DO: Make a vacation out of visiting a distant track. We don’t all get to live near a racetrack. If you decide to travel to one, you can save money on a hotel by picking one near a major city—these hotels will be less likely to be affected by a surge in prices. If you DO go to a track in the middle of nowhere, like Bristol or Martinsville, explore other, cheaper options like camping nearby.
DON’T: Wait in line at the “midway”. Most tracks will have a section of the grounds set up like a carnival midway. The “exhibits” are typically mobile displays and demonstrations by sponsors. There’s almost never a situation where they’re worth the wait, so if more than a few people are waiting in line, just skip it.
DO: Know how to follow things. All tracks have a scoring pylon (a tall tower in the middle of the infield that shows the running order) and most have portable scoreboards within eyeshot. Races may SEEM hard to follow, but let yourself soak it in and just follow your favorite driver and the leaders (or, if you’re lucky, they’re the same!).
DON’T: Forget to have fun. Its a race! Its a traveling circus. Its a chance to see one of America’s wildest sports up close and personal. Enjoy yourself!