Nascar Racing Experience

*Disclosure: I received an all expenses paid trip to Charlotte, NC for the coverage of these events. All opinions are 100% my own.

Nascar Racing Experience

Growing up in rural Missouri I’ve spent more time than most would imagine at local raceways and drag strips. It is something you love or you hate there really isn’t much wiggle room in my book about that. But racing is a sport on lots of levels and it is a sport that any race lover admires and watches almost religiously. While growing up the place to be on Saturday Night was the Jamesport Speedway where some of the local “legends” raced including Brad C. and an occasional extended family member of the “Brummitt” Family. I will never forget the night that my Aunt Judy announced she was driving the race-car in their “powder puff” race. We screamed, yelled and cheered from stands all while dodging those mud chunks making their way through the fence. It was part of the atmosphere that you learned to love. I can’t tell you who won that night, but I can tell you I thought I was one cool kid. Fast forward many a Saturday night at the local racetrack it was then closed and things moved over to Winston, Missouri and later to Osborn, Missouri. The closest Drag Strip was in Bethany (circa 20ish years old!) and now we occasionally head out to the local racetracks during the summer months.

But there are a few things that each of them have in common cars, loud motors & fans, as well as a track and need for speed. Nascar is the cream of the crop and the top of the any racing circuit and the drivers, pit crews and everyone in between is an athlete. During my Nascar Racing Experience at the Charlotte, North Carolina Speedway I was able to a ride along in Dale Earnhardt Juniors Car #88. I will have to admit I was a little more than apprehensive about the whole thing because as a bigger girl I was scared to death I wouldn’t “fit” into the window of the race car. But never fear, my inner Daisy Duke came out (in my dreams) and I gracefully  got into the car and was buckled safely in. (While having seat belt issues none the less, but once you get into the car it was rather roomy. But I do have to warn you, your butt gets a little more than hot during your ride.

After triple checking my harness and my seat belt we were off and let me tell you that roar of the engine is unmistakable. It is exhilarating and nerve racking at the same time but it is beyond amazing. After four amazing laps my time as a Nascar “rider” was over but it was an amazing experience that is once in a lifetime. And at 170 MPH those curves and incline are no joke, but one thing is for certain, Nascar is a sport and those Pit Crews, drivers and everyone in between are very talented individuals to say the least.

The next morning we headed out to Pit Crew U and learned what it takes to be a member of the Pit Crew. Here’s a few things I learned:

• A Nascar Pit Stop is only 12 seconds long…we practiced four different rounds and only got our time down to a minute and 3 seconds.
• Our car was already “jacked” up and a few other things that they normally do weren’t on our agends.
• The pit crew outfits were hot but once you got to changing tires it was an all new level of HOT!
• The pit crews work in perfect unison and are very athletic.
• It takes hours and hours of practice to become good enough to be a Pit Crew member and most of them hold another job as well.

Watching a burn out is still as exciting as it was back in the day when I hung out at the local Drag Strip! Be sure to check out Cars 3 Available to purchase in stores and online everywhere.

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