The Nascar fan Experience




    We saw what many call an average NASCAR race end in a shocking turn of events. We saw the racing grove get wider than I can ever recall seeing it. We also didn’t have as many brake and tire issues as the race in 2023, but if you ask me the fan experience is what stole the show.

     WWT Raceway is a track that amplifies how important fan experience and marketing is to a race track and also showcases that it’s more than just the race itself.  Multiple entertainment lineups across the whole weekend with a whole fan experience taking up the outside of the grandstands shows what happens when a race track goes to great lengths to please their fans on race day. More games, free bbq and free samples of things such as Monster Energy, free Pit Boss sauces and spices, and even some Rebel bourbon. There were cooling bus stations all around the track for fans to cool off if they got too hot and free WiFi all around the facility as well. TV doesn’t show these things often which makes more of a reason to talk about it because while the on track product might not be the most desirable, these lengths that WWT Raceway has went to to produce an amazing fan experience is why the track has sold out for 2 of its first 3 NASCAR cup series races.

Fans walking to the midway a few hours
Before race start (picture by me)

       There isn’t really a bad seat in the house rather you want to get up, close and personal with how fast these cars go as the catch fence and wall are only a couple of feet from the grandstands, or you could go to the top of the front grandstands and see the whole track and see what 75,000 people looks like. Another view could be the Wallace grandstand that sits over in turn one and you get to have cars flying towards you as they barrel off into turn 1.  There’s a seat for everyone essentially.

      Sticking around post race also is a plus because after the checkered flag falls and front stretch interviews are complete, fans in the grandstands can walk the track and go into the infield if they wanted to along with post race concert. This past race weekend I was even able to see victory lane celebrations and drivers walking off the pit area as teams were loading the cars up to go home. I think the best part about all of this was that I brought someone with me to their first ever NASCAR race and the experience was surreal to him. 

Joey Logano finishing up post race 
Interviews as fans walk past on track
(Photo by me)

         While the race might not have looked good on tv, it looked amazing in person especially seeing Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell fighting for the lead all of those laps, and to watch Austin Cindric win in crazy fashion. The sound and the speed of the cars is a completely different experience than on TV and the closer you get the more intense it feels. I hope more people realize that it’s more than a race, it’s truly a NASCAR experience.

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