My Nascar Experience: Nashville

Me in the fan zone area outside of the entrance


 

      In a refreshing new series that I’m starting up, I decided to write about my experience at different NASCAR events that I attend over time. This race weekend at Nashville was the first race that I’ve attended outside of my home state and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I must say I had a time this past Sunday and now it’s time to share my experience with everyone. 

    For starters I took a Rally Bus from Nashville to the tracks location in Lebanon Tennessee which was about a 45 minute drive, but as soon as I got on the bus I could already feel the atmosphere as the bus was packed with fans ready for action. Nothing screams NASCAR like taking a seat and being offered a beer almost immediately, before one could get comfortable. I also shared the bus with a large group of people that came all the way from Canada to see their first NASCAR race in person so that was a cool experience teaching them the ins and outs of the sport.

      Once we got to the track I exited the bus and noticed a difference from Gateway (WWT Raceway but will always be Gateway to me), which was the fan zone being outside of the admission gates instead of inside so I had a lot of activities to do before even getting into the actual race track. My first stop was at the Pit Boss bus where I was able to spin the prize wheel and win a bottle of Nashville Heat Hot rub, and shortly after getting a sample of BBQ. I then started taking pictures of the different booths and show cars and saw my favorite generation of NASCAR for the first time, the gen 4 “twisted sister”.

2006 Jeff Gordon Monte Carlo SS
They call them twisted sisters because of the bodywork

After I took pictures I then went over to the Toyota and Ford racing experience areas and they impressed like always. There was the driving simulator, their own merch booths, cardboard cutouts, contests and prize wheels, and a show car that you can even sit in to take pictures. This was the last thing I did before hsving to actually go through admissions to make it to pre race ceremonies.

Life sized Toyota Camry show-car

   The pre race screamed America as I got to catch my first flyover, saw a guy sky diving into the race track, and in Talladega fashion I saw the truck drive by with the American flag waving proud. Even with the heat the atmosphere was electric as this was a packed sold out house. Only one thing remained at this point. It was time for the engines to roar. While you don’t get as close to the cars as one would at WWT Raceway, I could still feel the energy of the cars as they drove by on the pace laps, with anticipation building, and when the green flag waved? The race was on! The speed, the sound, the energy were felt in every bone of my body lap after lap. It was to the point that I wasn’t even fazed by the heat, at least until I started noticing the sky getting darker and shortly after the race was stopped for rain.

Looming clouds over turn 4 before the rain delay at the Ally 400

  The rain was short but it was a big downpour so the track needed to be dried. In the meantime the fans in the stands were doing various things such as the wave, catching up on things they might have missed, and some even went to their cars or left altogether not knowing what was to come, but after awhile drivers were called back to their cars and it was time for the second half of the race to begin and what a second half it was. 

Rain brings rainbows to Lebanon 

   The first half was a total opposite of the second half on and off the track. The weather was cooler and the sun was setting, which both also changed track conditions on top of the rain making the racetrack clean. The action on the track picked up as there were more cautions which led to different strategies. As the race was winding down I was in the very first row at the start finish line with a Ross Chastain fan watching he and Denny Hamlin duel for the win and Denny got around him within 10 laps to go but the race was long from over little did everyone know. 

     With two to go Austin Cindric spun which led to a green white checkered and at this point everyone was already low on fuel so things were definitely getting interesting. The very next restart Kyle Larson slid up the track and got into Ross Chastain causing a multi car accident and at that moment I felt that we were going to be here awhile. We had another restart and another crash this time on the back straight, and this was really pushing fuel on a lot of guys and the next restart took out my favorite driver Kyle Busch for that very reason. Kyle restarted 4th behind the other Kyle (Larson) who’s car ran out of fuel coming to take the green and Kyle Busch was then ran into the back of by Chase Elliot due to the stack up which sent Kyle Busch into the outside wall and ended his day right in front of me. Ironically this was my first ever race in NASCAR gear and it was a Kyle Busch shirt so that added insult to injury.

Kyle Busch trying to drive his car after late crash
Before ultimately getting out

     I wanted the race to just get over with after this but then I saw the leader Denny Hamlin pit and really wondered who was going to win this thing. Joey Logano was able to take the lead after Hamlin pit. Another restart and then another caution just as the leaders were coming to take the white, this time for a Josh Berry spin which led to another overtime restart. I really was getting the most NASCAR race possible at this point. This next restart would be the last as I wasn’t sure if NASCAR deemed everything ok or if everyone just wanted to get it over with as there was a lot of contact and cars sideways, some even spinning in the last two laps but Joey Logano was able to bring it home for the victory. To add insult to injury his win made Kyle Busch’s playoff hopes even more slim but I’m glad to see another new winner in person. So far I’ve seen Kyle Busch, SVG, Austin Cindric, and now Joey Logano win in person.

     I overall had fun and enjoyed the atmosphere. Everyone was super nice and friendly and knew how to make fun out of almost anything that happened. There was optimism coming into the weekend with the heat but it looked for the most part we were sparred in that aspect on Sunday compared to Saturday. The one thing I will say is I would love to attend a night race here as the atmosphere as electric as it was during the day, once it started getting dark the aura of the environment felt unmatched. I truly do hope I can visit again next year but I hope you enjoyed me sharing my NASCAR Experience with you guys. Until next time folks!