Wiley X product review - Abby sunglasses

I've seen several NASCAR drivers wearing Wiley X sunglasses so I stopped at their vendor trailer at the Kansas Speedway during this past race weekend. The cute sales guy was more than happy to offer me product information and let me try on a few different pairs. He explained to me that they were all safety glasses and the frames had a lifetime warranty. I really liked the last feature because I can't tell you how many pairs of prescription glasses and sunglasses have been ruined by either my kids or myself. Each pair of Wiley X sunglasses also come with a lens cleaning cloth and case.

I noticed that Kevin Harvick was wearing Wiley X sunglasses when he stopped to sign autographs for fans after he finished meeting with the media about his pole position for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Saturday, May 10, 2014.

When I was at Wiley X's vendor trailer on the midway, I asked the sales guy to show me the ladies styles. He claimed most frames were unisex, but I was looking for something more feminine and fashionable. I don't remember the first pair he showed me. However, I immediately liked this pair called Abby. I tried the ones with the brown frames that also came in black.
 

Kansas Speedway Survival Kit

I'm getting ready to go to the Kansas Speedway this weekend and I'm trying to think of all the things I will need to survive a day at the track. This is just part of what I'll be carrying in my track-approved backpack.

1 Poppy print, small makeup case by Orla Kiely for Target 2 Orbit gum for fresh breath when asking for autographs 3 L'Oreal facial sunscreeen SPF 100 4 Sharpie marker for autographs 5 Foam ear plugs 6 MAC lipsticks, one for day and one for night race 7 Makeup mirror

Kansas

Kevin Harvick NASCAR Nationwide Series - sponsor review - Tide

Kevin Harvick #5

NASCAR Nationwide Series

Paint Scheme for Richmond International Raceway on 

Friday, April 25, 2014

Photo from www.kevinharvick.com

Kevin Harvick's Nationwide Series Chevrolet is so retro cool, I had to write a sponsor, product review. When I saw this paint scheme, I immediately pictured Kevin Harvick's garage stacked with gallons of Tide detergent and Stain Remover pens. 

I have been using Tide for years. When I was first married, I just used cheap detergents that for the most part, got my clothes fresh and clean. But when I had kids, I realized how inefficient those bargain detergents were. My little ones would get food or dirt on their clothes and it would still be attached to their clothes when I took them out of the washing machine. Re-washing clothes got old. I ended up switching to Tide and haven't gone back to any other brands. I think Tide lubricates the clothes better and releases all the things my kids get on their clothes. It saves me a lot of hassle.

I generally use the liquid Tide Original scent, or sometimes I get the Tide Plus Febreeze Freshness in Spring & Renewal scent. I especially like the Febreeze series on my towels. It seems to get my towels a bit softer (I never use fabric softener) and the scent seems to last longer than Original. However, I have noticed that when I buy the one with Febreeze, I have to be more careful when I pour it into the lid because it's thinner than the Original. Another thing I've discovered is that despite the markings on the lid to measure the amount of detergent needed per laundry load size, I always fill it up to the No. 1 line. Tide is so efficient, I don't need to use any more than that.

I hope Tide sponsors Harvick or other drivers for more races. I won't be at Richmond, but if I were going, I'd be lugging around the track my bottle of Tide hoping to get an autograph from Harvick.

Iowa Speedway - August 2-3, 2013

I walked around the track shortly after I arrived on Friday, August 2, 2013, and saw this cool cell phone booth in the grandstands provided by U.S. Cellular, sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race that weekend. It has a domed, transparent, sliding door that muffles any outdoor sounds to provide a clearer and more private conversation. I don't know how well it it cancels out the cars on the track because I never went back to test it, but it was fun checking it out.

I had already eaten lunch, but still wanted to check out what kind of food Iowa Speedway had to offer. I always enjoy signature stadium and track food. Most of the vendors were still getting ready for the crowds, so I did not get to smell or see much of the served food. However, one man was kind enough to show me his freshly-prepared, fried onion. He told me he gets them at every race.

K&N Pro Series East

Friday, August 2, 2013

I had never attended a K&N race before, but I assumed it would be similar to ARCA races. For the most part, it was, but I was not prepared to see such young and talented drivers. Some of the drivers I met were only 15-years-old and did not even have a valid driver's license. Needless to day, I felt incredibly old, especially when I saw them all at once at the autograph session below the grandstands. 

While I was wandering around the K&N garage, I got really excited when I spotted Daniel Suarez' "Visita Acapulco" car that had the giant word "Mexico" written across the rear. When I was a litle girl living in Mexico, my family would vacation in Acapulco. Seeing this car brought back fond memories of spending hours on the beach with my younger brothers and parents eating grilled fish at cheap, open-air, beachside restaurants. 

I bumped into Rev Racing drivers Bryan Ortiz and Daniel Suarez in the garage. Ortiz is from Puerto Rico and Suarez is from my native country, Mexico. I was impressed by all the other Latinos who were part of their team and that everyone seemed to speak Spanish. I really felt at home talking to everyone at Rev Racing.

I later joined Suarez on pit row prior to the K&N Pro Series East race, in which he finished 3rd place. I'd like to think I provided a little bit of luck to a fellow Mexican. 

NASCAR Nationwide Series

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Kenny Wallace

Either I kept running into Kenny Wallace at the track, or I was stalking him. He is so much fun to be around. After doing a radio interview in the media room, he went to the Pizza Ranch concession stand to take food orders from unsuspecting fans and give out autographs. 

I got to meet Wallace's wife, Kim, and one of his daughters, Brittany. They were very friendly and laid back. We talked about shopping at the Jordan Creek mall in Des Moines. They joined Kenny on pit row prior to the race.

 After stalking running into Wallace so many times at the track, I think we became best friends.






Wallace pits during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

Austin Dillon

Austin Dillon started out Saturday morning by giving out autographs and rides around the track in the pace car. I got to ride in a pace car once in Daytona and it was a thrilling, but scary experience. I am sometimes prone to car sickness so I did not hang around very long to watch Dillon give out rides to fans. I prefer to leave the driving to the professionals.

I saw Dillon again prior to the race during a press conference with fellow Richard Childress Racing teammate, Ryan Gifford. This was an exiting day for Gifford because it was his debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Gifford is a full-time driver in the K&N Pro Series East. 

Even on his way to pit row prior to the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race, Dillon took time to sign autograph for fans. I've noticed that he is especially good with children and gladly gives them autographs.

Brad Kaselowski

Brad Kaselowski joined other in the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers meeting. When I have the privilege of attending a driver's meeting, I act like I totally belong there and like I'm not star struck by a room full of drivers.

Kaselowski won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

Kaselowski whipped out his cell phone and took a photo of fans in victory lane.

Many fans waited for at least half an hour after the checkered flag in hopes of getting Kaselowski's signature. Despite the long day and an uncertain wait, everyone remained in high spirits.

Iowa Speedway - June 8 - 9, 2013

The Iowa Speedway is only about three hours from my house. In the Midwest, that's considered a short drive. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch a NASCAR Nationwide Series race on June 8, 2013, especially since it was a night race. The forecast called for rain and for a while, it looked like it was going to go around us. But the predicted rain showers eventually hit the track. The jet dryers gave us hope a couple of times when they dried much of the track. But NASCAR finally ended up moving the race to Sunday, June 9, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. I'm glad I went because it was an exciting Sunday morning race and a great weekend overall. 

 A crew member for one of the teams attempts to dry his team's pit stall during a rain delay.

 Joey Logano chats with crew members from other teams in the Nationwide Series garage during a rain delay on Saturday, June 8, 2013. Many fans are still waiting it out in the grandstands. 

 Driver Elliott Sadler talks to members of his team prior to the rain-delayed NASCAR Nationwide Series race on June 9, 2013. I love that he was wearing pink race shoes to support breast cancer awareness. 

 I was still on pit row during the National Anthem, which ended with this cool flyover.

Trevor Bayne was running late to pit row prior to the race, but still takes time to sign autographs for fans. 

 Trevor Bayne wins at Iowa Speedway on June 9, 2013. He joins his team in Victory Lane. 

Nationwide Series rookie Kyle Larson meets with media after a fifth place finish at the Iowa Speedway on June 9, 2013.

Kansas Speedway - April 2013

I went to the Kansas Speedway for the NASCAR races on April 20-21, 2013. On Saturday, April 20, I spent the morning talking to fans in the infield who traveled to attend race weekend and camp out in the infield. The fans were friendly and excited to be there despite it being cold. Many of the fans I met had driven from Minnesota and the Dakotas and had to drive through ice and snow in the north to get to the Kansas Speedway. I think they were relieved to be in a slightly warmer area.

Once the Nationwide race began on Saturday, I headed to pit row. I absolutely love being there. I assume it's the same thrill other people get when they're on a white sandy beach, or a beautiful, green forest. I love everything about pit row. I love the smells, sounds and excitement. On Sunday, my husband brought the kids to the track and took them around to pre-race events. They really enjoy going to the track and seeing their favorite cars, including Juan Pablo Montoya's Target car and Kyle Busch's M&M's car.