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.

Kansas Speedway - October 2010

(Originally published October 10, 2010)

I took the kids to the Kansas Speedway on Saturday during NASCAR race weekend. We went to the race last year, but by the time we got inside the grandstands for the race, the kids were tired and we only stayed about 45 minutes. They didn't understand that we were supposed to stay in our ticketed seats. So this year I just took them to the pre-race events. Then we went shopping and out to eat in the Speedway area. There is so much to do there.This is where we parked. We got there two hours before the race started. It was a pretty good walk. When we walked back to the car I couldn't find it right away, so I was able to look at this photo in my camera to help me find our parking spot.
A female ARCA driver gave out tons of autographs.I got to pretend to be a pit prew girl. As many of you know, that is one of my dream jobs.
We played games at the Toyota area.
Kyle Bush's car that was used in a TV ad.
We took a break at the Toyota Owners Hospitality tent. They gave us each a free bag of chips and a beverage.
Hamburger Helper gave out free samples. The warm food felt nice in the cold wind.
Chevy drivers area.
The kids would not look at the camera for photos. It was loud, windy, cold and sunny. A stranger offered to take a photo of us all. I was bummed my hubby was not able to go with us and be in the photo this year.
This is one of the many vending haulers on the fairway. I liked it because it had photos of the drivers hunting. They looked like they were in their element. All the other haulers used photos of drivers that were taken in a photo studio..

The kids climbed on several of the New Holland farm vehicles before we headed back to the van

NASCAR at Kansas Speedway - October 2009

We took the kids to the Kansas Speedway for their first NASCAR race. It was windy and  chilly so we all dressed in layers. We arrived about 1 to 1 1/2 hours before the race started so that we could walk around and let the kids see the free exhibits and displays on the concourse, prior to entering the gates to go into our seats in the grandstands. We went to where Speed Channel was filming a pre-race show and were hoping to get on TV, but I don't think we did. There were too many people who got there early and got good spots.

Most NASCAR tracks allow each fan to enter the grandstands with one small, soft-sided cooler that most people fill with a six-pack of beer. I, however, stuffed ours with kids' snacks and juice boxes. I have learned to not go anywhere without food for the kids.