NASCAR @ Dover

[Dog427435]

I doubt if I’ve watched a complete race all year – NASCAR sure seems to have lost something for me - but the excitement of being there – the smells, the sounds and vibrations, the fierce competition – WOW!!!
Watching the last minute thrash at the last practice on Friday was unreal.



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[Dog427435]

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[Dog427435]

I’m no Gordon fan, but he had the best looking car there –


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[Dog427435]

What amazed me was the lack of fans at Sunday’s race - these shots were taken at about the half way mark. The weather was cold and looked like rain, but the stands were empty. Leaving the track was a breeze!
There were also several unfunded teams – usually you hear of big names going home because they couldn’t qualify – but not this year at Dover. There were at least 3 teams that only had 1 extra set of tires in the pits! Not exactly a vote of confidence for the driver looking over the pit wall!


Turns 1 & 2

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Turn 4

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Starter Stand

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[SS427]

Looks like you had a great time Glenn. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the photos. I certainly understand your excitement.

A customer of mine (ESPN producer) recently sent Annie and I to Joliet, IL (our choice) on his nickle to watch #31 Justin Allgaier/Brandt (another customer of ours) race. We were given cart blanc passes to anywhere on the track and pits and sat in the Allgaier/Brandt pit tower with Rick Brandt and the owner of Turner Motorsports for 170 of the 200 laps. Between the Brandt hospitality tent and luxury bus ride to the ESPN command center and their hospitality we had the best time ever. Annie even got a hug from Jeff Gordon but just missed Dale Jr. Best part was when Kyle Bush (she does not think too highly of him) lightly brushed her butt with the fender of his car as he returned to the garage after qualifying. The highlight of the day was being asked to stand with the team and car on pit road during the singing of the National Anthem and then coming home to watch the recorded race and Annie and I on TV. Awesome day. I added some shots, hope you don't mind.


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[Xplantdad]

Awesome shots from both of you!

[StealthBird]

Great pics! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

We went to a race a couple months ago, and it's just incredible the amount of noise these things produce. You definitely need ear protection! We have tickets for the upcoming Charlotte NC race, but gave them to some friends, as we had other commitments.

NASCAR has taken it on the chin during this Obama Depression we're in. Lots of empty seats, folks can't afford $70+ per person anymore, not to mention the extra charge for pit passes. You can spend $350.00 easily for a family of 4, with some food and a couple souvenirs. And many areas where these tracks are have been devastated by unemployment (like Michigan).

Sad to see Red Bull pulling out after this year, especially since Kasey Kahne has really turned the #4 into a winning combo. It's going be a Hendrick Landslide next year when he takes over Mark Martin's seat.

Hey, does Montoya have ANY fans? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

[tjs44]

Stands looked light but there was 80K reported!Tom

[69hurstSC]

Great to see the hometown guy Martin Truex on the pole!