Discussion
There are a few things to consider about NASCAR.... being subjected to it continually gets a bit old, but for a first-time experience, or for the occasional 'big race' it is a great motorsport experience. I have not been to Kansas Motor Speedway (Daytona is my local track), but if you are open-minded and don't mind spending a few quid, you'll have a blast.
Fans take the 'sport' very seriously and have strong driver loyalties. If the race is close, you'll be on your feet for the entire duration - yes, it's roundy-roundy, but there is lots of spectacle, bent metal and tyre-smoke. Renting a scanner will also keep you in the loop with car-to-pit-to-car audio (adds a little extra IMO).
Kansas is a quite new track and only hosts one Nextel Cup race each year so it will be busy. I think it seats around 80,000, so you should be able to scalp tickets without too much hassle. The track is a 1.5 mile tri-oval, so try to get seats in front of pit row to get all the action.
As a one-off, if you have any gas in your veins, you'll like it. As a season-long sport, it's a bit contrived (engineered close finishes etc), but it's loud and fast. Take your drinking boots.
As a post-script KS is the barbeque capital of the US, so you won't go hungry either.
Fans take the 'sport' very seriously and have strong driver loyalties. If the race is close, you'll be on your feet for the entire duration - yes, it's roundy-roundy, but there is lots of spectacle, bent metal and tyre-smoke. Renting a scanner will also keep you in the loop with car-to-pit-to-car audio (adds a little extra IMO).
Kansas is a quite new track and only hosts one Nextel Cup race each year so it will be busy. I think it seats around 80,000, so you should be able to scalp tickets without too much hassle. The track is a 1.5 mile tri-oval, so try to get seats in front of pit row to get all the action.
As a one-off, if you have any gas in your veins, you'll like it. As a season-long sport, it's a bit contrived (engineered close finishes etc), but it's loud and fast. Take your drinking boots.
As a post-script KS is the barbeque capital of the US, so you won't go hungry either.
I'm (a limey) visiting LA at the moment and planning to go the California Speedway for the NASCAR event on either 1st or 2nd September. 1st September is BUSCH, 2nd NEXTEL - forgive the ignorant question but what is the difference? And which one should I go to? 2nd is looking favourite at the moment because I recognise the names of some of the drivers!
Thanks for advice!
Thanks for advice!
Thanks for the reply Matt. It certainly sounds like a good way to spend a day in the city. It sound like tickets will need looking into as I am visiting a friend she maybe able to help out, I just hopes she approves of NASCAR.
LBird, you will have to let me know how you get on as the Cali race is not long before I fly out.
Incidentally I will be driving down from Chicago with a night stop if any body can recommend a good route/road or a nice place to stop for a few beers and a hotel that would be helpful!
LBird, you will have to let me know how you get on as the Cali race is not long before I fly out.
Incidentally I will be driving down from Chicago with a night stop if any body can recommend a good route/road or a nice place to stop for a few beers and a hotel that would be helpful!
Busch Series is a 'junior' NASCAR series - the cars are similar, but run less power. Some Cup drivers also compete in the Busch series too. It is generally considered to be the 'feeder' to Nextel Cup. They are often fun to watch (more crash 'em, bash 'em and the occasional punch-up in the pit lane) but for more of an occasion - go to the Cup race, rather than the Busch one. That way, you get to see all the pre-race razzamataz (God Bless America, military fly-over, Gennelmen, start your engines etc. etc.)
It's a great day out, as long as you appreciate that the race is kinda rigged, so that there is a door to door close finish, with everyone on their feet whoopin' and hollerin' and spraying beer over each other. If by some fluke, "Junior" wins, the whole place goes frickin' nuts. All highly amusing - you'll love it.
Hoping you both have a blast during your US visits.
It's a great day out, as long as you appreciate that the race is kinda rigged, so that there is a door to door close finish, with everyone on their feet whoopin' and hollerin' and spraying beer over each other. If by some fluke, "Junior" wins, the whole place goes frickin' nuts. All highly amusing - you'll love it.
Hoping you both have a blast during your US visits.
joe20vt said:
Incidentally I will be driving down from Chicago with a night stop if any body can recommend a good route/road or a nice place to stop for a few beers and a hotel that would be helpful!
JoePretty dependent on what you want to see/do on the way.
The most obvious route (and by far the quickest) is to take I-80 west out of Chi-town, towards Des Moines IA and then take I-35 south to KC. It's about 500 miles and you could do it in a day easily (estimate 8 hours on the road).
There are more hotels/motels/places to eat than you could shake a stick at, lining the US Interstate system, if you decided to string the trip out a bit.
I can't think of much that would be an interesting diversion between these two cities - you're really just crossing prarie in this part of the country (very flat - corn fields as far as the eye can see)
Iowa is not known for it's tourist attractions!!!
Well, I have successfully and happily survived my first NASCAR experience! Despite ridiculously high temperatures (43C [109F] until the sun went down then it was "only" 35C [95F]!!!) in unprotected grandstands, it was a really, really good afternoon. California Speedway seats over 92k spectators - it wasn't quite full but imagine the chaos at Silverstone with those numbers...... Nothing like it at Fontana - we parked in a park and ride 3 miles away, got straight on a waiting bus which left immediately and drove straight to the Speedway on empty roads! It dropped us at the ticket collection booth where we queued for less than 5 minutes, collected our tickets then walked straight in. After the race, we queued for our bus back to the car park for less than 5 minutes, got back to our car and drove straight out of the car park, down the road onto the freeway. Not a single traffic jam - not even in the car park!!! What fantastic organisation and all done by cheerful, helpful people, even in the extreme heat.
And the racing.... Well, there were a LOT of yellows early in the race and it made it all very entertaining - everyone diving into the pits, some crashing in the pits (J-P Montoya!!) and then racing out of them.... On one such occasion, "Junior" emerged in the lead and the crowds went nuts, just as Matt predicted!! The yellows really did add to the entertainment - every time the green came out, it was a new start. There was some great racing - Junior and Kyle Busch exchanging the lead two or three times a lap for several laps after one such "re-start" - and some satisfyingly spectacular crashes (no serious injuries so it was ok to enjoy the spectacle)!
We hired a scanner which meant we could tune into driver-pits-driver radio, or the race officials or the commentary. It was definitely worth the $50 to hear the conversations between Montoya and his totally relaxed pit-crew (the guy had the best "Deputy Dawg" accent I've ever heard!!)and then to hear Montoya yelling in surprise that a fellow driver "scared the shit" out of him as he went past and on another occasion to hear his resigned groan as he was passed by someone else!
All in all its an experience I would thoroughly recommend - hope you enjoy it in Kansas Joe! N.B. There were restrictions as to what could be taken into the grandstands - for example, no hard-sided coolers, no glass bottles and only small bags - 6"x6"x18" I think were the dimensions. Might be similar at Kansas so worth checking in advance if you can.
And the racing.... Well, there were a LOT of yellows early in the race and it made it all very entertaining - everyone diving into the pits, some crashing in the pits (J-P Montoya!!) and then racing out of them.... On one such occasion, "Junior" emerged in the lead and the crowds went nuts, just as Matt predicted!! The yellows really did add to the entertainment - every time the green came out, it was a new start. There was some great racing - Junior and Kyle Busch exchanging the lead two or three times a lap for several laps after one such "re-start" - and some satisfyingly spectacular crashes (no serious injuries so it was ok to enjoy the spectacle)!
We hired a scanner which meant we could tune into driver-pits-driver radio, or the race officials or the commentary. It was definitely worth the $50 to hear the conversations between Montoya and his totally relaxed pit-crew (the guy had the best "Deputy Dawg" accent I've ever heard!!)and then to hear Montoya yelling in surprise that a fellow driver "scared the shit" out of him as he went past and on another occasion to hear his resigned groan as he was passed by someone else!
All in all its an experience I would thoroughly recommend - hope you enjoy it in Kansas Joe! N.B. There were restrictions as to what could be taken into the grandstands - for example, no hard-sided coolers, no glass bottles and only small bags - 6"x6"x18" I think were the dimensions. Might be similar at Kansas so worth checking in advance if you can.
Gassing Station | USA & Canada | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff