NASCAR running thread

IJAG, New Hampshire is a very forgettable racetrack. However, it is a short drive (not on race day!!) away from the Lake Winnipesaukee area, one of the prettiest parts of New England.

 

I have a very personal fear of NHMS. The Petty/Irwin deaths there have freaked me out so bad I don't WANT to go. Fontana holds no charm. Kentucky is 2 hours from my folks, and I could get some Skyline, so that makes the list.

I'd love to see the road courses after getting to go to RA a couple weeks ago.

 

That's what I meant. Also, if he's driving the No. 3, I wouldn't be surprised if EGR wanted to be involved.

 

There would be a bit of irony if RC replaced Burton with Austin and brought back the No. 3. As I recall, Earnhardt and Childress had talked about hiring Burton to replace Earnhardt in the No. 3 once he retired, which would probably have been after the 2003 season.

 

Bristol is running local ads proclaiming "We don't listen to drivers. We listen to the fans. Bristol, the track the fans built!"
It's quite funny.

 

They've tried to get a race at that track for several years. They had plenty of time to "get it right" last year, but failed miserably.

A few friends of mine went to the race last year. All of them said it took them at least two hours just to get out of the parking lot. Only one of them lived relatively close to the track and had a short drive home, but the others said they didn't get back home till long after 3 that morning.

 

With all due respect, how many other tracks have your friends visited for a Cup race?

 

Wasn't there something similar to Carmageddon at one of the first Texas races?
Can't remember the year, but I do remember reading that there was a wreck that blocked the only road out of the main parking lot. People were stuck for hours, built bonfires and basically turned the traffic jam into a scene out of "Lord of the Flies."
The traffic jams around Talladega are also legendary, and they've had 40 years to figure it out. Seems like any time you're trying to move 100,000 people in and out of a place you'd be a fool to think you're not going to hit some sort of traffic.

 

What he said. I went to the all-star race at Charlotte a couple years back, and it took an hour or two to get onto the highway, and they have it down to a science. It's part of the deal.

 

At Richmond, after night races, we would have cookouts and beer in the media parking lot because even after deadline, after writing two stories, the parking lot was still ... a parking lot. Nothing but tail lights.

Getting out of the lot is expected to be bad, which is the point I was trying to make to KY. What happened at Kentucky last year getting IN is not.