October of 2010 Teddi had planned her yearly visit to the sisters in New York. While she was doing that I thought I might scratch something off my "bucket list" and attend a NASCAR Race. It just so happened the Auto Club Pepsi Max 400 was running in Fontana California at the same time. I could drop Teddi off at the airport in Seattle drive to California (shoot some photos of the trip), go to the NASCAR race then drive back in time to pick her up on her return. Sounds Perfect.
In September I checked with Teddi to see how plans for her trip were coming along because it takes a little bit to coordinate everyone's plans, work schedules, airport pickups, get husbands out of the way etc. . . Things seemed to be on track so I hit the internet to find a ticket to the race.
Two days after I ordered and paid for my tickets Teddi's New York plans fell through, oh oh. Now it's going to be a couples Road trip to California, I hope there's a mall close to the hotel!
Jimmie Johnson's hometown is El Cajon, California so the
Auto Club Speedway is his home track. He's a big deal around Fontana and not to mention he is on his way to making history by becoming the first five time Sprint
Cup Champion.
As the morning progressed the action picked up, Pit crews preparing their "offices", people wandering the track, everyone looking for the race drivers.
Shaun has been working in NASCAR since 2000. He was kind enough to stop and talk to me as he prepared for the race. Shaun said this was his first time meeting someone from the Cowichan Valley at a NASCAR Sprint Cup Race.
Being at a live race is quite different than TV. All the stuff you don't normally see on the TV broadcast. Kenny Loggins played music on a stage hauled on to the track, actress Sharon Stone, e-bay CEO/politician Meg Whitman, the Aflac Duck and other assorted VIPs were on stage to meet the drivers.
I made my way to the stands and found my seat, 23 rows up just before the start finish line. The best thing about that seat was it was in the shadow of the box suites all afternoon. Fortunate because we were in a heat wave, the temperature was over 32C (90+ degree F).
The crowd really does go wild, everyone on their feet and fists in the air!
Even though I missed out on a lot of the fan favorites, the Tailgating in the parking lot before and after the race. I never did see any of the Live Broadcast TV stuff. Didn't make it to Victory circle for the champagne (or Pepsi) spraying. I did experience a great race as a audience member, that was worth it. Got the shirt, got the hat, met Jimmie, seen the race. Done that.
Now to the TV and find out who wins this years championship Tony or Carl.