PACKING FOR THE TRACK

I'm starting to think about what I want to pack to take to Dover next weekend, and I thought I'd share some pointers on what and how I pack my bag to take along to the race.

First of all, and most importantly, check the track's website to see their restrictions on what you can take in to your seat on race day.  Every track has different rules and there is always that guy who is completely unaware that you can't take certain items inside the track.  As he 'converses' with the security guy the line behind him grows longer and longer and fans become more and more aggravated!  Doing a little research before you go saves all of us a lot of headaches.

I highly recommend packing your personal items in a clear totebag.  If you don't already have one (I actually got one when I purchased a set of sheets!) you can purchase one at the NASCAR trailer in the Fan Zone.  They are relatively inexpensive and well worth the investment for the time it will save you going thru the gates.

Here is a list of items I always pack:

• 2 trash bags - Sounds silly, I know, but they come in really handy if your metal bleacher seat is wet or if it starts to rain during the race.  You can put them over your lap to keep your legs from getting wet or tear a whole in the top and use as a makeshift raincoat.
• Blanket - Makes those metal bleachers a little softer and a little warmer but also helps to define "your space" so that you don't lose valuable inches when your neighbor tries to put his cooler in your seat.  You're welcome! 
• Scanner and headsets - If you don't want to use these, be sure to take something for ear protection.  You can't imagine how loud it is trackside!  A quick trip to the hardware store and you can find inexpensive earplugs.  These are an absolute must.
• Extra batteries for your scanner
• Sunscreen, no matter what the weather is.  Just a little bit of sun bouncing off those shiny aluminum bleachers and you can get a sunburn more quickly than if you were at the beach!
• Snacks - I am not one of those people who can't go for more than an hour without eating.  I also don't really enjoy trying to eat a greasy burger or sloppy sub in my seat.  So I take a bunch of easy-to-eat snacks - things like peanut butter crackers, nuts, carrots, apples, etc.  I also like to bring a bag of hard candy/mints and gum and a bottle of water.
• Aspirin - I can pretty much always count on getting a headache some time during the day, so I always want to be able to catch it before it gets really awful and spoils my fun.
• Hat & Sunglasses - I am not a baseball hat kind of girl, but I always wear one at a race.  Count on the sun being in your eyes at some point during the day.
• TICKETS - Goes without saying, but be sure to double check that someone has them!
• Money - I always throw a couple of dollars in my bag just in case.

Just remember that whatever you take with you needs to fit at your feet!  Please be considerate of the others around you. I see people dragging these huge coolers on wheels and tons of junk for their kids and I feel sorry for the people who sit around them!  There is no way all that stuff fits in the space you are allotted, so that means you are cheating from your neighbors.  Not fair, not considerate, and not a fun way for anyone to spend the day. 

With just a little advance planning and thought you'll have everything you need to spend a great day cheering for your favorite driver!