MORE FUN IN THE FAN ZONE!

Okay, in Part I of this post I shared with you where and how to buy your race souvenirs!  Now let's talk about all the other fun things you can do before the race starts!

For those of you who have never been to a track, there is always a large attraction set up outside the track with lots of fun activities for fans of all ages.  Think carnival or boardwalk.  Even if you don't have a race ticket you can take advantage of all the fun here!

Lots of the sponsors put up large tents and entertain the race fans as they head to the track.  There is the Sprint stand where you can get your picture taken with a cardboard likeness of Miss Sprint Cup. (Hey!  Your friends will never know the difference!)  Chevrolet usually has a whole lot of new cars for you to check out - like the new gorgeous Corvette! - and you can score a free tshirt here too. Sometimes Jack Daniels has a great big display where you can start your Christmas shopping!

And, of course, there is food ..... LOTS AND LOTS of food!  Dover has great options for whatever you are in the mood for, but of course you can't leave Delaware without having a Grotto's pizza.

If you prefer to eat more healthy food, how about this?

And you'll need a little sumpin' sumpin' to wash it all down!

So, after you've tickled your tastebuds you'll probably want to work off a few of those calories before you sit to watch the race for a few hours.  How about climbing a rock wall?

Or take your puppy for a walk?

But whatever you decide to do, you want to be sure you get to your seat in time for the pre-race festivities.  In case you don't get to the gate before the National Anthem, you will have to wait and pay your respects to our country during that time.  Everything stops at a race when the Anthem is played.

And that, right there, is the best reason of all to be a NASCAR fan!

FAN ZONE FUN!!

Going to a race is about so much more than watching the race.  Of course, there is always lots of tailgating fun that starts very early in the morning of race day.  And really, all you have to do is walk past a group of tailgaters and it is very likely someone will plop a delicious sandwich or ice cold beer in your hand for that long trek to the track (wink, wink!).

If you've never gone to a race before, let me give you this one little bit of advice -- GO EARLY!  Not because you need to get to your seat hours before the green flag, but because you will want to have lots of time to check out the Fan Zone, or as they call it at Dover, the Fun Zone!

You might have heard some discussions in the last year or two about the changes that are happening in this area.  And for awhile, it was really awesome and then -- well, not so great.  But it has begun to come back to life again, and the changes are AWESOME!

The biggest controversy has been about the elimination of the individual driver souvenir trailers that have been replaced by a super-sized souvenir tent.  I got the opportunity to check it out at Richmond and I'm still not sure how it is going to over with the fans.

As you can see, each driver still has his own individual area within the giant tent.  You can go from one section of the tent to another and gather up all the stuff you want to buy.  There is one very large centralized checkout area, so it is very convenient.  You may even buy something you had no intention of buying, just because you got to check it out up close.  I know what I'm talking about here -- my new granddaughter will have her very own pink #48 bib - I just couldn't resist!!

What I think might be a problem with this setup, though, is that there is not alot of room to move around inside.  We were there on Friday when the crowds are always smaller and it was okay.  But race day?  Wild horses couldn't drag me in there - not even for the aforementioned cute little baby bib!  The other problem I see is that, contrary to what you may have heard, it is NOT air conditioned!!  Just really big fans blowing air around.  I think shoppers will be dropping like flies during the hot summer months.  But, then again, maybe they plan to air condition it for those races. Let's hope so.

In the next few days I will tell you all about the awesome Fan Zone at Richmond, and I will also share what I hear is coming our way at the Monster Mile.  You're gonna love it!!  Be sure to check back here or you can follow me on Facebook at "Nascar Wife Happy Life" so you never miss a new post!!

HAPPIEST NASCAR WIFE .... POSSIBLY EVER!

If you follow me on Facebook (and you SHOULD wink-wink!) you know that Hubby and I spent this past weekend at Richmond International Raceway.  I have so much to tell you and share with you about that track, but of all the things I want to share I just couldn't wait to tell you about quite possibly the happiest Nascar Wife I have ever met!

Jennifer and I met and bonded at the salad bar over a discussion about ranch dressing of all things! She was just so happy and obviously having a great time!  We introduced ourselves and chatted for a few minutes and I learned that she is a big race fan and that this was the first race she had ever been to in person.

I should tell you that we had tickets to the best seats in the house, inside the all-inclusive Torque Club.  More on that in a later post, but just know that this is one "suite" experience (pun intended!) For two full days we enjoyed all-day buffets with fantastic food, a nice bar, a very upscale and comfortable indoor lounge area, and seats just outside the suite to watch the race.

Jennifer is a super sweet young mom to two children who are, in her words, "very two and very three"!   Jennifer's husband Eric gave her this weekend experience for her birthday which was in May, so she waited and anticipated this for a very long time!  When I asked if this was a monumental birthday, like 30, Eric replied, "No, it's just a great wife birthday!"  Now how awesome is that?!?!

We would pass by each other periodically throughout the day and she was always on to the next thing on her "be-sure-to-do" list!  She wasn't sure if she wanted to stay to see Kurt Busch or if she wanted to head to the pits for that experience.  Decisions, decisions, decisions!!

One of our last little chats was about the different tracks I have been to and which one she wants to put on her Wish List for her next birthday.  And judging from the fun they appeared to be having, I'll bet Eric will oblige!  After all, Nascar Wife, Happy Life!!!

JUST FOCUS!!

Well, HELLO AGAIN!  You may have noticed that I have been AWOL for several weeks now. You see, my youngest daughter found the man of her dreams and they decided to get married last month so I have had a whirlwind of a summer.  It was so much fun helping them plan for their future together, and we had a fabulous family weekend for their wedding which, by the way, was absolutely PERFECT!

It is alot of work planning a wedding. It requires a great deal of focusing on the details, but now that all those details have been accomplished, I am ready for some racin'!

And speaking of FOCUS, I have this theory that that is the main reason Jeff Gordon has been struggling to win a race this year and also the reason Kyle Busch has been so successful.

I don't say this to be critical of Jeff Gordon by any means.  I totally get it!  Years ago, when he was winning race after race and one championship on top of another, he was singly and solely focused on racing.  Then he had kids.  And as much as we might try to tell our childless selves that having children won't change our lives, the fact is, it does.  And almost always for the better and in ways we never dreamed it would.

I believe that is what happened with Jeff.  I heard an interview with him recently where he talked about how much fun he was having doing things with his kids that he never got to do when he was a kid because his life was focused on racing from an early age.  Things turned out well for him, but the success he achieved cost him his childhood.

And now that retirement is right around the corner for him, his focus has shifted to the new life he has planned for himself, a life after racing, full of normal family things that lots of us take for granted. Of course he has enough talent to divert some of his attention away from driving and still be a contender for the championship.  But I just don't see him closing out his career as Champion.

Kyle Busch, on the other hand - talk about FOCUS!!  His accident at Daytona seems to have put everything into focus for him!  I was never a big fan of his, but I can't help but be impressed with what he has achieved this season.  His focus is spot on, and I am predicting that this is the year he will win the Championship.

Well, Nascar Wife and Hubby are off to Richmond this weekend for our first race since Dover.  I'm really looking forward to a night race and I can't wait to share some pictures with you so be sure to check out my facebook page!   And remember to focus on what's most important to YOU!