Our Day At The Track

[clovis]

My ears are still ringing, a least a little bit, a day later, from the fourty-some brightly decorated cars that roared at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday.

You see, I had the ultimate pleasure of taking my eight year old daughter to the Brickyard 400 race, a race sanctioned by NASCAR. This race is held at, I think, my favorite place in the entire world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

There really is nothing better in the entire world, at least in my opinion, than sharing a life time of passion, not only with someone else, but a child of your own, and having them love the experience.

We joined tens of thousands of other fans, most who also parked miles from the front gates of 16th & Georgetown, Speedway, Indiana, 46224. It was not only a long walk to the entrance, but a long walk once we entered the two and a half mile oval facility. Television makes the place look small, but once you have visited the place, you realize the enormity of the track, and understand what I am talking about.

You already know that I recieved free tickets to this race as a random act of kindness from a young gentleman on another internet forum. I had a feeling the tickets would be good ones. Any time you have a ticket that reads Row JJ at the track, it is probably a very good ticket, because it sits up high so you can see the big portions of the track. I just didn't know how good they actually are, until we got there. They were not only great seats, but those type of seats that you wish you had for every race.

These tickets are located on the main straight away, near the beautiful glass and steel Padoga, directly in front of the pits. You can tell of the importance of the area by the seriousness of the security near our seats.

While we are not seekers of fame or stalkers of the famous, I do have to share something spectacular.

While nearing our seats in Tower Terrace, we, just by sheer chance, met Kasey Khane, Kyle Busch, and Carl Edwards. All three were friendly, but Carl Edwards took the time to stop, even with a race starting in a few minutes, and hug my little daughter and thank her for coming to the race track.

Now I have an eight year old that believes that it is normal to meet and hug the drivers at every race.

We enjoyed the race, and I loved teaching her about the cars, the race, the flags. She held up like a champ, and did what most NACAR fans do, especially when watching from home. She sprawled out on the hard aluminum bleacher, and took a short nap. I am not sure how anyone could sleep with all that excitement, and with a deafening roar of engines, but she did, for at least twelve laps.

I won't bore everyone with the race details. You have already seen the highlights, or watched it in the comfort of your own home.

What I do know is that we had the time of our lives, and I have pictures to prove it.

It is hard to imagine that anyone, anywhere, had a better time yesterday than I did, sharing time and life with my daughter.

Sharing this experience with her gave me one of those weird selfish feelings, like I had scooped up and stolen the absolute best parts of life, and I didn't have to share it with anyone else.

It was a day that forces every part of your mind, body and soul to love life, and love being alive.

I wish every day could be like that.

Clovis

[partndn]

Sweet! I live where majority of those drivers live. We see 'em round in the grocery store, coffee shop, etc. They're just people..

What surprises me is how small most of them are. And I'm glad Kyle Busch was with those guys. I LIKE him! Of course, I liked Dennis Rodman too - as a player. Sometimes these guys just get picked by the media to be their sucker target, but they're not as bad as the tv portrays most of the time.

(Yes, I know Dennis Rodman did some media worthy crazy stuff.. I'm referring to how he played on the court, and how they tried to make out that he was as crazy on the court as off. He was not.)

[PNP Katahdins]

Originally Posted by clovis

Carl Edwards took the time to stop, even with a race starting in a few minutes, and hug my little daughter and thank her for coming to the race track.

Nice to hear that about Carl. He did substitute teaching to pay the bills while he was racing at local tracks. Not sure what age group though.

Sounds like I slept through more of the race than your daughter. We listened to the radio broadcast on the internet and I caught the beginning and ending. I was rooting for Montoya.

Glad you daughter enjoyed the race.

Peg

[Marilyn]

Oh Clovis, that is so precious. I hope you save your post for your daughter's journal, or baby book or something. Just save it.

[sweet_p]

Cool Clovis !!!
I got treated along with my daughter to Atlanta last year.
We had a great time also. It was the first time for the both of us
at a paved track.We love dirt track.
We were in the infield,I know what you mean about the hereing thing.
Have you ever went to the nascar front page web site? If not it is way
cool.

[Murray in ME]

I'm glad you had such a great time. You and your daughter will have special memories to share for a life time.

[Wisconsin Ann]

What a fantastic day for you both It sounds like a great day for your daughter, and I can see YOU glowing even from way over here in Wisconsin

[MN Gardener]

Glad you have such a great time. Your daughter is going to remember it forever! My step daughter got to watch a NASCAR race from the pits last year and it was amazing for her and she doesn't even like car racing. She missed her high school graduation to go, but she thought it was so worth.

[Dandish]

I'm very happy for you, and your daughter, Clovis. Smiling ear to ear.

[AR Cattails]

I'm so happy that you and your daughter got to see the race and meet those drivers. I'm actually quite jealous.