Coke Zero 400 Experience

*** review number 400***
Wow! That is how I would sum it up in one word. This was my very first attendance at a NASCAR race and it was pretty darn cool. Even given all of the trouble and disappointment that the rain gave us fans this year, I still say the experience was worth while.
Although I was decorated in my #88 and there to support Dale Jr. (oh yeah!!), I was excited to see #24 as well. In the late 90s/​early 00s, I was a fan of Gordon. To be this close — the back stretch between turns 4 and 1, row 5, in Oilfield — was just an awesome experience. Just feeling the wind after the cars zipped by (well during the first 20 laps or so, anyway) and experiencing the clouds of light smoke when the crashing starting is just to crazy to put a description on it. I was a little entertaining to watch people’s hats get wind-​whipped off of their heads. And, eventually, I did have to put in my ear plugs!
During the race there were two crashes. The first was very early on and started around turn four. The cars bumped into each other and the wall, giving rise to puffs of smoke and the smell of rubber. The second resulted in a car being flipped upside down. At least one driver was out after each grass. My seat gave a good view of the wrecked vehicles when they were towed off the track. There was some serious carnage.
Dale JR. was impacted by the first crash and initially I though he might have been out. It was just a pure adrenaline rush watching him climb from the bottom of the barrel back to the top 15 before the race was called. No thanks to the rain!
Overall it was a great time. I met some cool fans and we cheered and booed together. If you are a fan of NASCAR, then I say go get your Experience! It can be at the Coke Zero 400 or another race!

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr!!! He is my favorite driver and I finally got a chance to see him race live and in person. I can honestly say that I think he is a great athlete for having to race a car around a track at speeds reaching 190mph+. Also I liked how the television crew covering the race interviewed him and he was locked in ready to roll!
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr’s car!!! It was so awesome looking at it coming down the back stretch of Turn 4 (my tix seating). It was not his normal blue, white, and red color scheme that he usually has for the other races. This one was all black with some army fatigues in the back (special for the July 4^th wkend) I lwould of have loved to gone back to pit rolad to see it and take some pictures of it but, maybe at a different race.
3. Daytona International Speedway was the coolest race track I have seen!!! It was a big huge shaped oval (i think the mile is about 2.5, but don’t quote me on that) The grandstands were cool with all the seating right from the beginning of Turn Four through the start of Turn 1. I kept on taking pictures of the many dedicated fans of NASCAR. In the middle of the oval was a stand where fans with special access got to stand and watch the cars go around. Also in the middle of the oval was the Daytona sign located in front of the middle of the grandstands. The race leader board sign kept you updated on which driver was in what position and it was consistently right! Also in the middle of the oval was the Pit Crews and Pit Road (well actually they were on the side facing the grandstands, but I guess you can call it the middle)
4. Pit Crews and Pit Road were great. I actually didn’t see it up close and personal, but they had it on the jumbo screen, so you could see what was going on during the race while the other drivers were doing their racing. Pit Crews work on Pit Road for when the driver has to or chooses to leave the race temporarily or has a massive wreck to fix any type of damage that may have happened during the race. The jumbo tron gave you great insight as to how fast the crews work to make sure their driver stays on the lead lap and tries not to lose their precious spot in the race.
5. The sounds of the cars and engine going at 190mph+ around the track! It was a sound like none other! The closest thing I can say is when I went to Wrestlemania 30 when Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock came out back to back to back in the opening of Wrestlemania 30. The rate at which they were flying down the track moving that fast is a super adrenaline rush that can only be experienced at a race (the seat placement also helped out a lot). Every time the cars went by, the wind from the speed was blowing people’s hair and clothes everywhere. Most people were covering their ears because it was so loud. Oh yeah I should say this: Make sure you bring ear plugs if you can’t take super loud sounds.
6. The other drivers at the race racing as hard as they could. I was also stoked to see some of my other favorite drivers: Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick. I mean they are some serious drivers who race their heart out every race to win. They were giving it all they had, but unfortunately they both got into a crash which prematurely ended Tony Stewart’s day and I think limited Kevin Harvick’s race.
7. The crashes were pretty cool to watch as they happened live. To see one crash, was good, but to see 2 crashes was great!!! Why great? Well, the first crash involved Dale Jr. and he was spun out into the infield along with another driver. Also Tony Stewart was involved in both the first crash and really messed his car pretty bad. Then in the second crash, it was at least 13 cars involved. Thank God nobody was seriously hurt, but this one happened at Turn 3 and rolled down for at least 5 – 10 min. The cars were in total carnage and the fans were oooohing and awwwwing as they brought the speed machines into the garage because the driver knew their day was up.
8. The fans were absolutely awesome!!! Even though it rained the whole wkend (Saturday and Sunday) the fans still showed their undying support for their favorite drivers. I can say that NASCAR fans are die hard racing fans who love their sport!!! I met some great people while standing in line waiting to ride the shuttle bus from the Grand Stand Parking Lot 7 (pickup) to the Speedway (drop off). They came ready with their coolers, shirts, hats, mugs, alcohol, beer, RVs, tents, and most importantly their enthusiasm!!! I wish all fans in every sport could love their teams as much as these fans love their drivers!
9. My girlfriend was the ultimate trooper this wkend. She braved the elements (RAIN), fixed food, brought waters, made sure I had my stuff together, wore matching Dale Jr shirts, and let me be child at my very first race. It was her first race as well and I am pretty sure she had an awesome time like I did. She really did enjoy herself and now its time to plan the next race with her!!!